Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears returned to Southland Conference play on Saturday, welcoming the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions to Farris Field for the first two games of a three game series. In the first game, the Bears used five home runs and an outstanding relief appearance from Peyton Jenkins to overcome an early 7-1 deficit and pick up the 15-7 win, while in the second game of the day, Kylee Studioso struck out 15 Lady Lions, the second-most by a Central Arkansas pitch in an SLC game to lead the Bears to a 3-0 win.
Central Arkansas (16-21, 6-4 SLC) grabbed a 1-0 lead , as third baseman Sam Forrest led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot to right-center field, but the Southeastern Louisiana (9-14, 3-8 SLC) put up seven runs on four hits and forcing a pair of Central Arkansas pitching changes to take a 7-1 lead.
The Bears wasted no time in starting to rally though, getting a run back with their first at-bat of the bottom of the second, as shortstop Hayley Parker led off the inning with a solo shot of her own to centerfield to cut into the Lady Lion lead. After a fly out and a walk, center fielder Amy Gunnells got in on the action, hitting a two-run home run off of the scoreboard in right-center field to cut the lead to 7-4 in favor of Southeastern Louisiana.
After Jenkins set Southeastern Louisiana down in order in the top of the third, Central Arkansas erupted for ten runs on seven hits to take a 14-7 lead. Catcher Jessie Taylor led the way for the Bears in the inning, picking up a pair of two-run doubles in the inning, and she was aided by left fielder Hannah Stirton, who launched a grand slam into the left field bullpen.
Both teams were unable to score a run over the next two innings, until first baseman Ashley Boswell hit a solo shot to right-center to give Central Arkansas the 15-7 victory in the bottom of the sixth.
Ciara Clampitt got the start for Central Arkansas, working one inning and allowing five runs on three hits and two walks while recording one strikeout. Kayla Gomness threw 0.2 innings, surrendering a pair of unearned runs on two hits and a walk. Jenkins (2-1) earned the win with 4.1 innings of masterful relief work, limiting the Lady Lions to a single hit and a walk while striking out three. Taylor Bishop started for SLU, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk over two innings of work and striking out two. Rachael Hellyer (1-4) took the loss for the Lady Lions, giving up ten runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out the side in her only inning of work. Teresa Lemos finished the game, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing one run on one hit and a walk.
The second game of the day had a hugely different feel, as neither team was unable to break through until the fifth inning. Stirton got the inning started for Central Arkansas, picking up an infield single and a stolen base to set the table, before moving to third on a ground out from Forrest. Second baseman Sarah Bigej drew a walk to give right fielder Briana Whisenhunt runners on the corners with one out. Whisenhunt lofted a fly ball to right field, scoring Stirton to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. Taylor followed up by blasting a two-run shot to left field to push the lead to 3-0.
Studioso (8-6) was nearly unhittable for Central Arkansas, holding the Lady Lions to two hits in seven innings and striking out 15 batters. The 15 punchouts are the second most a Central Arkansas pitcher has ever recorded against an SLC opponent. Spencer Adkinson (1-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings of work.
The Bears and Lady Lions will close out the series at noon tomorrow.
