Conway – The Central Arkansas softball team faced off with the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions in the final game of a three game series on Sunday. After picking up wins in each of the first two games on Sunday, the Bears completed the sweep with a 5-0 win.
Central Arkansas (17-21, 7-4 SLC) got to work early in the game, as third baseman Sam Forrest and second baseman Sarah Bigej reached base on a single and a walk to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Right fielder Briana Whisenhunt cashed in on the opportunity, roping a double to left-center field to plate Forrest and Bigej and give the Bears a 2-0 lead. After a groundout and a strikeout, designated player Taylor Dear blooped a single that fell just inside the right field line to score Whisenhunt and put Central Arkansas up 3-0.
The Bears got back to work in the bottom of the second, using three one out singles from Forrest, Bigej, and Whisenhunt to add a run and force a pitching change from Southeastern Louisiana (9-15, 3-9 SLC). After the switch was made, catcher Jessie Taylor picked up an RBI groundout to push the lead to 5-0 and cap the scoring on the day.
Kylee Studioso (9-6), who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and struck out 15 Lady Lions on Saturday, was dominant again, holding Southeastern Louisiana hitless through the first three innings on Sunday. She picked up the complete game victory, limiting the Lady Lions to two hits and a walk while striking out 11. Tori Stamper (4-3) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over 1.1 innings while striking out one. Spencer Adkinson had an effective relief appearance for Southeastern Louisiana, holding the Bears scoreless over the final 4.2 innings of the game. She allowed three hits, issued one walk, and struck out six.
The Bears hit the road on Wednesday, heading to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a game against the thirteenth-ranked Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Central Arkansas will close out the week with a three game set in Lake Charles, Louisiana against McNeese State. The Bears and Cowgirls will play a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 pm on Saturday, before closing out the series with a single game at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday.
