NATCHITOCHES, La. — Freshman Jessie Taylor blasted a three-run home run in the first inning, and that would prove to be all Central Arkansas would need as the Bears defeated Lamar 3-0 in the opening game of the 2013 Southland Conference tournament to break the school's season wins record and pick up the program's first-ever postseason victory.
After freshmen Sam Forrest (walk) and Sarah Bigej (single) got on for the Bears (37-18) Taylor followed with a two-out homer over the left-center wall in what would be the game's only score. It was the third home run of the season for Taylor and raises her season RBI total to 18.
In the top of the first, Central Arkansas senior pitcher Kelsie Armstrong (29-12) struck out the first batter to record the 1,029th of her career and pass Olympian and all-american Jennie Finch, who starred at Arizona from 1999-2002, for 64th all-time on the Division I list. After the Lady Cardinals (24-34) loaded the bases, Armstrong recorded two more strikeouts to end the threat.
The Bears threatened in the bottom of the fourth, with Melanie Bryant walking and stealing second, then Taylor following with a single up the middle to advance Bryant to third with no outs, but the Bears were retired in order, unable to add to their lead.
In the top of the sixth, Lamar got a runner to third base for the first time since the opening inning, as Jenna Holland led off with a double, then advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Armstrong struck out Shannon Millman for the second out, then Tina Schulz hit a hard line drive to left field – right at UCA's Tiffany Roby, who made the catch to keep the Lady Cards off the board.
The Bears once again had runners on first and third with one out in the sixth, but came up empty. UCA then closed it out in the seventh with a fielder's choice and a pair of popups to center field.
The shutout was the 15th of the year for Armstrong, who also improved her school-record season strikeout total to 349. Taylor had three of the four hits for the Bears, with Bigej recording the other.
UCA will move on to face top-seeded McNeese State at 4pm Thursday. The teams split their rain-shortened regular-season series.
