CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas turned to its seniors to extend its season past this weekend, and they did just that Friday night with a walk-off, 3-2 victory over league leader Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference action at Bear Stadium.

The victory, UCA’s second straight over SLU, puts the Bears (27-25, 15-14) into next week’s SLC Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. The Lions (36-17, 22-7) dropped their fourth SLC game in their last five and dropped to second place behind Sam Houston State, which swept Houston Baptist in a doubleheader Friday. The series wraps up at 1 p.m. Saturday with UCA assured a spot in the tournament field, with only seeding up for grabs.

After sophomore righthander Ty Tice pitched eight strong innings, the UCA seniors took over. 

Sophomore Michael Haun started the rally for the Bears in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff single off SLU starter Mac Sceroler. After Haun’s hit, SLU closer Kade Granier came on, sporting a minuscule 0.28 earned-run average.

Senior second baseman Chris Townsend singled sharply up the middle, advancing Haun to second. Senior left fielder Brandon Montalvo then drove in Haun with a base hit up the middle to make it 2-1. Matt Anderson then hit a 2-0 pitch off Granier to left-center field, bringing in Townsend with the tying run and Montalvo with the game-winner, setting off a wild celebration on the turf of Bear Stadium.

Townsend, of Batesville, was named to the All-Southland Conference baseball team yesterday.

Townsend leads the Bears in hitting with a .353 average, and is hitting .424 in SLC games, good for second in the league. Townsend has a .427 on-base percentage, which ranks ninth in the SLC, and is 10 of 12 on stolen base attempts. He has 13 multi-hit games and had a 10-game hitting streak earlier in the season. Townsend is sixth in career walks at UCA (80) and is 12th in career games played (174).