CONWAY, Ark. – Melanie Bryant hit a three-run home run in the first inning and UCA starting pitcher Kelsie Armstrong allowed just four hits and struck out nine as the Bears improved to 3-0 in Southland Conference play with a 5-1 victory over the Sam Houston State Bearkats Friday night at Farris Field.
 
Armstrong went the distance in the contest and allowed just one run and one free pass en route to earning her 13^th victory of 2012. Tomi Garrison was hit with the loss for the Bearkats. She fell to 4-7 after allowing four earned runs on nine UCA hits.
 
UCA (23-10, 3-0) did all their scoring early on and cruised to the victory. Bryant’s three-run shot in the first came on the heels of back-to-back singles by Lissa Avitia and Nicole Beals to lead off the game. The homer for Bryant was her second on the year.
 
The UCA bats went back to work in the second inning, making the lead 5-0. Tiffany Roby led the inning off with a single and advanced to third on consecutive bunts by Taylor Dear and Stephanie Lasley. Roby scored on an Avitia RBI single and Lasley, who had reached on an error, scored on a Beals double to right center.
 
Armstrong then went back to work and faced her only hiccup in the fourth when Sam Houston (8-14, 2-1) shortstop Sarah Allison belted her sixth home run of the year to centerfield, making it 5-1.
 
Armstrong allowed just two more hits the rest of the way, however, and the Bearkats never had a true offensive threat as they dropped their first contest after having won seven straight.
 
The top of the order did most of the offensive damage in the game for the Bears. Avitia, Beals and Bryant combined to go 5-for-9 with all five RBI and three runs scored. Roby had a perfect night at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a run scored.
 
UCA will go for the series sweep over the Bearkats Saturday afternoon at noon.