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JONESBORO, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears travel to Jonesboro on Tuesday night to take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Tomlinson Stadium-Kell Field in the first of two meetings this season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

UCA (7-7) is expected to start junior right hander Oliver Laufman on the mound. Laufman is 0-1 with a 2.35 earned-run average in three appearances this season. He has struck out seven batters in 7.1 innings and has allowed just two earned runs.

The Bears are coming off a 2-1 series victory over the UT Martin Skyhawks last weekend at Bear Stadium. UCA totaled 24 runs and 35 hits in the three-game series, winning 10-6 and 11-1 before dropping the series finale 5-3 on Sunday. The Bears hit five home runs, including three by graduate designated hitter Evan Hafley, including a walk-off grand slam on Friday night.

UCA's pitching staff sported a 2.67 ERA for the weekend and held the Skyhawks to a .268 batting average. UCA hit .321, leading to an 8.06 ERA for UT Martin.

The Red Wolves (7-7) hosted Eastern Illinois over the weekend in a series cut short by weather. Saturday's game was suspended in the fifth inning and finished on Monday, with ASU losing 12-6 in 10 innings. Sunday's game was canceled. The Red Wolves tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth but then allowed six runs in the top of the 10th on four hits and five walks.

UCA and ASU went to 11 innings in last year's only meeting in Jonesboro, with the Red Wolves pulling out a 4-3 victory. UCA reliever Trent Gregson allowed the winning run in the 11 but was stellar to that point, striking out 10 and allowing 2 hits and 1 runin 4.2 innings of relief. 

The Bears and Red Wolves will meet one more time this month, on Tuesday, March 28 at Bear Stadium in Conway.