Conway – The Central Arkansas softball team returned to action on Saturday, hosting the Northwestern State Lady Demons for Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day. The Bears, wearing special orange jerseys and ribbons in honor of those who suffer from MS, gave up five home runs to drop the first game 13-4, before rebounding to take the second game 8-5.
Central Arkansas (18-26, 7-8 SLC) took an early lead in the day's first game, as catcher Jessie Taylor launched her eighth homer over the season to centerfield, driving in herself and second baseman Sarah Bigej.
Northwestern State (18-18, 7-8 SLC) used a pair of two-run bombs of its own to take a 4-2 lead, before Central Arkansas third baseman Sam Forrest launched a solo shot to left field to pull the Bears to within a run.
The Lady Demons exploded in the top of the sixth inning, scoring 11 runs on nine hits to blow the game open. In the inning, Northwestern State got a three-run bomb, a pair of two-run homers, a three-run triple, and a run-scoring single.
The Bears got a run back on an RBI double from pinch hitter Peyton Jenkins in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to rally.
Shelby Sells (5-7) picked up the win for the Lady Demons, throwing six innings and allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out four.
Kayla Gomness got the start for Central Arkansas, lasting five innings and giving up six runs on 13 hits with one strikeout. Jenkins threw a third of an inning, surrendering four runs on three hits and a walk with a strikeout. Kelsie Barker finished the sixth, getting two outs and allowing three runs on two hits with a strikeout.
Jenkins gave the Bears an early lead in the second game, doubling home Bigej and Forrest to give UCA a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first
The Bears picked up RBI singles from Forrest and right fielder Briana Whisenhunt to extend the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the second. Following the singles, Taylor drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Forrest, and Bigej came in to score on an error to push the lead to 6-0.
The Lady Demons responded in the fifth inning, getting a two-run single from first baseman Brianna Rodriguez and a run-scoring single from catcher Cheyenne DelaGarza to cut the Central Arkansas lead in half.
An RBI single in the top of the sixth cut the Central Arkansas lead to two, before Taylor launched her second homer of the day, another two-run bomb, into the UCA bullpen in left field to extend the lead to 8-4.
Northwestern State got a solo shot in the top of the seventh, but Central Arkansas starter Kylee Studioso slammed the door, retiring the next three batters to give the Bears the 8-5 victory.
Studioso (10-7) earned the complete game victory, allowing five runs on 11 hits and walking three. She struck out a season- and career-high 15 batters, the second-most a Central Arkansas pitcher has ever struck out in a Southland Conference Game. Baylee Gray (2-4) threw one inning, but was unable to record an out in the second. She allowed six runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two. Skylar Cagle threw five innings of relief, allowing a pair of runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five.
The Bears and Lady Demons will play the rubber game of their series tomorrow at noon.
