CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears held the No. 1 offense in the nation in check for eight innings before dropping a 6-5 decision to the Austin Peay Governors in their ASUN series opener at Bear Stadium.

The league-leading Governors (32-17, 17-8) scored four times in the top of the ninth to take their first lead of the game, then held on as UCA got two runs back in the bottom of the inning against APSU closer Titan Kennedy-Hayes to make it a one-run game.

UCA (21-25, 11-14) grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the third inning against APSU starter Jacob Weaver. Senior first baseman A.J. Mendolia had an RBI single to score second baseman Tanner Leonard, who had a one-out bunt single. A wild pitch then allowed Zeb Allen to score after his walk.

UCA made it a 3-0 lead in the sixth when Mason King was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on Leonard's ground out. Allen then put an RBI single up the middle for the third run.

APSU, which entered the game with a nation-leading .359 batting average, 11.2 runs per game and 135 home runs, was held to five singles against UCA starter Jesse Barker, who went 6 2.3 innings and allowed 2 runs while striking out 5. Barker, a graduate from Benton, Ark., was pitching at home for the final time and earned his 100th strikeout of the season to lead the ASUN.

However, he could get a no decision as the Governors scored twice in the seventh to get within one run, then finally got their first home run of the night, a two-run shot by third baseman Brody Szako. In the bottom of the inning, UCA put a scare in the Governors. Kade Seldomridge led off with a walk and Mendolia singled. After a double play, Bryce Cermenelli doubled down the left-field line to score Seldomridge.

Catcher Casey Shipley followed with a base hit down the same line to score Cermenelli and cut the deficit to one run. But Kennedy-Hayes earned his seventh save by getting a strikeout to end it.

Mendolia, Cermenelli and Leonard had two hits each for UCA.

Game 2 of the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, with Senior Day activities set for 3:45 p.m.