Conway – The Central Arkansas softball team stepped out of Southland Conference play on Tuesday to host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Farris Field. Prior to the game, the Bears paid tribute to the sacrifices of those in the Armed Services and strength and conditioning coach Richard Green threw out the first pitch. On the field, the Bears picked up the win in walk-off style, taking down ULM 7-6.
Central Arkansas (19-27) struck first, as centerfielder Amy Gunnells picked up an RBI triple and left fielder Hannah Stirton followed with an RBI double to give the Bears a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. A single by first baseman Ashley Boswell in the bottom of the third then made it 3-0 in favor of the Bears.
ULM (18-17) evened the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth on a run-scoring single from third baseman Alexis Cacioppo and a two-run homer from shortstop Faith Bohack.
Central Arkansas re-took the lead on a seeing-eye single from right fielder Briana Whisenhunt in the top of the fourth, and Boswell extended it to 6-3 with a two-run bomb into the left field bullpen in the bottom of the fifth.
A pair of sacrifice flies by the Warhawks cut the lead to 6-5 in the sixth
inning, before pinch hitter Amye Barre tied the score at 6-6 with a solo shot to straightaway centerfield in the top of the seventh.
After a fly out to right opened the bottom of the seventh, Boswell secured the win for the Bears, putting another ball into the bullpen in left field to give the Bears the walk-off 7-6 win.
Boswell went three-for-four on the day with a pair of homers and four runs batted in, while Gunnells, second baseman Sarah Bigej, and designated player Taylor Dear each picked up a pair of hits.
Kylee Studioso (11-7) picked up the win for Central Arkansas, allowing six runs on six hits over seven innings of work. She struck out 11 Warhawks and didn't issue a walk. Haylie Wilson started for ULM, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over three innings. She gave up two walks and struck out two. Jessica Colliver worked two-thirds of an inning, surrendering a run on two hits and two walks. Samantha Hamby (12-10) took the loss, tossing 2.2 innings and allowing three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two.
The Bears return to action on Thursday, welcoming SLC opponent Houston Baptist to Conway. Central Arkansas and the Huskies will play a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 P.M. before closing out the series with a single game at 2:00 P.M. on Friday afternoon.
