WOODSTOCK, Ga. – The UCA softball team earned a pair of victories this afternoon to kick off their five-game slate at the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Classic. UCA defeated Robert Morris 5-3 before running past Bradley this evening, 10-1. The two wins run the current UCA winning streak to five games and the 10-5 record is the best start since the Bears started 9-5 in 2003.
UCA 5, Robert Morris 3
The UCA Bears scored a run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth en route to a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over Robert Morris Friday afternoon at the Twin Creeks Softball Complex.
Trailing 3-2, UCA erased the one-run deficit on a Kasey Britt RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. With the game tied in the sixth, Bear pinch hitter Katie McGregor picked up her third RBI of the year to give UCA a 4-3 edge. Stephanie Lasley gave the Bears some insurance with her second RBI of the afternoon on a ground out to second.
The Bears gained eight hits on the afternoon, marking the fifth straight game they have had at least eight hits in a game. Relief pitcher Nicole Sleith was saddled with the loss for Robert Morris. She allowed two runs on three hits over two innings of work.
The Bears took an early 2-0 lead with a run in each of the first two frames. Lissa Avitia picked up an RBI on a groundout that scored pinch runner Kelvon Greer in the first inning before Lasley sent Tiffany Roby home with a double to center in the second.
UCA starting pitcher Kelsie Armstrong, who improved her record to 4-4 this season, was basically unhittable on the afternoon aside from the three-run Colonial fourth. Robert Morris got their first run on an RBI single by Chelsea Siar before taking the lead on a two-run single by catcher Samantha Santillo.
Armstrong settled down and retired the next six hitters in order. Santillo singled in the seventh, but a double play cleared the bases and Armstrong retired pinch hitter Katrina Gallagher to end the game. Armstrong struck out eight hitters on the afternoon and allowed three runs on six hits. The Colonials managed just two hits outside of their three-run fourth.
UCA 10, Bradley 1
Tiffany Roby went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs and Kasey Britt was 4-for-5 with a homer as UCA blew past the Bradley Braves, 10-1, Friday evening.
Roby was responsible for starting the UCA rally in the third that led to three runs as she got her first hit of the day, a double to left field. McGregor picked up an RBI single, giving UCA the first run of the day. Lasley reached base on a bunt that was misfielded by Brittany Burgess and Britt singled to center, scoring McGregor. Lasley advanced to third on the play, setting her up to score on a Melanie Bryant sacrifice fly.
The Bears played long ball in the fourth inning as Roby led off with a solo shot to left, her first of the year. Britt then belted one to center with two outs, extending the UCA lead to 5-0.
Roby and the Bears weren’t finished, however. The freshman from North Little Rock added to the Bears lead the very next inning when she hit a two-run blast to straight away centerfield.
An Ashley Boswell RBI single made the score 8-1 in the sixth and the Bears took advantage of one of four Braves errors, plating a pair of runs in the seventh.
Cami Newsome scattered nine Bradley hits in her complete game effort. The senior improved to 6-0 this season as she allowed just one run and one free pass on the evening.
Bradley starter Madeline Lynch-Crumrine was the victim of a UCA offense that has been giving opposing teams fits so far in 2012. She allowed 15 UCA hits and allowed 10 runs, six earned, over 6.1 innings in the losing effort.
Roby and Britt combined for eight hits, three home runs, six RBI and five runs scored to lead the way for the Bears. McGregor added a pair of hits, an RBI and a run scored and Boswell finished the game 1-for-3 with an RBI and a pair of walks.
UCA will look to make it six straight tomorrow, and potentially seven, as they face off with Georgia State at 9:30 a.m. before taking on Indiana at 2:30 p.m.
