BATON ROUGE, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears grabbed an early 1-0 lead Friday but could not hold it in falling 3-1 to the VMI Keydets in the 2024 season opener at LSU's Alex Box Stadium. 

The Bears were opportunistic in the bottom of the first inning as senior A.J. Mendolia was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. A pair of wild pitches moved him to third and junior transfer catcher Casey Shipley got the first RBI of the season with a single to center to score Mendolia.

UCA starting pitcher Jesse Barker was solid through three innings, getting five of his six strikeouts, before the Keydets strung together three hits and a sacrifice, followed by a one-out double by Grayson Fitzwater to take a 2-1 lead. They added another run in the fifth with an RBI groundout by Ty Swaim.

The Bears, who managed only three hits, loaded the bases twice but failed to score in the sixth and eighth innings. UCA was hit by a pitch five times and drew a pair of walks. Barker, sophomore transfer Hunter Alexander and sophomore Bryce Parlin combined for 10 strkeouts and only one walk.

UCA will play twice on Saturday, facing defending national champion LSU at 1 p.m. and VMI again at 6 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.