HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The University of Central Arkansas softball team lost to Kennesaw State 3-2 in eight innings on Sunday’s first game of the Southern Miss Mizuno Classic. Despite outhitting the Owls (3-0) 9-7, the Bears (0-3) struggled to get timely hits.
The Owls took an early lead when designated player Jessica Cross hit a two-run blast over the left field fence in the top of the first.
UCA answered in the bottom of the frame, when junior right fielder Nicole Beals got on with a bunt single and was doubled in by junior first baseman Kasey Britt, cutting the lead to 2-1.
In the bottom of the second, the Bears loaded the bases after Tarra Underhill struck out and reached on a wild pitch and Katie McGregor and Taylor Dear singled. UCA could not capitalize as KSU pitcher Amanda Henderson got out of the jam with a strikeout, a pop up and groundball.
The Bears tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third when Britt reached second on a dropped fly ball in left field and Underhill plated her with a base hit.
Owl right fielder Bianca Durant led the top of the sixth off with a double off of junior pitcher Kristen Johnson. Junior reliever Cami Newsome came in and got three quick outs to get UCA out of the inning.
KSU threatened again with one out in the top of the seventh when Newsome gave up a single to Sara Sikes and walked Ashlee Burkett. Sophomore reliever Kelsie Armstrong struck out Cross and got left fielder Sharon Swanson to pop up to end the inning.
KSU reliever Catherine Tarvin gave up a double to Beals and intentionally walked to Britt to start the bottom of the seventh. Tarvin got out of the inning with a strike out, a sacrifice bunt and a groundout.
With the start of the international tie-breaker rule in the eighth, KSU pinch runner Lyndsay McCurry started the inning off at second and later scored from third on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Lindsay Vollmer for the winning run.
McGregor and Beals had two hits each for the Bears.
Tarvin (2-0) picked up the win with two strikeouts a walk and one hit in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Cross earned the save by getting the final strikeout of the game. Armstrong (0-2) suffered the loss with an unearned run and a strikeout in 1.2 innings. Johnson allowed two runs and six hits over five innings and Newsome allowed one hit and a walk in 1.1 scoreless innings.
The Bears will wrap up the tournament with host Southern Miss at 4 p.m.
