Conway, Ark. –
The Central Arkansas softball team picked up two wins on Friday, and they couldn’t have come in a more different fashion. In the first game of the day, the Bears walloped Creighton 13-2, and in their second game, against Northern Iowa, the Bears picked up a 4-2 extra innings win.
Central Arkansas exploded for four runs in the bottom of the first. A ground out and a pop out started the inning, before the strung together three hits and a walk. Catcher Melissa Bryant doubled down the leftfield line, and came in to score the game’s first run on Ashley Boswell’s double to leftfield. Shortstop Lissa Avitia worked a walk to put runners on first and second for designated player Sarah Bigej, who blasted a three-run homer to right-center field to give the Bears a 4-0 lead.
After Creighton pulled within 4-1 on a single and a double in the third inning, Central Arkansas responded with two runs in their half of the third. Second baseman Melissa Bryant drew a walk and advanced to third on Boswell’s second double. A fielding error allowed both Bryant and Boswell to score, giving the Bears a 6-1 lead.
Central Arkansas struck again in the bottom of the fourth, putting up seven runs on five hits and an error. In the inning, Taylor Dear hit a three-run, pinch-hit double and Stephanie Lasley scored a run and had an RBI.
Creighton got a run back in the top of the fifth inning on a homer by catcher Amy Baker, but Kelsie Armstrong struck out the side to bring the game to a close.
Armstrong (5-4) picked up the win for Central Arkansas, working all five innings and proving her place as Central Arkansas’ ace. She gave up five hits and two runs, but struck out 13 batters in the five inning game. Brittany Telucky (1-2) took the loss for the Bluejays, throwing three innings and giving up seven hits and nine runs. The allowed three walks and struck out one. Alexis Cantu worked one inning for Creighton, four runs, all unearned, on three hits. She recorded one walk and one strikeout.
In the second game, Northern Iowa grabbed a 1-0 in the top of the first on a home run by shortstop Caitlin Wnek.
Central Arkansas was unable to respond until the bottom of the third. Right fielder Sam Forrestt doubled to left-center field and advanced to third on a single through the right side by Melissa Bryant. Central Arkansas career home run leader Melanie Bryant then lofted a ball over the centerfield fence for her fourth homer of the season, giving the Bears a 3-1 lead.
The Panthers, down to their final two outs after popup started the inning, strung together two singles, a walk, a sacrifice fly, and another single to tie the game up. Second baseman Julia Hunter and Wnek each had an RBI.
Central Arkansas was unable to take advantage of a double by centerfielder Stephanie Lasley, sending the game extra innings.
Northern Iowa was unable to take advantage of the runner placed on second in the top of the eighth, bring the Bears to the plate. After a popup started the inning, Avitia hit a grounder to third base. A throwing error allowed Melanie Bryant to score from second base, where she had been placed, according to tie-breaker rules.
Ciara Clampitt got the start for Central Arkansas, working 6.1 innings of seven hit, three run ball. She didn’t allow a walk and struck out four Panthers. Armstrong picked up her second win of the day on the back of 1.2 innings of scoreless, one hit work. She walked one batter and struck out three, pushing her total to 18 in 6.2 innings of work. Jamie Fisher (1-6) took the loss for Northern Iowa, throwing 7.1 innings and giving up four runs and seven hits. She walked one and struck out four.
Central Arkansas returns to the field for three games tomorrow. They have a rematch with Northern Iowa at 1:00 in the afternoon, then face off with Grambling State at 5:00 pm and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7:00 pm.
