CONWAY, Ark. – The UCA Bears softball team is set to open their 2012 regular season on Thursday afternoon with a road game at Alcorn State beginning at 2 p.m. Following Thursday’s game with the Braves, UCA will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. to compete in the Southern Miss Coca Cola Classic this weekend.
The Bears hold a 3-1 all-time record over Alcorn State. Last season, UCA swept the Braves in a doubleheader, 9-0 and 6-0. The two teams last met in Lorman in 2012 when Alcorn State forced a split, winning game two, 3-0, after losing the opening game of the twinbill to the Bears, 6-2.
On Friday, UCA will begin action at the Southern Miss Coca Cola Classic by playing the host team at 5 p.m. UCA is 0-4 all-time against the Golden Eagles with all four losses coming in Hattiesburg. The Bears will square off with Southern Miss twice on the trip with the second game set to take place Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
In addition to the two games with Southern Miss, the Bears also get a taste of some competition from the northeast this weekend, as they will square off a couple of times with the University of Rhode Island. The Bears and Rams square off Saturday at 10 a.m. and again Sunday at 9 a.m. Last season, the Rams won just seven games against 46 losses and finished 2-19 in the Atlantic 10.
The Bears will be looking to improve upon a 26-30 overall record in 2011, including a 12-18 mark in Southland Conference play. UCA finished eighth in the Southland last season and were picked eighth by the coaches in the Southland Preseason Poll.
UCA led all conference schools with four players selected to the Southland Preseason teams. Leading the way is 2011’s Southland Hitter of the Year and Easton Third Team All-American, Melanie Bryant. Kasey Britt, who led the Bears with 10 homers and 44 RBI last year and Katie McGregor, who finished the year hitting a clip of .293 with three home runs and 21 RBI joined Bryant on the first team. Senior Nicole Beals was awarded with preseason second team honors after a 2011 campaign that included a .277 batting average and 11 stolen bases.
Junior Kelsie Armstong, who is already first all-time in school history with 435 strikeouts and third all-time in wins with 33, will lead the Bear pitching staff that has a 100 percent carryover from 2011. Last year, the Hot Springs, Ark. native appeared 40 times and made 33 starts. She earned 16 wins and struck out 223 hitters in 222.2 innings of work while posting an ERA of 2.20.
The Bears will return to Conway for their regular season home opener on the new turf at Farris Field next Wednesday as they square off with UAPB in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
