SAN MARCOS, Texas- Texas State used a nine-run fourth inning to defeat the Central Arkansas 13-7 in Southland Conference baseball action at Bobcat Field on Friday night. The Bobcats (21-14, 11-5) outhit the Bears (17-20, 6-10) 11-8 and lead off hitter Thomas Field went 4-for-5 with four runs batted in.

UCA plated the first run of the game in top of the fourth after senior left fielder Kevin Rawls singled and later driven in by senior right fielder Chris Houk.

Texas State answered with the nine-run fourth inning. Lance Loftin hit a three-run homer and Ben Theriot and Adam Witek hit back-to-back doubles off of UCA starter Brandon Dunn to go up 5-1. Field hit a grand slam later in the inning off of reliever Daniel Price to go up 9-1.

Bears' junior third baseman Jonathan Yerby hit a two-run double, plating Kent Taylor and Dillon Smith in the sixth inning, cutting the lead to 9-3. Taylor hit a three-run blast in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 9-6. UCA came within two runs in the top of the eighth when senior center fielder Scott Cline walked and later scored on a passed ball.

The Bobcats added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth on four hits, including a two-run single from Laurn Randell.

Rawls and senior catcher Chris Davis each had two hits for the Bears.

TXST starter Mike Hart (4-2) picked up the win by allowing seven hits, four earned runs, three walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings. Josh Walter earned his fourth save of the season by allowing a hit and a walk and fanning one in 1.1 innings of relief. Dunn (2-3) allowed six hits, six earned runs, a walk and struck out two in 3.1 innings.

The Bears and Bobcats will play the second game of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m.