CONWAY -- Central Arkansas turned to its bullpen in the Southland Conference Tournament on Friday night against McNeese State, and junior right-handers Josh Markel and Connor McClain delivered.

Markel and McClain combined to pitch 7 2/3 innings in relief of starter Chris Caudle and helped put the sixth-seeded Bears in the championship game with an 8-6 victory over the No. 7 seed Cowboys in front of an announced Bear Stadium record of 873.

UCA (32-21) has won nine consecutive games this season and eight consecutive in Southland tournament games dating to last year. It will play No. 5 seed Southeastern Louisiana (36-23) for the title, with the winner assured a spot in the NCAA Tournament field.

Right-handers Bryce Biggerstaff and Connor Gilmore pitched complete games in victories over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and McNeese State in UCA's first two tournament games. But after Caudle couldn't get out of the second inning Friday, Coach Allen Gum called on his bullpen for the first time since the Bears' regular-season finale May 17 in New Orleans.

"Markel did a great job coming in and holding them at bay," Gum said. "Connor had an outstanding outing. Our guys that came in shut them down, and it was big to see that."

The Bears are back in the championship game with a chance to advance to the NCAA regionals for a second consecutive season, despite having to replace 10 seniors and junior center fielder Jonathan Davis, who was taken in last year's major-league draft,

"I'm so proud of our guys," Gum said. "It's been a long, tough year to get to this point. Our guys have hung together and stick together."

Markel, a right-hander, came on for Caudle in the top of the second with two outs and got an inning-ending double play from Reed Gordy. Markel (3-0) allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on 5 hits, struck out 2 and walked 1 in 3 2/3 innings as he kept the Bears ahead.

Conway's McClain struck out 7 and allowed 3 hits and 1 run in 4 innings of relief to earn his fourth save. He allowed a two-out RBI single to Connor Lloyd in the bottom of the ninth, but got Matt Williams to fly out to left field to end the game.

McClain said having six days off was beneficial.

"I felt comfortable going in with a three-run lead," McClain said. "There was nothing to worry about."

Caudle allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 1 1/3 innings, walking 2 and hitting 1 batter.

McNeese State (30-28) led 3-0 after one inning, but the lead didn't last long.

Third baseman Nate Ferrell capped UCA's five-run second inning with a two-run single, one of his three hits, to give UCA a 5-3 lead. Second baseman Chris Townsend and first baseman Scott Zimmerle had two hits each, and Zimmerle had two RBI. Right fielder Tyler Langley added an RBI single.

Designated hitter Wesley Hoover's two-run single tied the game at 3-3. Two batters later, Ferrell flew out to center field but was called back to the plate after McNeese State pitcher Michael Clemens was called for a balk. Ferrell lined a two-run single to right field on the next pitch to give the Bears a 5-3 lead.

"That was definitely a momentum swing," McNeese State Coach Justin Hill said. "That was a tough break on our part, but we have to make sure we don't get ourselves into situations like that."

The Bears, who lost 2 of 3 to Southeastern Louisiana in a home series April 4-6, have not decided on a starting pitcher for today. Gum said Biggerstaff, who threw 127 pitches in a 3-1 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday, will likely be available in relief.

"All hands are on deck," Gum said.

Today’s game

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

VS. SE LOUISIANA

WHAT Southland Conference Tournament final WHEN 1 p.m. WHERE Bears Stadium, Conway RECORDS Central Arkansas 32-21, SE Louisiana 36-23 INTERNET ucasports.com, ESPN3

Sports on 05/24/2014