CONWAY, Ark. _  The University of Central Arkansas Bears got a three-run home run from center fielder Drew Sturgeon in the sixth inning to grab a 5-3 victory over the Tarleton State Texans in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader at Bear Stadium.

The Texans (8-4) rallied with four runs in the ninth inning of the nightcap to win 6-4. UCA leads the series 2-1 with the finale set for 1 p.m. Sunday.

In the opener, second baseman Tanner Leonard had an inside-the-park home run on a sinking liner that got past the TSU center fielder in the fifth inning that gave the Bears a 2-1 lead. After the Texans went in front 3-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, the Bears responded with a Casey Shipley walk and a Colt Sagely base hit in front of Sturgeon's team-leading third homer of the season.

After starter Coleman MacRae went 5.1 innings, sophomore Hunter Alexander closed it out and got the win, striking out four and allowing just one hit in 1.2 innings of work. The Bears made the most of their five hits, with Zeb Allen adding another RBI.

Sophomore Charlie Christensen pitched a career-best 7.1 innings in the Game 21, striking out five and allowing five hits and two runs. He left with a 4-1 lead but the Texans put up a single run in the eighth to cut their deficit to 4-2, then plated four in the ninth.

The Bears finished with 10 hits, including three by Cermenelli and two each by Allen, Sturgeon and designated hitter Jagger Schattle. Allen had UCA's second triple of the season.

The loss broke a six-game winning streak for the Bears (7-5).