Conway – The Central Arkansas softball team made its home debut on Friday evening, facing off against Alabama State on the first day of the Central Arkansas Softball Invitational. The Bear offense on display on the night, collecting 14 hits, six walks, and six hit batsmen to take down the Hornets 18-3.
The Bears (4-8), who were the visiting team in the game due to a coin flip prior to the game, got the evening started in explosive style. Central Arkansas worked three walks and two hit-by-pitches to load the bases and score two runs before recording an official at-bat. Designated player Taylor Dear was the Central Arkansas player to record that first at-bat, roping a bases-clearing double to left-centerfield to push the UCA lead to 5-0 with no outs in the first inning. Following another walk and a strikeout, shortstop Hayley Parker and third baseman Sam Forrest came through with back-to-back run-scoring singles. After Forrest was out at second trying to advance on the throw, second baseman Sarah Bigej picked up her second HBP of the inning, but a strikeout ended the inning.
Alabama State (1-9) got one run back in the bottom of the first, but the Bears tacked on two more in the top of the second to extend the lead to 10-1. Central Arkansas loaded the bases on another hit-by-bitch and a pair of singles. Following a fielder's choice that cut down a runner at the plate, centerfielder Amy Gunnells lofted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate catcher Jessie Taylor. Parker drew a walk to again load the bases, and Forrest picked up an infield single to score Dear.
The Hornets picked up another run in the bottom of the second, this time on an RBI double from catcher Allesa Yanez, but the Bears again wasted little to no time in responding, scoring seven runs on five hits and an Alabama State error. Leftfielder Hannah Stirton and Taylor opened the inning with to open the inning and right fielder Briana Whisenhunt laced a double down the right field line to score Stirton and advance Taylor to third. Taylor scored on a wild pitch to make it 12-2 with no outs. Following a groundout and a hit by pitch, the Bears executed a double steal, with pinch runner Tylor Dodson advancing to second and Whisenhunt scoring. After another hit-by-pitch and an error, Forrest singled through the right side to score a pair of runs. Bigej then roped a two-run double of her own to finish the scoring for the inning with Central Arkansas leading 17-2.
Alabama State got another run on a solo shot in the bottom of the third and both teams were unable to score in the fourth inning. Central Arkansas added one more run in the top of the fifth when pinch hitter Bailey Reynolds singled through the right side to drive in Randi Wallace.
Forrest and Whisenhunt were both a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate, driving in five and three runs, respectively, and scoring a pair of runs each. Dear was 2-for-3 with three runs driven in, and Bigej was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.
Kylee Studioso (2-2) picked up the complete win for Central Arkansas, throwing five innings. She allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out 11 Hornets. Rachel Mills started for Alabama State, facing five batters in the first inning and allowing five runs on four walks and a hit batter. Shantelle Smith threw five innings of relief, allowing 13 runs on 14 hits. She issued two walks and struck out three.
Central Arkansas returns to action at 3:45 tomorrow afternoon, facing off against Drexel, in one of five games scheduled to take place at Farris Field. Three games are set for Sunday, with Central Arkansas slated to take place in two. The Bears will play South Dakota State at 11:15 before closing the tournament with a 1:30 game against Western Illinois.
