CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears scored the final nine runs of the game Friday night to down the North Alabama Lions 9-1 in the ASUN Conference opener at Bear Stadium.

Junior right hander Jesse Barker was solid on the mound for the Bears (9-8, 1-0), working into the seventh inning, allowing five hits, one unearned run and striking out five. Freshman Coleman MacRae finished it off with just one hit and three strikeouts over the final 2.2 innings.

After spotting the Lions (5-11, 0-1) a 1-0 lead in the third inning, UCA went to work at the plate. They scored three runs in the fifth, two more in the sixth, another three in the seventh and a final run in the eighth. UCA finished with 11 hits, including the fourth home run for senior right fielder Kolby Johnson.

Johnson finished 3 for 5 with three runs batted in. Sophomore shortstop Reid Bowman was 3 for 3 and was on base five times. Junior third baseman Mason King went 2 for 4 with a pair of runs batted in. 

The Bears plated three runs in the fifth on Johnson's two-run blast to left center and Bowman's single that scored Evan Hafley. UCA pushed the lead to 5-0 in the sixth on Johnson's base hit and a throwing error that allowed Tanner Leonard to score.

In the seventh, King added a two-run double and Drew Sturgeon came in on a wild pitch. In the eighth, UNA reliever Kevin Henrich walked the bases loaded before Leonard drew the fourth consecutive base on balls for the 9-1 lead.

Barker improved to 3-1 on the season. Justus Agosto (1-3) took the loss for the Lions. UNA's three pitchers combined to walk 12 batters.

The series continues at 2 p.m. Saturday.