LOUISVILLE, Ky. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears loaded the bases in the ninth inning Friday but could not complete the comeback in a 4-2 loss to Bellarmine in their ASUN Conference opener at Knights Field.

    The Bears (5-11, 0-1) held a 2-0 lead over the Knights (3-15, 1-0) until the fifth inning when the home team tied it with a a pair of runs off three hits. The Knights then extended the lead to 4-2 with two runs on a pair of doubles.

    UCA then got a two-out walk by catcher Noah Argenta in the ninth inning. Right fielder Kolby Johnson had a base hit and first baseman Connor Emmet was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Bellarmine reliever David Ecklar got a ground ball out to end the threat.

    The Bears scored single runs in the third and fourth innings. Argenta, a junior from Fair Grove, Mo., hit his second home run of the season in the third for the 1-0 lead. In the fourth, third baseman A.J. Mendolia singled up the middle, advanced on a wild pitch, went to third on Trey Harris' sacrifice bunt and scored on Drew Sturgeon's RBI ground out.

    Argenta and designated hitter Hunter Hicks each had three hits for the Bears, while Mendolia and Johnson added two apiece. Mendolia extended his on-base streak to 21 consecutive games dating back to last season. UCA starter Tyler Cleveland took the loss, going six innings and allowing three earned runs and striking out three. Tyler Navarro went the final two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four.

    Game 2 of the series is set for 1 p.m. (CT) Saturday.