ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The UCA softball team was back in action today but was unable to pick up a victory as they lost a pair of heartbreakers on the opening day of the Lobo Classic. The Bears began the day with a 1-0 loss to Northern Colorado before dropping the nightcap to the host, New Mexico, by the score of 10-8.
New Mexico 10, UCA 8
A three-run top of the seventh inning gave New Mexico just enough to slip by UCA in an offensive thriller on Friday evening. The Bears held an 8-7 lead going into the final inning, but the Lobo offense exploded, like it had in two previous frames en route to the 10-8 victory.
New Mexico plated runs in bunches when they scored, getting three in the first, four in the fourth and three in the seventh innings.
The UCA offense didn’t start lighting up until a five-run rally in the bottom half of the third. The rally saw six straight Bears reach base safely, beginning with a Melissa Bryant single. Melanie Bryant followed with a single of her own, setting Kasey Britt up for an RBI single. Then three straight walks led to two more UCA runs. Lissa Avitia then picked up an RBI on a groundout to short before pinch hitter Katie McGregor laced a single up the middle, scoring Nicole Beals and giving the Bears a 5-3 advantage.
New Mexico answered right back in the next inning as Stefanie Carramusa belted an RBI double to center, cutting the UCA lead to 5-4. Shensie Cox then delivered a huge blow, as she hit a three-run home run putting the Lobos back on top, 7-5.
UCA added a run in the fourth on a Taylor Dear sacrifice fly and then regained the lead thanks to an RBI triple by Melanie Bryant and another Britt RBI single in the fifth. That lead wouldn’t quite hold up, however, as the Lobos took advantage of a costly UCA error in the seventh, to regain the lead. New Mexico added some cushion after the error, as Cox delivered the knockout this time with an RBI triple to right.
The first two Bears reached base in the seventh, but Lobo pitcher Carrie Sheehan forced a double play and a fly out to cut the UCA rally short.
Sheehan earned the victory in relief for New Mexico, allowing three runs on six UCA hits. Kalley Martino was hit with the loss for UCA. Martino went 3.1 innings and allowed three runs, all unearned, on five hits while fanning one.
The heart of the order led the way for UCA in the slugfest. Melissa Bryant had a pair of hits and two runs scored, Melanie Bryant was 4-for-5 with an RBI-triple and three runs scored and Britt finished the game 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI.
Most of New Mexico’s firepower came from the very top of the order. Carramusa and Cox combined for a 5-for-10, seven RBI effort in the No.1 and No. 2 spots in the order. Cleanup hitter Jessica Garcia added a home run and a pair of RBI as well in the winning effort.
Northern Colorado 1, Central Arkansas 0
UCA pitcher Kelsie Armstrong allowed just three hits and one run, a solo home run in the fifth inning off the bat of Jamie Pollack, but that was enough for Northern Colorado as the Bears from the Big Sky conference bested the Bears of the Southland conference, 1-0.
UCA out-hit Northern Colorado nine to three, but stranded eight runners on base in the contest.
Armstrong was making a strong bid for her second no-hitter in just eight days, as she was through the first four innings unscathed. Armstrong finished the day with eight strikeouts and one walk while only allowing the one run. With the loss, Armstrong’s record fell to 1-2 despite improving her season ERA to 1.09.
Megan Wilkinson was credited with the victory in relief for Northern Colorado. She tossed 2.2 innings and allowed four UCA hits. Kelci Chaney started in the circle for Northern Colorado and allowed five hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Offensively, UCA was led by a two-hit effort by leftfielder Kasey Britt. Britt reached base all four times on the afternoon and was the only Bear with an extra base hit, doubling to left to lead off the game. Britt also drew a pair of walks in the contest. Stephanie Lasley was the only other Bear with a multi-hit performance, finishing 2-for-3.
UCA is back in action for a pair of games on Saturday. The Bears will take on Bryant at 3 p.m. before trying to even the score with New Mexico at 8 p.m.
