Clearwater, Fla. – The Central Arkansas softball team was in action twice on the first day of the USF/Under Armour Invitational on Friday, taking the field against eleventh-ranked Stanford and South Florida. The Bears lost a late lead to the Cardinal to fall 7-3 in their first game of the day, before falling to an offensive onslaught from the Bulls, dropping the second game of the day 10-1.
Central Arkansas (6-13) took advantage of a Stanford (15-3) wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, as Tylor Dodson came in on the Cardinal miscue. Stanford was able to get to Central Arkansas started Ciara Clampitt for the first time in the top of the sixth, using a single and a walk to set the table for second baseman Erin Ashby, who roped a homer to left field to give the Cardinal a 3-1 lead.
Central Arkansas second baseman cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom half of the sixth, singling home shortstop Hayley Parker, but Stanford again got to Clampitt, in the seventh, plating four runs on two hits and two walks to extend the lead to 7-2. Central Arkansas attempted a rally in their half of the seventh, plating a run on a bases-loaded walk from Parker, but would lead the bags loaded as the comeback attempt fell short.
Clampitt (2-5) suffered the loss, surrendering seven runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings. She struck out two batters. Kylee Studioso worked a scoreless inning of relief, giving up one hit and striking out one batter. Madi Schreyer (12-2) got the win, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks over the course of 6.1 innings. She struck out six Bears. Kylie Sorenson recorded the game's final two outs, allowing a run on one hit and two walks while striking out one.
In the day's second game, the Bears quickly found themselves in a deep hole, as South Florida (10-5) used a pair of three-run homers in the first two innings to build an 8-0 lead. A two-run doubled extended the lead to 10-0 in fourth.
Central Arkansas attempted a rally in the fifth, loading the bases on a triple and a pair of walks. Bigej worked another walk to cut the lead to 10-1, but a strikeout ended the game with the bases full of Bears.
Clampitt took her second loss of the day, allowing six runs on three hits and a pair of walks over 1.1 innings. She struck out one Bull. Kayla Gomness gave up four runs, none of which were earned, over the game's final 2.2 innings. She gave up three hits and struck out one batter. Erica Nunn (3-3) earned the win for South Florida, allowing one run over 4.1 one innings while limiting the Bears to just one hit and striking out seven. Susan Wysocki worked 0.2 innings of relief, issuing three walks and striking out one.
Central Arkansas returns to action twice tomorrow. The Bears will play Western Michigan at 1:15 p.m. before facing off against Temple at 3:30 p.m.
