LAKE CHARLES, La. - The University of Central Arkansas softball team won their Southland Conference opener by defeating McNeese 5-2 at Cowgirl Diamond on Saturday night. Sophomore pitcher Kelsie Armstrong took a perfect game into the fifth inning and did not allow an earned run, allowing the Bears (8-10, 1-0) to pick up their fifth consecutive victory. The Cowgirls fall to 6-13 overall and 0-4 in league play.

Sophomore catcher Melanie Bryant, who has an eight game hitting streak, led the top of the second off with a base hit, which was followed by junior right fielder Nicole Beals drawing a walk. Senior first baseman Shay Ristau and freshman Tarra Underhill followed with back-to-back base hits to put UCA up 2-0. Freshman center fielder Kelvon Greer then walked to load bases, and junior Kasey Britt knocked in Ristau with a ground ball.

Bryant gave the Bears a 4-0 lead in the sixth when she tripled and scored on a MSU error. MyKeshia Young led the bottom of the sixth off by reaching on an error and later scored on a double by shortstop Molly Guidry, to cut the lead to 4-1.

Freshman second baseman Taylor Dear led the seventh off with a double and was lifted for pinch runner Ashlynn Tovar, who moved to third on a Greer ground out. Britt then plated Tovar who McNeese failed to throw out at the plate to give the Bears a 5-1 advantage.

A pair of UCA errors led to third baseman Dani Price reaching and scoring in the bottom of the seventh for the final run of the game.

Bryant went 2-for-3 with two runs scored for UCA. Britt had two runs batted in, despited not having a hit.

Armstrong (6-7) retired the first 13 batters of the game before Cowgirl second baseman Katie Roux singled with one out in the fifth. Armstrong allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out eight. MSU pitcher Kayla Shepherd (2-7) allowed five hits, four earned runs, two walks and struck out three.

The Bears and Cowgirls will finish their series on Sunday with a double-header beginning at 11 a.m.