CONWAY, Ark. _ Evan Hafley's third hit of the game Friday was a huge one as his two-out, walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth handed the University of Central Arkansas Bears a 10-6 victory over UT Martin in the opening game of their weekend series at Bear Stadium.

Hafley, a graduate transfer designated hitter, was 3 for 6 with 5 runs batted in and two runs scored. The Bears loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth on a Kade Seldomridge infield single, a Tanner Leonard base hit through the left side and a intentional walk to Kolby Johnson.

Hafley then hit the first pitch he saw from UT Martin reliever Choyce Diffey deep over the right-field wall, UCA's second consecutive walk-off home run in Game 1 of a weekend series at Bear Stadium. Johnson did the same thing last week in the opener against Illinois State.

The Bears' freshman Charlie Christensen pitched the final two inninings, allowing no hits or runs and striking out one for his first career victory.

UCA finished with 14 hits, including two each from Seldomridge, shortstop Reid Bowman, first baseman A.J. Mendolia and left fielder Dylan Cyr. Mendolia had a pair of RBI with a two-run single in the first to give the Bears an early 2-0 lead. The Skyhawks (4-11) tied it with two runs in the second, then went ahead 3-2 with a single run in the third.

UCA grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the third, scoring twice off two hits and an error. Catcher Noah Argenta had a bases-loaded walk and Seldomridge added a sacrifice fly. UT Martin got two runs in the fourth and one more in the eighth to take a 6-4 lead.

The Bears (6-7) tied the game in the eighth with Hafley's RBI ground out and Johnson scoring on a wild pitch, setting up the ninth-inning heroics. The home run was Hafley's team-best fourth of the season out of his 11 total hits.

A combination of four UCA pitchers held the Skyhawks to seven hits and combined for 10 strikeouts. Sophomore Tate Busey struck out a team-high four in his four innings of middle relief. 

Game 2 of the series is set for noon Saturday, with junior Jesse Barker set to take the mound.