CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas softball team will return to Farris Field on Tuesday when they host Northwestern State in a Southland doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.
The Bears will put their perfect 4-0 league record on the line against a Northwestern State team that has lost two straight contests and is 1-3 in Southland games. Last weekend, the Lady Demons were swept by McNeese State.
The Lady Demons come into Tuesday’s doubleheader third in the conference in hitting with a .267 average. They currently have four players hitting north of .300 and are led by Cali Burke’s average of .349. Cassandra Barfield leads Northwestern State in RBI with 14 and is hitting .308. Samantha Roberts provides the power for the Lady Demons, leading her squad with four.
Inside the circle, the Lady Demons are sixth in the conference in team ERA with a mark of 3.82. Opponents are hitting .267 against Northwestern State pitching and have drawn 77 walks. Three Northwestern State hurlers have thrown 45 or more innings this season. Brooke Boening leads the way with a 3.25 ERA and a record of 3-2 in 15 appearances.
UCA is coming off a series sweep of Sam Houston State last weekend. The Bears rode two strong pitching performances by Kelsie Armstrong and Cami Newsome to keep pace with McNeese State as the only undefeated teams in Southland play. In the four Southland starts by UCA pitchers, Armstrong and Newsome have combined to allow just two runs in 23 innings of work.
Now past the halfway point in the season, UCA is still leading the Southland in every major hitting category. In Southland games only, UCA has been led so far by freshman Tiffany Roby. Roby is hitting Southland pitchers at a clip of .636 and has added a home run and three RBI. Nicole Beals is hitting .583 through the first four conference contests and has added a pair of RBI.
Tuesday’s doubleheader falls amidst a period where the Bears enjoy eight straight home games before returning to the road. UCA will host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as well this weekend.
