CONWAY, Ark. – A pair of three-run innings lifted Central Arkansas to a 9-6 win over SIUE Friday in the opener of a three-game baseball series.

The Cougars are now 4-4 for the season. Central Arkansas improved to 4-5 with the win.

The two teams posted 11 hits apiece despite each facing a quality starter.

"I never would have expected the score to be 9-6 with those two pitchers on the mound," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.

It was SIUE which struck first, scoring twice in the second inning. Steven Pattan and Josh Ohl each drove home runs in the inning.

Central Arkansas seized the lead for good, scoring three runs in each of the third and the fourth innings on seven total hits against SIUE starter Collin Baumgartner. In an uncharacteristic rough outing, Baumgartner (0-1) allowed six runs on eight hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out four.

"It wasn't so much walks, but just command of his pitches," Lyons said of Baumgartner. "He had to rely on his fastball more than he is used to."

UCA pushed its lead to 7-2 in the fifth before both teams scored runs in the sixth inning for an 8-3 score. For SIUE, Parker Wielt tripled to drive home Raul Elguezabal who had singled with one out in the inning.

The Cougars trimmed the Bears' lead to 8-6 thanks to a three-run, four-hit seventh inning. Justin Perkins collected a two-run double and Elguezabal added an RBI single in the inning.

UCA picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the inning.

"It was good to see us put up three there, but then we gave one right back," Lyons said.

UCA reliever Conner Williams finished the game out for the Bears. He struck out five of the seven hitters he faced.

"They were able to bring in Williams and he was pretty good; he was sharp," Lyons said.

SIUE got two hits apiece from Ohl, Connor Kiffer, Perkins and Elguezabal.

"Offensively, we started to put together some more productive at-bats," Lyons added. "This is more indicative of who we are. It is still early in the season and there are going to be peaks and valleys, but this is a step in the right direction."

The Cougars and the Bears will play the second game of the weekend series Saturday at 2 p.m. Kenny Serwa will start for SIUE.

"This is our first real three-game weekend series and we have a chance to even the series," Lyons said. "Our guys are in a good place and we feel good with Kenny on the mound."