Conway, Ark. –
The Central Arkansas softball team celebrated senior day on Sunday afternoon, paying tribute to the accomplishments of seniors Kelsie Armstrong, Melanie Bryant, Melissa Bryant, Cristin Curl, and Stephanie Lasley before going for the sweep over visiting Lamar. Before the day was over, the Bears would get contributions from almost the entire class to get the 7-5 victory, completing the three game sweep.
Catcher Beverly Corry gave the Lady Cardinals (21-33, 11-13SLC) a lead in the top of the first inning, doubling home shortstop Stephanie Meeuwsen to put Lamar up 1-0. Central Arkansas (35-16, 14-8 SLC) responded immediately, taking the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. A fly out got the inning started before left fielder Sarah Bigej drew a walk. Bigej advanced to second on a wild pitch, and second baseman Melissa Bryant drew a walk of her own. Catcher Melanie Bryant roped a double to left-center field to drive in Bigej and Melissa Bryant, putting the Bears up 2-1.
The Lady Cardinals scratched out a run in the top of the fourth, tying the game at 2-2 when second baseman Casey Cromwell lofted a solo shot over the left field fence. The Bears got the run back in the bottom of the fifth though, using a fielder’s choice, a passed ball, and a single to re-take the lead, 3-2.
Lamar stormed back in the top of the sixth inning, plating three unearned runs to take the 5-3 lead. The Lady Cardinals were able to muster only one hit in the inning, but took advantage of a pair of Central Arkansas errors, including a huge two-run fielding error to take the lead.
Central Arkansas went in order in the bottom of the sixth, but exploded in the seventh. A ground out got the inning started, before right fielder Sam Forrest drew a walk. Bigej moved Forrest to second with a single up the middle, and the pair advanced on a pitch in the dirt. Melissa Bryant drew a walk of her own to load the bases for Central Arkansas career home run leader Melanie Bryant, who came up huge for the Bears by blasting her ninth homer of the season over the fence in left-center field to give the Bears the walk-off 7-5 win.
Kelsie Armstrong (27-11) earned the win for the Bears, throwing all seven innings and allowing two earned runs on nine hits and two walks. She struck out four batters. Shannon Millman got the start for Lamar, giving up two runs on a hit and a walk in just one-third of an inning. Tina Schulz (5-12) took the loss in relief, throwing six innings and giving up five runs on six hits and three walks.
Central Arkansas returns to the field next weekend, traveling to Corpus Christi, Texas for a three game set. The teams will play a double-header beginning at 1:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, before closing out the regular season with a single game at 11:00 Sunday morning.
