Lake Charles, La. – The Central Arkansas Bears softball team faced off against the McNeese State Cowgirls on Sunday looking to avoid a sweep. The Bears surrendered five runs in the first two innings and were only able to get one back, falling to the Cowgirls 5-1.
McNeese State (27-10, 11-3 SLC) opened the bottom of the first inning with three straight singles before right fielder Emily Vincent roped a triple down the right field line to drive in two runs. Vincent came in to score on a sacrifice bunt from second baseman Taylor Goree, before shortstop Katie Roux singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. First baseman Kim Kennedy then picked up a triple of her own to score Roux and give the Cowgirls a 4-0 lead.
After a groundout opened the bottom of the second, the Cowgirls got yet another triple, this one off the bat of right fielder Lauren Lagner. Lagner then came into score on a single off the bat of catcher Ashely Modzelewski.
Central Arkansas (17-25, 7-7 SLC) got a run back in the top of the fourth, as catcher Jessie Taylor blasted her seventh home run of the year to cut the McNeese lead to 5-1.
The Bears attempted to rally in the top of the seventh, getting a one out walk from centerfielder Amy Gunnells and a single from left fielder Hannah Stirton but a strikeout and a fly out ended both the threat and the game.
Jaime Allred (15-5) earned her second complete game victory of the series, limiting the Bears to just a single run on four hits over seven innings. She issued two walks and struck out two Bears. Kelsie Barker (2-1) started for Central Arkansas, giving up three runs on four hits over just a third of an inning. Kayla Gomness was the first Bear out of the bullpen, going 4.2 innings and allowing a pair of runs on seven hits and a walk. Peyton Jenkins threw the final inning for Central Arkansas, giving up one hit.
Central Arkansas returns to the field on Saturday, taking on Northwestern State in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1:00 P.M. in Conway. The Bears and Lady Demons will finish the series with a single game at noon on Sunday.
