Lake Charles, La. – The Central Arkansas softball team returned to Southland Conference play on Saturday, heading to Lake Charles, Louisiana for a double header against the McNeese State Cowgirls. The Bears were able to manage just one hit in the first game, falling 4-0, before surrendering four unearned runs in the second game, falling 4-2.
In the first game of the day, the Bears (17-24, 7-6 SLC) were able to record just one hit, a single from left fielder Hannah Stirton. The Cowgirls (26-10, 10-3 SLC) built a two run lead in the first inning, getting an RBI double from catcher Ashley Modzelewski and a run-scoring fielder's choice from shortstop Katie Roux.
Roux gave the Cowgirls some insurance in the fourth inning, blasting her second homer of the season to extend the McNeese State lead to 3-0. Designated player Emily Vincent closed out the scoring in the fifth inning, singling home centerfielder Alanna DiVittorio to put the lead at 4-0.
Jaimie Allred (15-5) earned the complete game victory by shutting the Bears down. She allowed a pair of walks and a single hit over seven innings while striking out nine. Ciara Clampitt (3-11) took the loss for Central Arkansas, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks in four innings of work. Kayla Gomness relieved Clampitt, striking out one and giving up one hit in two innings.
McNeese again struck in the first inning in game two, as a Central Arkansas error allowed DiVittorio to score and give the Cowgirls a 1-0 lead. The Bears responded immediately though, loading the bases for third baseman Sam Forrest, who worked a walk to plate first baseman Tylor Dodson to even the score at 1-1 in the top of the second.
The Cowgirls got an unearned run in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to build the lead to 4-1, before right fielder Briana Whisenhunt laced a single to right field to score centerfielder Amy Gunnells and cut the McNeese lead to 4-2, but Central Arkansas was unable to push any more runs across.
Rachel Smith got the start for McNeese limiting the Bears to a run on three hits and two walks over three innings while striking out one. Vincent (4-2) earned the win in relief, throwing two innings of one run, two hit softball and issuing two walks. She struck out one Bear. Allread earned her second save of the year, holding the Bears to just one hit over the game's final two innings and striking out five. Kylee Studioso started for Central Arkansas, allowing a run on a walk and a hit in one inning before being lifted in favor of Peyton Jenkins (2-2), who took the loss. She threw 2.1 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk. Gomness closed out the game for the Bears, throwing the final 2.2 innings and allowing a run on one hit.
The Bears and Cowgirls will wrap up the series tomorrow with a single game scheduled to begin at 1:00 P.M.
