CONWAY, Arkansas – The Northwestern State baseball team had its chances early against one of the better arms in the Southland Conference on Thursday afternoon.

While the Demons did not take advantage of those opportunities, homestanding Central Arkansas did so against the Northwestern State bullpen, pulling away for a 12-1 Southland Conference series-opening victory at Bear Stadium.

The Demons (13-12, 3-4) notched an early lead against Central Arkansas right-hander Tyler Gray (3-0) on Sam Taylor's two-out RBI single in the second inning.

Gray danced in and out of early trouble before settling in to throw seven innings of one-run ball, striking out 10.

"That guy's really good," second-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "We got tagged out on the bases twice in the first three innings, and we get a hit right after it. Plays like that happen in baseball, but those are plays against a really good arm and, in order to score against him, you've got to do better."

The Bears (16-10, 8-2) answered NSU's run with two in their half of the second as William Hancock hit a solo home run off Nathan Jones (1-3) before Central Arkansas added an unearned run on Hunter Strong's RBI single that followed the first of three NSU errors in the game.

Jones turned in a quality start, allowing three earned runs in six innings, striking out five.

"Nathan managed it through six innings," Barbier said. "His pitch count got up a little bit, which is a credit to them. They came out swinging. We only walked three guys until the end there. We've got to change it and move forward and go get them tomorrow. If it's 12-1 or 3-1, it's one game."

Trailing 4-1 in the seventh, the Demons got a leadoff walk from Kwan Adkins before a caught stealing scuttled what ended up being Northwestern State's last best chance.

After Gray set the Demons down in the seventh, the Bears broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh, scoring eight runs thanks in part to a pair of Demons' errors and Rigo Aguilar's three-run double.

Aguilar was one of three Bears who had multiple RBIs, joining Hunter Strong (4-for-5, three RBIs) and Hancock (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs).

The series continues with a 6 p.m. Friday matchup. Northwestern State will send left-hander Ridge Heisler (3-1, 3.94) to the mound against Central Arkansas right-hander Tanner Wiley (1-0, 3.41).

"We're not going to be measured on this one game on a Thursday night," Barbier said. "This one got away from us. Hopefully, we'll get a good start from Ridge, come out and play better tomorrow."

Central Arkansas 12, Northwestern State 1
NSU 010 000 000 – 1 6 3
UCA 020 020 80x – 12 15 0
W – Tyler Gray (3-0). L – Nathan Jones (1-3). 2B – NSU, Chaney Dodge. UCA, Josh Somdecerff, Rigo Aguilar. HR – UCA, Tyler Smith (1); William Hancock (2). Highlights: UCA, Hunter Strong 4-5, 3 RBIs; Smith 2-5, HR, RBI; Aguilar 2-5, 2B, 3 RBIs; Hancock 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs.
Records: Northwestern State 13-12, 3-4; Central Arkansas 16-10, 8-2.