An outstanding effort by Central Arkansas pitcher Connor Gilmore powered the Bears to a come-from-behind 4-3 Southland Conference baseball victory over Sam Houston Friday night in Conway, Arkansas.

After giving up three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning, Gilmore did not allow the Bearkats another hit in seven consecutive scoreless innings. The win in the first game of a three-game league weekend series lifts UCA to 13-7 for the year and 7-3 in Southland action. Central Arkansas is 5-1 at home in Bear Stadium this year.

The two teams entered the contest tied for third place but just one game out of first in the young 2015 Southland Conference race. Sam Houston falls to 13-15 for the season and 6-4 in conference play. The Bearkats are 4-9 on the road this spring.

A single by Bryce Johnson and Spence Rahm's double got the offense rolling for the Bearkats in the top of the second inning. Johnson scored on a single by Jake MacWilliam and Rahm came home on a wild pitch. Hayden Simerly's single put the Bearkats up 3-0.

UCA got one of the runs back in the bottom of the second on two hits and an error that allowed the tally.  The winning runs came in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double down the left field line by Hayden Steele and a run-scoring single by Wesley Hoover.

Bearkat starter Andrew Godail was the losing pitcher, going five and a third innings. Godail gave up eight hits, walked two and struck out four of the 23 batters he faced. Alex Bisacca finished the game on the mound, allowing two hits while facing 10 batters.

The two teams face off again Saturday at 4 p.m. The series ends Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest.