Tulsa, Okla. – The Central Arkansas softball team took a break from the Southland Conference slate on Wednesday, travelling to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take on the 16^th-ranked Tulsa Golden Hurricane. The Bears were unable to overcome four home runs from the Hurricane, falling to Tulsa 10-2 in five innings.

After a quiet first two innings, Tulsa (34-3) exploded in the third inning, hitting three homers. First baseman Jill Roye got the scoring started with a grand slam to right field. After a groundout and a bunt single, catcher Catherine Horner launched a 2-run homer to left to push the Tulsa lead to 6-0. Third baseman Maggie Withee followed with a double to right-center, before coming around to score on a 2-run homer from right fielder Haley Henshaw.

Central Arkansas (17-22) threatened in the top of the fourth, as catcher Jessie Taylor and shortstop Hayley Parker drew walks to lead off the inning , but designated player Taylor Dear lined into a triple play to end the threat.

After Ciara Clampitt  set the Hurricane down in order in the bottom of the fourth, the Bears got to work in the top of the fifth. A groundout started the inning , before center fielder Amy Gunnells singled to left. After left fielder Hannah Stirton reached on an error, third baseman Sam Forrest roped a double to right-center field to drive in two and cut the Tulsa lead to 8-2.

Tulsa responded immediately however, getting a lead-off walk and a 2-run homer to left-center from center fielder Cierra Hughes to pick up the 10-2 win.

Forrest led the Central Arkansas offense, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while Dear, Gunnells and first baseman Ashely Boswell each picked up a single.

Bailey Erwin (10-0) earned the complete game victory for Tulsa, allowing a pair of runs on five hits in five innings while issuing two walks and striking out two. Kylee Studioso (9-7) took the loss for Central Arkansas, allowing eight runs (three earned) on nine hits over 2.2 innings. She struck out two. Ciara Clampitt closed out the game for the Bears, allowing two runs on one hit and a walk in 1.1 innings.

Central Arkansas returns to SLC play this weekend, heading to Lake Charles, Louisiana to take on the McNeese State Cowgirls. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 pm on Saturday, before finishing the series with a single game at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday.