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CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will have one more non-conference series before they open play in the Atlantic Sun Conference next weekend.

UCA (4-6) hosts the Evansville Purple Aces this weekend at Bear Stadium, starting with a 2 p.m. first pitch on Friday. Saturday's game will also be at 2 p.m., while Sunday's series finale is set for 1 p.m.

The Purple Aces, from the Missouri Valley Conference, are 3-8 on the season, with two wins over Missouri in a four-game series in Columbia, Mo. Evansville dropped three straight games at Little Rock to open the season on Feb. 14-16.

The Bears are coming off a home weekend series against Central Connecticut, with the visitors winning the final two games. UCA took the opener 4-3 on Friday behind a strong pitching effort from junior starter Charlie Christensen and sophomore reliever Hunter Alexander.

Christensen went 6.0 innings, striking out seven and allowing 5 hits and 1 earned run. Alexander pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing just 1 hit, no runs and striking out 2.

Sophomore outfielder Zeb Allen leads the Bears' offense with a .342 batting average, followed by junior third baseman Bryce Cermenelli at .326. Freshman middle infielder Nathan Negre is the only other Bear hitting over .300 at .314. Allen and redshirt freshman Sam Reynolds are tied for the team lead with two home runs, while Cermenelli has a team-best four doubles.

The Bears had their Tuesday game at Memphis postponed until Tuesday, May 13 due to weather. UCA will travel to Fayetteville next Tuesday to face the Top 10 Arkansas Razorbacks at 6 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium before ASUN play begins.

UCA opens league play next weekend against the North Alabama Lions. The series will be played at UAB in Birmingham, Ala., due to ongoing construction at UNA's home field.