Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears took to the field against the Nicholls State Colonels for a doubleheader at Farris Field on Saturday. The Bears got a pair of outstanding pitching performances from Kylee Studioso, but were only able to pull out one victory, taking the first game 3-1 in eight innings before dropping the second game 2-1.
Central Arkansas (23-32, 12-13 SLC) got things going early in game one, as third baseman Sam Forrest led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to left-center field. After Forrest moved to third on a single from second baseman Sarah Bigej, she came in to score the game's first run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of right fielder Briana Whisenhunt.
The Bears appeared in control until the sixth inning, when they were able to even the score thanks to a Central Arkansas error.
Neither team was unable to break the tie until the bottom of the eighth inning. Forrest got the inning started with a double down the left field line and Bigej ended the game by blasting a two-run home run to right center field to give the Bears the 3-1 victory.
Studioso (15-11) was dominant in the day's first game, going the distance for the Bears and allowing just an unearned run on five hits and a walk. She struck out at least one batter in every inning, totaling 16 on the day, which is a school record against a Southland Conference opponent. Hannah Haydel (6-14) took the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits over seven innings. She struck out four and issued one walk.
In the day's second game, it was the Colonels who grabbed an early lead, as first baseman Hayley Stevenson laced a double just inside the third base bag to score right fielder Morgan Wilson for a 1-0 lead.
Central Arkansas first baseman Ashley Boswell led off the bottom of the fifth inning by crushing a solo home run to centerfield to knot the score at 1-1, where it stayed until the seventh.
Stevenson struck again in the top of the seventh, leading off with a double to right-center and moving to third on a sacrifice bunt. An infield single from center fielder Taylor Terio brought Stevenson in and gave the Colonels a 2-1 lead.
The Bears put two runners on in the bottom half of the frame, but were unable to find an equalizer.
Jackie Johnson (10-15) earned the win for Nicholls, limiting the Bears to a run on six hits and a pair of walks over seven innings. She struck out six Central Arkansas batters. Studioso was effective again, going seven innings and scattering nine hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out four.
The Bears and Colonels will play the rubber match of the series tomorrow at noon.
