CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears dug themselves a hole in the first inning and could never overcome it in a 7-2 loss to the Central Connecticut Blue Devils in Saturday at Bear Stadium. 

The Blue Devils (1-1) got a pair of home runs in the top of the first, including a leadoff shot by Brady Short, to grab an early 3-0 lead. UCA would eventually score single runs in the fifth and seventh innings but it was not enough. 

CCSU had 14 hits while UCA had nine, including two each by junior left fielder Blaine French, junior third baseman Bryce Cermenelli and senior designated hitter Preston Curtis.

In the fifth, sophomore center fielder Zeb Allen his his second home run of the season to right center. In the seventh, senior first baseman Jagger Schattle singled up the middle to score French. The Bears stranded 14 runners while the Blue Devils left 13 on base.

UCA starter Coleman MacRae took the loss, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs in 1 1/3 innings of work. Three of the Bears' four relievers, Gavin Alveti, Aden Velasquez and Luke Lorence, allowed no runs in 7 1/3 innings. Velasquez, a freshman from Cabot High School, struck out three and Lorence, a freshman from Little Rock Central, struck out a pair in the ninth.

The rubber game of the series is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.