Lake Charles, La.-
The Central Arkansas softball team was one out away from being swept by the McNeese State Cowgirls Saturday afternoon before rallying to tie that game in the seventh inning and take the game in extra innings.
The Cowgirls (32-19, 12-8 SLC) broke a scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the sixth inning. Designated player Ashley Modzelewski singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Megan Knippa advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from right fielder Marissa Koetting. Following a fly out, shortstop Katie Roux doubled to bring Knippa in from third.
Central Arkansas (36-20, 12-8) managed to get the run back in the top of the seventh inning. A fly out got the inning started then left fielder Nicole Beals drove a double to left-center field. A line-out to left field meant the Bears were one out away from being swept, but third baseman Melissa Bryant laced a single back up the middle to drive in Beals and even the score
at one.
The Bears struck again in the first extra frame of the day. Second baseman Tiffany Roby got the inning started with a single before advancing to second base on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Lissa Avitia. Following a ground out, center fielder Stephanie Lasley singled up the middle to bring Roby in from second and give the Bears a 2-1 lead. A walk from first baseman Kasey Britt allowed Lasley to advance to second. Beals then drove an RBI single back up the middle to score Lasley and give Central Arkansas a 3-1 lead.
Cami Newsome (11-4) threw all eight innings for the Bears for her fifth complete game of the season. She scattered four hits and allowed one run while walking three and striking out six. Tiffany Denham (12-10) took the loss in relief for the Cowgirls allowing two runs and three hits in one and one-third innings of work. She walked one Bear. Bianca Lilly got the start for the Cowgirls and gave up one run and nine hits in six and two-thirds innings. She struck out three batters.
The victory, coupled with Texas-San Antonio’s victory over Stephen F. Austin, created a three-way tie for third place at the end of conference play. After all the tie-breakers shook out, the Bears ended up as the fifth seed in the upcoming conference tournament. They will square off with fourth-seeded Texas-Arlington at 11:00 in the morning on Thursday. The winner faces number one seed Texas State on Thursday afternoon at 4:00. If the Bears lose, they will play the loser of McNeese State/A&M – Corpus Christi and Sam Houston State on Friday afternoon at 1:30.
