Mobile, Ala. –
The Central Arkansas softball team faced off with the South Alabama Jaguars for the second time this weekend, falling 7-4 on Sunday afternoon.
The Jaguars (7-1) got on the board first on Sunday. The bottom of the second inning started off with a fly out and a strikeout, but third baseman Haley Fagan singled through the left side to extend the inning. Right fielder Julie Moss followed with a single of her own, and both Fagan and Moss scored on a double off the bat of catcher Alex Breeden.
Central Arkansas (5-5) answered immediately. Left fielder Sarah Bigej singled and right fielder Sam Forrest drew a walk to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third with one out. Catcher Melanie Bryant then roped a pitch to left field to drive in Bigej and Forrest and tie the score at 2-2.
The Bears grabbed lead in the top of the fifth inning. Stephanie Lasley, pinch running after a single by Melissa Bryant, stole second base, and then advanced to third following a walk and a hit batter. Pinch hitter Tiffany Roby was also hit by a pitch, bringing in Lasley to give Central Arkansas the 3-2 lead.
The lead didn’t last long though, as South Alabama roared back in the bottom of the fifth. Two consecutive Central Arkansas errors brought in one run and gave the Jaguars a runner on second with no outs. A pop up and a hit batter brought first baseman Meghan Collins to the plate. She blasted a pitch out of the park for her second home run for the season, a three-run blast that gave South Alabama a 6-3 lead. Britany Campbell added a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to push the lead to 7-3.
The Bears started a rally in the top of the seventh inning, stringing together four straight singles to pull within three runs, but a foul out and a pop out ended the threat and the game.
Farish Beard (4-0) earned the win for the Jaguars, working five innings and striking out seven Bears. She allowed five hits, three runs, and a walk. Campbell earned her second save of the season on the back of two innings of four hit, one run work. She struck out one. Kelsie Armstrong (3-4) took the loss for Central Arkansas, working six innings to earn her sixth complete game of the season. She gave up eight hits and seven runs, only three of which were earned. Armstrong struck out two batters without allowing a walk.
The Bears return to the field on Wednesday, travelling to Itta Bena, Mississippi to play Mississippi Valley State. On Friday, the Bears will battle Creighton and Northern Iowa on the first day of the Central Arkansas Invitational. Saturday, the second day of the tournament, Central Arkansas will take the field three times, facing North Iowa, Grambling State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Central Arkansas will close the tournament on Sunday afternoon by playing Ball State.
