CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas softball team was guilty of five errors and posted just five base hits, their second lowest hit total of the year, Friday evening in a 5-4 extra inning loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Farris Field.
The Bears held a 2-0 advantage heading into the sixth inning, but the Islanders took advantage of three defensive miscues in the inning and managed to take a 4-2 lead.
UCA (25-12, 5-2), as it has been known to do this year, fought back with their last at bat getting two runs in the seventh. Kelvon Greer and Stephanie Lasley got the rally going with back-to-back base hits to lead off the inning. Nicole Beals doubled to left center to make the score 4-3 and Melanie Bryant tied the game up with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Bears ran into more problems on defense in the eighth inning, however. Mikayla Heller led things off for the Islanders with an infield single. She advanced to scoring position after pinch hitter Laura Phillips drew a walk. Hannah Schwarz then laid down a bunt to advance the runners and would have been out at first base but the throw got away from Lasley, who was covering the bag, which allowed Heller to come around to score the go-ahead run.
Kelsie Armstrong was forced to stomach the loss for UCA, dropping her record to 14-8. She went six innings and allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on six hits while recording six strikeouts. Senior Kelley Martino pitched in relief before Armstrong re-entered the game for the eighth inning. Martino went two innings and gave up two unearned runs on four hits.
Jordan Trujillo was credited with the victory for the Islanders and improved to 4-5. Trujillo worked four innings and allowed two runs while striking out one and walking one.
Offensively, A&M-Corpus Christi (9-14, 5-4) out-hit UCA 10-5. Leading the way for the Islanders was Stephanie Vead, Cassie Carrol and Heller with two hits apiece.
The Bears and Islanders will complete the series Saturday afternoon. Tomorrow will be recognized as “Play for Trey Day” and first pitch is scheduled for noon.
