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CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears are back at home at Bear Stadium for a three-game series with the Central Connecticut Blue Devils, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Bears (3-4) have won two consecutive games, including the series finale with Eastern Michigan on Monday and a road victory at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday.

Friday's game will be the season opener for the Blue Devils, who have yet to play a game this season. The Bears will be playing for the eighth time. 

CCU has been a strong program for the past 20 years, with eight NCAA Tournament appearances, the most recent in 2023 when it played in the Columbia (S.C.) Regional. The Blue Devils played in the Fayetteville Regional in 2019, beating No. 24 California and losing to TCU.

The Bears have been led offensively by sophomore left fielder Zeb Allen, who is hitting .462 with a .731 slugging percentage. Freshman middle infielder Nathan Negre is hitting .321, one of five Bears hitting better than .300, along with third baseman Bryce Cermenelli (.313), infielder Blaine French (.308) and center fielder Sam Reynolds (.300). UCA is hitting .273 as a team. 

The Bears are expected to go with their same rotation on the mound, with junior Charlie Christensen, redshirt freshman Lucas Greer and junior Coleman MacRae.

The Bears and Blue Devils will play at 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.