Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears returned to Southland Conference action on Saturday welcoming the SLC leading Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks to Farris Field for a doubleheader. The Bears picked up the sweep, coming from behind in the seventh inning to win the first game 7-6, before again coming from behind in game two to earn the 7-3 victory.
Stephen F. Austin (12-14, 3-2 SLC) quickly built a lead in the first game, getting a two-run double from first baseman Shalie Day and a two-run single from catcher Katelyn Standley to secure a 4-0 lead before Central Arkansas (13-16, 4-1 SLC) had a chance to bat.
The Bears managed to cut the lead to 4-3 on a two-run double from catcher Jessie Taylor and a sacrifice fly from first baseman Ashley Boswell in the third, but the Ladyjacks tacked on two more in the top of the sixth to push the lead to 6-3.
Central Arkansas scratched out a run in its half of the sixth, but after a scoreless seventh inning from reliever Kelsie Barker, still found itself down to its final three outs while facing a 6-4 deficit. After a fly out to right started the inning, the Bears took advantage of a pair of Ladyjack miscues to load the bases with an error, a hit batter, and a single. Taylor came through for the Bears again, picking up her third and fourth RBI of the day, driving in third baseman Sam Forrest and second baseman Sarah Bigej to even the score at 6-6 with just one out. Shortstop Hayley Parker was hit by a pitch to load the bases for designated player Taylor Dear. Dear worked a 2-2 count before going to battle with Stephen F. Austin pitcher Carlie Thomas, who fired eight straight pitches into the strike zone. Dear was up for the challenge, fouling off all eight, before making just enough contact to slot a dribbler just past Thomas' outstretched glove to drive in right fielder Briana Whisenhunt and give the Bears the walk-off win.
Ciara Clampitt got the start in the circle for Central Arkansas, lasting 1.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits, two walks, and a strikeout. Kayla Gomness came in for Clampitt, throwing 3.2 innings of seven hit, two run relief. She struck out one Ladyjack. Kelsie Barker (2-0) earned the win for the Bears, slamming the door on Stephen F. Austin over the final 1.2 innings of the game to keep Central Arkansas in the game. She allowed a single hit. Thomas (7-7) took the loss, throwing 6.1 innings and surrendering seven runs on six hits and four walks while striking out 10.
Game two featured a similar start, as the Ladyjacks took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run homer from Standley. The lead stood for just an inning and a half though, as the Bears put up three runs on a sacrifice fly from Bigej and a two-run shot by Taylor in the third inning to take a lead that they would only build on. In the fourth, Central Arkansas got an RBI single form left fielder Hannah Stirton and a sacrifice fly from Forrest to build the lead to 5-2, before tacking on two more on run-scoring singles from Taylor and first baseman Tylor Dodson in the fifth.
Stephen F. Austin got an RBI double from designated player Brittany Lewis in the sixth, but was unable to rally in the seventh.
Kylee Studioso (7-4) went the distance in earning the win, allowing three runs on five hits over seven innings. She issued three walks and struck out four. Lewis got the start for the Ladyjacks and suffered the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings. Hannah Welch relived Lewis, giving up a pair of runs on three hits in 2.2 innings.
The Bears and Ladyjacks will wrap the series up with a single game scheduled to begin at noon tomorrow.
