NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Junior pitcher Cami Newsome threw a one-hit, five-strikeout shutout leading the University of Central Arkansas softball team to a 5-0 victory over Stephen F. Austin in game two of a Southland Conference double-header at SFA Field on Saturday. The host Ladyjacks (13-33, 8-18) topped the Bears (23-29, 9-17) 5-4 in game one.
Newsome (8-8) allowed just four walks for her second shutout of the season. SFA starter Monika Covington (5-18) gave up six hits, three earned runs and three walks while fanning five.
UCA broke open a scoreless game in the top of the fifth when sophomore left fielder Lindsey Barsoum led off with a base hit and junior center fielder Kasey Britt hit her team-leading 10th home run of the season. The Florence, Miss. native has homered seven times in her last eight games.
The Bears tacked on three more runs in the seventh on two hits and two Ladyjack errors. Sophomore second baseman Preslie Long led off with a walk and freshman pinch hitter Ashlynn Tovar reached on a base hit to start the frame. With one out, Long scored from third on an illegal pitch to put UCA up 3-0. After an intentional walk to Britt, junior pinch hitter Kelley Martino drove in Tovar and Britt scored after an error.
Britt went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two driven in to lead the Bears. Third baseman Lauren Luetge had the only hit for SFA.
In the opener, sophomore shortstop Melissa Bryant drew a one-out walk in the first and Britt blasted a shot over the right field fence to give UCA an early 2-0 lead. SFA answered with one run in the bottom of the first when center fielder Amber Price singled and shortstop Bethany Brown knocked her in with a base hit to left field.
In the third, second baseman Elizabeth Arana singled, moved to third on a Luetge double and scored on a Price sacrifice fly to tie the game 2-2.
Arana and Price each had RBI-doubles in the bottom of the fourth to put the Ladyjacks up 4-2.
Britt and junior Katie McGregor were both hit by a pitch in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman third baseman Tarra Underhill hit a double to left field to plate Britt and McGregor was thrown out at home on the play.
In the seventh, Barsoum led off by reaching on an error and stole second. After a Nicole Beals moved Barsoum to third, Bryant doubled in Barsoum to tie the game at 4-4.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Charlotte Singleton singled, Krista Hallmark walked and Lacy Liles reached on an error to load the bases. Left fielder Nicole Wooten hit the game-winning single to left field, scoring Singleton for the 5-4 win.
Underhill and sophomore catcher Melanie Bryant had two hits each for the Bears. Arana, Price and Cadie Weaver recorded two hits each for SFA.
Carlie Thomas (8-10) earned the win by allowing seven hits, three earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts. UCA starter Kelsie Armstrong went four inning and gave up eight hits and four runs with two strikeouts. McGregor (1-1) suffered the loss by allowing three hits, one unearned run, two walks and one strikeout in 2.2 innings.
UCA and SFA will play the final game of the series on Sunday at noon.
