CLEARWATER, Fla. – The UCA softball team began action Friday at the USF Invitational and earned a split with a 6-0 victory over Hampton before dropping a 4-1 decision to Villanova to end the day.
Kelsie Armstrong improved her record to 7-1 on the season and narrowly missed her second no-hit bid of the year as the junior allowed just one hit, a single by Nina Ferguson in the third. Armstrong struck out nine and allowed five walks in the win.
Kasey Britt continued her hot start to 2012 with a 2-for-3 game at the dish to go along with three RBI. Ashley Boswell reached base all four times she stepped up to the plate, drawing two walks and picking up RBI singles in the bottom of the first and sixth innings. Bear right fielder Nicole Beals added a pair of hits with an RBI and Melissa Bryant finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Travonna Byrd took the loss for the Pirates after allowing 10 UCA hits and six runs, three of which were earned. The Bear offense kept pressure on Byrd throughout the duration of the game, getting runners in scoring position in each inning. UCA was just held scoreless one time, the third inning, and got a run apiece in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings to go along with their two-run fifth.
In the day’s final game, the Bears left 10 runners on base and watched as Villanova scored three runs in the sixth en route to their 4-1 win over UCA.
The Bears dented the scoreboard early when Melanie Bryant came around to score on an error by Villanova centerfielder Jamie O’Hara, making the score 1-0 in the first inning. UCA then put runners in scoring position four innings over the remainder of the game, but couldn’t come up with any timely hits off of Wildcat starter Molly Manning.
Manning scattered seven Bear hits in her complete game effort while striking out four and walking two.
Villanova drew even with the Bears in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI triple off the bat of Beth Smetana. The Wildcats then added a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly in the sixth, putting the game out of reach.
Cami Newsome, who fell to 7-2, pitched five innings and allowed two runs while walking none. Taylor Barclay threw an inning in relief and allowed two runs on four hits.
UCA is back in action early Saturday morning with an 8:15 a.m. meeting with Boston College. The Bears wrap up Saturday action with a 1 p.m. game with Toledo.
