Lafayette, La. – The Central Arkansas softball team opened their run in the 2014 Ragin' Cajun Invitational with a pair of games on Friday, facing off against Boston College at 9:00 a.m. this morning before battling Valparaiso this afternoon at 3:00. Central Arkansas was unable to get on the board against BC, falling 6-0 to the Golden Eagles, but rebounded in spectacular fashion, taking down Valpo 4-3 with a walk-off home run.
Boston College (1-0) collected their runs in pairs against the Bears (2-5), scoring in the second, fifth, and sixth innings. Ciara Clampitt (1-2) got the start for the Bears, throwing well over five innings, but was the victim of five Central Arkansas errors over the first five frames. She suffered the loss in a five inning, four hit appearance while allowing four runs, just one of which was earned. Nicole D'Argento (1-0) limited the Bears to just one hit over seven innings of work, striking out eight and walking one. Sam Forrest collected Central Arkansas' only hit, a single to lead off the game.
Against Valparaiso (2-3), Central Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. First Baseman Ashley Boswell reached base on an error by the Valpo centerfielder. A sacrifice by centerfielder Amy Gunnells moved Boswell into scoring position before a double from right fielder Briana Whisenhunt brought her in.
Valpo struck for three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead, but the Bears got a run back in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 3-2 on back-to-back doubles by left fielder Hannah Stirton and catcher Jessie Taylor.
The Bears found themselves down to their final three outs and still trailing by a run before mounting a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. Gunnells drew a walk to lead off the inning and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice from Whisenhunt. A groundout from Forrest advanced Gunnells to third and brought designated player Sarah Bigej to the plate. Bigej blasted a two-run homer over the fence in centerfield, plating Gunnells and giving Central Arkansas the 4-3 win.
Kayla Gomness got the start for Central Arkansas, throwing 4.1 innings of eight hit ball. She allowed three runs and one walk. Kylee Studioso worked 2.2 innings of scoreless relief for the Bears, walking one and striking out three to earn her first victory in a Central Arkansas uniform. Sierra Pico (0-2) took the loss for Valpo, throwing 6.2 innings of seven hit, four run softball. She issued two walks and struck out two batters.
Offensively, Central Arkansas was led by Whisenhunt and Taylor, who each collected a pair of hits. Bigej drove in a pair of runs for the Bears, and Taylor and Whisenhunt each drove in one.
Central Arkansas returns to action tomorrow morning at 9:00, with a rematch against Valpo. The Bears will turn around and face the no. 4 Michigan Wolverines at 11:30. Central Arkansas will wrap up its tournament schedule on Sunday afternoon, with a 2:00 game against no. 15 Louisiana-Lafayette.
