FLORENCE, Ala. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears pounded three home runs and got solid pitching from a pair of aces Friday night to down the North Alabama Lions 9-4 in their ASUN series opener at Mike D. Lane Field.

Junior third baseman Bryce Cermenelli had a grand slam to cap a five-run fifth inning that put the Bears ahead for good. Senior first baseman A.J. Mendolia added a solo shot in the seventh and freshman left fielder Zeb Allen a two-run blast in the eighth to help the Bears (18-22, 8-11) win their fourth consecutive ASUN game.

On the mound, graduate right hander Jesse Barker struck out nine batters in 6 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs to earn his second straight victory. Sophomore Hunter Alexander was the perfect complement, going the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing no hits and no runs and striking out four. 

It was Alexander's fourth save in his last four appearances after saving all three wins over Bellarmine last week at Bear Stadium. He struck out the first two batters he faced with two runners on in the seventh after relieving Barker.

UCA totaled nine hits, with the top five spots in the lineup accounting for eight of them. Allen, Mendolia, Cermenelli and Drew Sturgeon had two hits each, with Cermenelli recording four of UCA's nine RBIs. Allen and Sturgeon had two RBIs apiece, with Allen scoring three times and Tanner Leonard twice.

Game 2 of the series is set for 3 p.m. Saturday.