Conway, Ark. –

The Central Arkansas faced off with the Lamar Lady Cardinals in a pair of games on Saturday. The Bears won the first game by a score of 2-0 before taking the second game 7-5. The highlight of the day, though came with the Kelsie Armstrong’s third strikeout of the second game. The strikeout was the 1,000^th of Armstrong’s career.

The first game proved to be a pitcher’s duel, with neither team able to get on the board until the fifth inning. Kelsie Armstrong (25-11) earned the win for Central Arkansas, throwing all seven innings and allowing four hits and a walk while striking out 13. Shannon Millman (14-14) took the loss for the Lady Cardinals, allowing two runs on ten hits and three walks in six innings of work. She struck out eight Bears.

Central Arkansas stranded ten runners in the game, but was able to scratch out a pair of runs in the fifth inning. After a foul out started the inning, third baseman Tiffany Roby was able to work a walk. Right fielder Sam Forrest singled up the middle and left fielder Sarah Bigej collected an infield single to load the bases. RBI singles from double-play partners Melissa Bryant and Lissa Avitia drove in Roby and Forrest, giving the Bears all the offense they would need in the game.

The second game featured the offenses in a much bigger way, as the teams combined for 12 runs on 17 hits. Central Arkansas built a 5-0 lead before the Lady Cardinals stormed back with five unearned runs in the fifth inning to tie the game. The Bears responded immediately though, adding a pair in the bottom of the frame to re-take the lead.

Catcher Melanie Bryant led the Central Arkansas offense in the game, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Her fifth inning home run proved to be the difference-maker for the Bears. Melissa Bryant went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Forrest, Ashley Boswell, Amy Gunnells, and Tiffany Roby each chipped in with an RBI.

Armstrong earned her second win of the day on the back of seven innings of work. She gave up five unearned runs on five hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Tina Schulz (5-12) took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in four innings of work. Millman threw two innings of relief, giving up a run on three hits and three strikeouts.

The Bears and Lady Cardinals will wrap their series up tomorrow afternoon at 1:00. The game will serve as Senior Day for the Bears, and they will honor the contributions of Kelsie Armstrong, Melanie Bryant, Melissa Bryant, Cristin Curl, and Stephanie Lasley, who will all be playing their final game at Farris Field.