Macon, Ga. –
The Central Arkansas softball team extended their win streak to nine games on Saturday, with a 6-0 win over Northern Kentucky. The Norse took the rematch though, downing the Bears 7-6 in the teams’ second game of the day.
Central Arkansas (14-6) grabbed the lead in the second inning of the first game, using a leadoff walk and a throwing error to score the game’s first run. The Bears added a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to push their lead to 3-0. In the fourth, Central Arkansas used a pair of doubles to score, and in the fifth, the Bears got a home run from catcher Melanie Bryant.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Bears added even more insurance, plating three runs on three hits. A pair of walks started the inning, and following a pop out and a fly out, three singles drove in three runs to push the score to 6-0.
Kelsie Armstrong (9-4) got the win for Central Arkansas, throwing all seven innings while allowing one hit and issuing six walks. She struck out three. Emily Schwaeble (0-5) took the loss for the Norse (4-9), throwing six innings of six hit, five run softball. She gave up four walks and had three strikeouts. Katelyn Roy threw one inning of relief, giving up one run on three hits.
In the rematch in the afternoon, the Norse jumped out to a 6-0 lead on the back of two three run innings. In the top of the first, Northern Kentucky grabbed three runs on three hits, and in the top of the second, the Norse got three runs on three hits and an error.
The bats were silent for the Bears until fifth inning, when Central Arkansas got three runs on four hits. Shortstop Lissa Avitia drew a walk and centerfielder Amy Gunnells singled up the middle to start the inning. Avitia advanced to third on a fly out and came in to score on a single by right fielder Sam Forrest. Following a ground out, Melanie Bryant singled to center field to score Gunnells and Forrest and pull the Bears to within 6-3.
In the top of the sixth, Northern Kentucky extended their lead to 7-3 with homer to left-center by Alexis VanHorn.
Central Arkansas responded with three more runs in their half of the sixth. A walk, double, ground out, and bunt single loaded the bases before a wild pitch brought in third baseman Tiffany Roby to put the score at 7-4. Forrest then laced a single down the right field line to score Gunnells and left fielder Stephanie Lasley. A strikeout and a foul out ended the Central Arkansas threat.
The Bears went down in order in the seventh to end the game.
Taylor Barclay (3-2) took the loss for the Bears, giving up six runs on six hits and two walks in two innings. She struck out two. Ciara Clampitt was effective in four innings of relief, giving up one run on two hits and a walk while striking out three. Cicely New threw the final inning for Central Arkansas, giving up one hit. Kelley Benhase (4-3) earned the win for the Norse with 6.1 innings of three run work. She gave up five hits and three walks while striking out two. Schwaeble threw 0.2 innings, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk.
The Bears finish up the Mercer invitational tomorrow, facing host Mercer at 11:00 am.
