CONWAY, Ark. - The University of Central Arkansas softball team recorded a pair of shutouts against Alcorn State on Wednesday afternoon at Farris Field. Sophomore shortstop Melissa Bryant hit a home run in each game and sophomore Kelsie Armstrong and junior Cami Newsome blanked the Lady Braves (15-22) 9-0 in five innings and 6-0, respectively. With the wins, the Bears improve to 20-23 overall headed into this weekend's Southland Conference series at UTSA.
Armstrong (12-15) came one out shy of throwing a no-hitter in the first game. The Hot Springs, Ark. native fanned 11 batters and only allowed a walk before catcher Kala Purry reached on an infield single with two outs in the top of the fifth inning.
UCA broke open a scoreless game with a seven-run, seven-hit bottom of the third. With one out, Bryant hit her first home run of the day, a three-run shot over the fence in right center field. After ASU right fielder Jasmine Hall dropped a foul ball, the Bears went on to score four unearned runs in the inning. Freshman third baseman Tarra Underhill, senior first baseman Shay Ristau, sophomore center fielder Candice Gauntt and junior right fielder Nicole Beals all had RBI-singles in the frame.
Junior left fielder Kasey Britt led the bottom of the fourth off with a double and sophomore catcher Melanie Bryant doubled her in. Later in the inning, Underhill scored from third base on a passed ball by Purry.
Ristau and Gauntt had two hits each for UCA.
Lady Brave starter Deanna Rancilio (8-8) struck out two and allowed eight hits and four earned runs in three innings for the loss.
In game two, Newsome struck out six and allowed just four hits and two walks to improve her record to 7-7. ASU's Kasey Duncan (4-10) gave up eight hits, two earned runs and three hits over 4.1 innings.
Ristau hit a one-out single and the second and Gauntt drove her in with a double to center field for the first run of the game. Melanie Bryant doubled and later stole home on a delayed steal in the third inning to go up 2-0.
Melissa Bryant led the bottom of the fifth off with a solo home run to center field, her fifth blast of the season. The Bears would add three more runs in the inning on three more hits, a walk and an error. Freshman Bre Hutchinson drew a bases loaded walk to put the Bears up 4-0. Gauntt hit a two-run single, knocking in Preslie Long and Lindsey Barsoum for the final runs of the game.
Gauntt went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in for the Bears. Melanie Bryant and Katie McGregor had two hits each.
