CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas softball team will be back in action at Farris Field this weekend when they host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders in a Southland Conference Series.
The Bears come into the weekend series with an overall record of 25-11 and a mark of 5-1 in Southland play after splitting a doubleheader with conference foe, Northwestern State, on Tuesday. UCA won the opener on Tuesday, 6-1, before dropping the finale to the Lady Demons, 5-3.
In Tuesday’s doubleheader, freshman shortstop Lissa Avitia provided an offensive showcase for the home fans. Avitia homered twice in the series and was 6-for-8 overall, including a 4-for-4 effort in the second game. This season, Avitia is hitting .398 with two homers and 23 RBI. In Southland games, Avitia is batting .526 and is slugging .833. Nicole Beals also brings a red-hot bat into the weekend series after chalking up six hits as well in Tuesday’s games. Beals is a .396 hitter this year and has tallied eight doubles.
Friday night probable starting pitcher Kelsie Armstrong is a perfect 3-0 in conference games so far this year and has allowed just two runs in 20 innings of work. She boasts a 0.70 ERA and has fanned 24 hitters while allowing just five walks. Overall, Armstrong is 14-7 with a 2.01 ERA and 147 strikeouts.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (8-14, 4-4) is coming off a weekend split with UT Arlington. The Islanders took the first game from the Mavs, 1-0 before falling in the series finale, 2-0.
The Bears will get a dose of reigning Southland Pitcher of the Week, Greta Cecchetti, who picked up both victories for the Islanders last week after tossing 17 innings, striking out 12 and not allowing a run. This season, Cecchetti is 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA and opponents are hitting just .196 against her.
Offensively, the Islanders are led by Laura Phillips’ .394 batting average. Phillips is 13-for-33 on the year and is second on the team with seven RBI.
The series finale on Saturday is set to be “Play for Trey Day,” in honor of Trey Hickey, a Conway resident who is currently battling leukemia after already defeating it two times prior. Trey will be on hand to throw out Saturday’s first pitch and UCA student-athletes will be wearing orange jerseys during Saturday’s game to show their support. Saturday’s game is scheduled to get underway at noon with action Friday night beginning at 6 p.m. from Farris Field.
