JACKSONVILLE, Fla. _ The Jacksonville Dolphins scored two runs in the eighth inning to pull out a 4-2 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears on Friday in ASUN action at John Sessions Stadium.

The Dolphins (16-8, 2-2) broke a 2-2 tie, scoring twice on a walk, a double, a fielder's choice and a wild pitch. JU then went to its closer Chris Lotito in the ninth and he struck out the side to record his sixth save, giving the Dolphins 13 strikeouts on the night.

UCA starter Jesse Barker, a junior from Benton, Ark., was solid, tossing 7 innings and allowing just 3 hits and 2 runs while striking out 7. Freshman Coleman MacRae (2-1) allowed the two runs in the eighth for his first loss. 

The Bears (11-10, 3-1) took an early lead with a run in the third inning on Reid Bowman's base hit, a sacrifice bunt by Tanner Leonard and an RBI single to right field by Drew Sturgeon. Bowman and Sturgeon both had two hits for the Bears, with Bowman scoring two runs.

After Jacksonville tied it in the fifth, UCA went back in front in the seventh. Another Bowman single started the inning and he went to second on a passed ball before Leonard walked. Both runners advanced on a balk and Sturgeon walked to load the bases. Kolby Johnson reached on a fielder's choice that scored Bowman for a 2-1 lead but the Bears ended up stranding two in the inning.

The Dolphins got a single run in the bottom of the eighth on another balk to tie it, then went ahead for good in the eighth. 

UCA out-hit Jacksonville 6-4 but committed the game's only error and left eight runners on base.

Game 2 of the series is set for 1 p.m. (CT) Saturday.