ITTA BENA, Miss. - The University of Central Arkansas softball team earned their first win of the 2011 season by defeating Mississippi Valley State 5-2 on the road on Wednesday afternoon. The Bears (1-4) hammered out 11 hits, while holding the Devilettes (3-2) to just five. Junior Kasey Britt paced UCA's offense by going 2-for-4 with four runs batted in.

Britt put the Bears on top in the top of the second with a bases-clearing double that scored Taylor Dear, Kelvon Greer and Nicole Beals. MVSU got their only runs of the game on a two-run, two-out homer by center fielder Rashundra Brass in the bottom of the third.

Britt singled and scored on a base hit by sophomore catcher Melanie Bryant in the fourth inning to give UCA a 4-1 lead. In the sixth, Greer reached on error and later scored from third on a ground out by Britt.

Senior designated player Shay Ristau had a pair of doubles for UCA. Beals and Bryant added two hits each.

Sophomore Kelsie Armstrong (1-3) earned the win by fanning seven and walking one in seven innings. MVSU starter Kimberly Spivey (1-2) struck out three and allowed three walks, eight hits and four runs over four innings.

UCA will travel to Troy, Ala. for the Quality Inn Classic, beginning Friday.