NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Zeb Allen drove in two runs and a parade of Central Arkansas relievers combined for 4 2/3 innings of one-hit ball as the Bears held off a late Vanderbilt rally for a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.

The win improved Central Arkansas to 8-5, while Vanderbilt fell to 7-6.

The Bears built an early lead against Vanderbilt starter Alex Kranzler, who lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with five strikeouts. Central Arkansas broke through in the third inning without the benefit of a hit, using two walks, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly to plate two runs, one unearned. Allen then delivered the key blow in the fifth, lacing an RBI single to center to score Kade Goodshield. Landon Carter followed with another run-scoring single to push the lead to 5-0.

Allen finished 3 for 4 to pace the Bears’ offense.

Vanderbilt began chipping away in the fourth on a solo home run by Whitcomb. The Commodores added another run in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Holcomb, making it 5-2.

The most important part of the game came in the middle innings, as Central Arkansas’s bullpen stifled repeated Vanderbilt threats. After starter Patrick Fernandez went 4 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on no hits with three walks and three strikeouts, the Bears turned to their relief corps. Adria Casoliba entered with two on and one out in the fifth and stranded both runners, beginning a dominant stretch. Casoliba, Braxton Haywood and Tyler Baird combined to throw 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Haywood escaped a jam in the sixth by inducing an inning-ending double play.

Vanderbilt mounted its final push in the eighth against Denver Hamilton. After a walk and a stolen base that resulted in a two-base error, Ryker Waite delivered a two-out RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-4. Waite went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Hunter Alexander entered for Central Arkansas in the ninth and retired the side in order, striking out one, to secure the save and the victory.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose ELO system gave Vanderbilt an 89.3% probability to win, though the final score was closer to its simulator’s prediction of a 7-6 Bears win.

Central Arkansas travels to face Arkansas-Little Rock for a three-game series starting Friday. Vanderbilt will look to rebound quickly, hosting Troy on Wednesday.