CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears let a 5-4 lead slip away over the final three innings in a 9-6 loss to the Little Rock Trojans on Wednesday in Game 2 of the "I-40 Showdown" series at Bear Stadium.

The Bears (12-19) went ahead by a run after scoring three in the sixth inning on just two hits. Sam Reynolds led off with a walk and Keon Moseni followed with a double to left center. Carter Alexander grounded out to bring in Reynolds, Tanner Leonard walked and Zeb Allen brought in both runners with a double to right field.

The Bears scored their first two runs in the fourth inning after trailing 1-0. Alexander, a freshman catcher from Bigelow, Ark., made the most of his season debut with a two-run single to right field that scored Jagger Schattle and Preston Curtis. Alexanderwent  2 for 4 with 3 RBI and also threw out a base runner. 

The Trojans (12-19) scored three runs in the seventh and one each in the eighth and ninth. UCA got its final run in the seventh on a solo home run by Moseni, his first of the season. Moseni finished 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Schattle also had a pair of hits.

UCA used five pitchers, with freshman Luke Lorence taking the loss with two innings of middle relief. Little Rock's Malcolm Brown pitched the final 3.2 innings for the victory.

The Bears return to ASUN action this weekend at Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky. Game times are 2 p.m. (CST) on both Friday and Saturday, and noon on Sunday.