CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears answered a mid-game challenge with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull away to a 12-7 victory over the Lamar Cardinals in Game 2 of their Southland Conference series on Friday night at Bear Stadium.

The Bears (21-6, 2-3) took the series for the second consecutive season after Thursday night’s 10-0 victory. UCA has now beaten Lamar five straight times to take an 11-9 lead in the overall series.

UCA jumped out to a seemingly comfortable 6-1 lead after scoring three runs in the second and fifth innings. But the Cardinals (21-8, 1-4) got two runs back in the sixth and put up three more in the top of the seventh to close it to 7-6.

The Bears then answered with five runs on just two hits in the bottom of the inning, with junior center fielder Jonathan Davis driving in three of them with one swing, a single  through the left side of the infield, to push the lead back to 12-6. Forrestt Allday also had a two-run single up the middle in the inning.

Davis finished 3 for 4 with 4 RBI, while Allday was 1 for 3 with 3 RBI. Junior first baseman Scott Zimmerle had atwo-run single in UCA’s three-run fifth and went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored on the night.

Senior left hander Jeffery Enloe won for the fifth time this season, going six innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs and striking out 6. Senior Ethan McKinzie came on in relief of Blake Clayton in the seventh and allowed 1 run and struck out 4 Cardinals over the final 2 1/3 innings for his team-high third save.

Lamar starter Eric Harrington (4-1) lost for the first time, allowing 6 runs, 4 earned, in 4 2/3 innings. Lamar out-hit UCA 13-9, including a pair of home runs. Leadoff batter Sam Bumpers was 4 for 5 with a home run and a triple. First baseman Seth Dornak went 4 for 4 with the other home run and 3 RBI.

The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.