TROY, Ala. - The University of Central Arkansas softball team came up on the short end of two games on the first day of the Quality Inn Classic on Friday. The Bears (1-6) lost a pitcher's dual to Samford (2-4) 1-0 in eight innings in the opener. UCA then blew a four-run lead against host Troy (4-2), falling 13-5 in six innings.

After seven scoreless regulation innings, Samford took advantage of the international tie-breaker rule in the bottom of the eighth inning. The rule allows a runner to start the inning on second base. Pinch runner Kayla Shaffer was bunted over to third then scored on a base hit from second baseman Julianne Surane.

UCA had the same opportunity in the top of the eighth with sophomore shortstop Melissa Bryant starting the inning at second. Bryant moved to third on a ground ball from Katie McGregor. Bryant was picked off third in run down for the second out. Taylor Dear grounded out to first to end the inning.

Bear sophomore pitcher Kelsie Armstrong (1-4) limited the Bulldogs to just two hits and two walks, while striking out five. Samford's Nicole Bobrowski (2-0) threw a three-hit, three strikeout shutout.

Against the Trojans, the Bears appeared to have found their offensive stroke, jumping out to a 5-1 lead in the top of the third. Troy answered with an eight-run bottom of the third. They added a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to end the game via the run rule. The Bears connected on 10 hits, but the Trojans had 16.

Sophomore catcher Melanie Bryant and freshman third baseman Tarra Underhill each had a two-run homer in the third inning for UCA. Troy's Nikki Hollett hit a two-run blast in the third and center fielder Michelle Hewett hit a solo shot in the fifth.

Bryant led UCA at the plate by going 3-for-4. Junior first baseman Kasey Britt had two hits, including a double. Freshman center fielder Kelvon Greer had two hits and a RBI and sophomore second baseman Preslie Long recorded a double.