WACO, Texas - After opening the Baylor QTI Powers Invitational with a 4-1 win over Louisiana-Monroe in the morning, the University of Central Arkansas softball team followed up with a 1-0 victory over #23 Houston at Getterman Field on Friday afternoon. The Bears (3-8) got a shutout pitching performance from sophomore Kelsie Armstrong and a solo home run from Kasey Britt to top the Cougars (10-3). The win marks the first over a NCAA Division I ranked team in UCA history.

"We had two great pitching performances today out of Cami (Newsome) and Kelsie," said UCA head coach David Kuhn. "Melissa Bryant and Kasey Britt came up with three big bombs today."

Britt, a junior first baseman, led the top of the fourth off with a blast over the fence in right center field. She went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and seven total bases in the game.

The Cougars had a chance to score in the sixth inning when Baillie Lott singled and was lifted for pinch runner Mary Tyler Dobson, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Haley Outen followed with a single to left field but Dobson was thrown out at the plate by sophomore left fielder Lindsey Barsoum.

Armstrong (2-5) struck out six and walked four while allowing two hits for the sixth shutout of her career. Donna Bourgeois (3-3) struck out seven and allowed four hits and one walk for Houston.

UCA will continue the tournament on Saturday with a 10 a.m. game against Sam Houston State and a 3 p.m. contest with host Baylor.