LAKE CHARLES, La. - The University of Central Arkansas won the opening Southland Conference series of the season with a double-header split against McNeese State at Cowgirl Diamond on Sunday afternoon. After taking Saturday's opener 5-2, the Bears (9-11, 2-1 SLC) took the Sunday's first game 7-5, before falling to the Cowgirls (7-15, 1-5 SLC) 2-0 in the nightcap. It was the first series victory over MSU for UCA.
In game one, Cowgirl shortstop Molly Guidry singled and scored on a Alanna Divittorio base hit in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0. UCA sophomore catcher Melanie Bryant answered with a solo homer to lead off the top of the second.
McNeese center fielder Claire Terracina walked to begin the third inning and later scored from third on a Guidry bunt. Terracina added a run-scoring single and Guidry had a RBI-double in the fourth to give the Cowgirls a 4-1 advantage.
The Bears tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth when shortstop Melissa Bryant hit a solo homer and twin sister Melanie Bryant hit her second home run of the game, a two-run shot that scored junior Katie McGregor who reached on a single.
MyKeisha Young singled and scored on a Lindsey Langner sacrifice fly in the sixth to put the Cowgirls up 5-4.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, McGregor double and Melanie Bryant was intentionally walked, setting up senior Shay Ristau's three-run home run to win the game.
Ristau went 3-for-4 with three runs driven in, while Melanie Bryant was 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. McGreogr and freshman second baseman Taylor Dear added two hits each. Divittorio had three hits for MSU, while Guidry, Terracina and Young had two a piece.
Melanie Bryant became the ninth player in UCA history to hit two home runs in the same game. The Bears tied the school record with four home runs.
McGregor also earned the win by giving up five hits one earned run and two walks in three innings of relief. Sophomore Kelsie Armstrong picked up the save by allowing just one hit in the seventh inning. Meagan Bond (3-6) allowed 10 hits, seven runs and two walks with three strikeouts in 6.2 innings in the losing effort.
Game two was a different story, with the contest remaining scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. The Cowgirls took advantage of a pair of errors by the Bears with Divittorio and Katie Roux driving in runs.
UCA freshman third baseman Tarra Underhill had two of UCA's seven hits. MSU's Dani Price also had two hits.
Cowgirl starter Kayla Shepherd (3-7) struck out three while throwing a seven-hit shutout. Armstrong (6-8) allowed just six hits and two unearned runs with two strikeouts.
UCA will return to Louisiana on Tuesday when they play Centenary in Shreveport at 5 p.m.
