CONWAY, Ark. _ The Missouri State Bears scored twice in the top of the eighth inning Saturday to down the University of Central Arkansas Bears 4-2 in the opening game of their non-conference series at Bear Stadium.

The visiting Bears (7-5) used a two-run home run from catcher Dylan Leach in the eighth off UCA reliever Mason Griffin to break a 2-2 tie.

The purple Bears wasted a 10-strikeout outing from senior starter Jesse Barker, who went seven innings and allowed two earned runs and walked one. 

MSU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning on consecutive doubles by Logan Chambers and Leach. UCA answered with single runs in the third inning on a double by A.J. Mendolia and an RBI single by Bryce Cermenelli, and the fourth inning on Preston Curtis' first career home run, an opposite-field shot to right field that tied it at 2-2.

MSU finished with 11 hits, including three by Leach, a former Arkansas and Missouri player. UCA managed just four hits, with catcher Casey Shipley getting the fourth one.

MSU reliever Eric Loomis (1-1) got the victory with three innings of no-hit ball. 

The teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday, beginning at noon at Bear Stadium.