Conway – The Central Arkansas softball team opened the home portion of its 20^th season on Tuesday night, hosting in-state opponent Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Farris Field. The Bears proved to be too much for the Lady Lions, picking up the run-rule victory 11-2.

Central Arkansas (4-2) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Third baseman Sam Forrest led off the inning with a double off the fence in center field, before moving to third on a ground out. She came in to give the Bears a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch.

After Central Arkansas starter Kylee Studioso struck out the side in the top of the second, the Bears added to their lead with four unearned runs on two hits and two UAPB (0-5) errors. The inning started with a strike out before shortstop Tori Seasor ripped a single up the middle. First baseman Ashley Boswell then hit a grounder to third, and Seasor was able to race all the way in to score from first when the ball was thrown into right field. Centerfielder Amy Gunnells roped a single to left field to score Boswell, then came in to score herself on a throwing error on Forrest's ground ball to the pitcher. Following a pair of walks to load the bases, catcher Jessie Taylor capped the inning's scoring with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring pinch runner Hayley Parker and giving the Bears a 5-0 lead.

The Lady Lions got an unearned run to cut the UCA lead to 5-1 in the top of the third, but the Bears quickly got the run back, as Forrest got an RBI ground out to second to drive in designated player Bailey Reynolds in the bottom of the frame.

Central Arkansas took advantage of UAPB miscues again in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on just two hits. The inning started with a strikeout, before Taylor and left fielder Hannah Stirton drew back-to-back walks. Pinch hitter Lindsay Elliott collected on the free passes, roping a double down the left field line to put the Bears up 8-1. After a pitching change, Elliot moved to third on a wild pitch and Ryan Holdiness collected a base on balls before advancing to second. The third pinch hitter in a row for the Bears, Audrey Pratt, made the Lady Lions pay again, as she too ripped a two-run double down the left field line. Brianna McArthur reached on an error, and Forrest picked up her second RBI of the night, grounding out to second to drive in Pratt.

The Lady Lions got another unearned run in the top half of the fifth, but Studioso shut the attempted rally down with a pair of strikeouts in the frame.

The Bears collected just five hits on the night, but managed to work nine walks out of the UAPB pitching staff. Forrest, Elliot, and Pratt each had a double and a  pair of RBIs to lead the Bears, while second baseman Sarah Bigej drew a pair of walks.

Studioso (3-1) threw her third complete game of the season, allowing just a pair of unearned runs on four hits and walk. She struck out 11 in five innings. Shanice Murray (0-1) took the loss for the Lady Lions, allowing nine runs, five of which were earned, on four hits and eight walks in 3.1 innings, while Makayla Hunter allowed two runs on one hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning of relief.

Central Arkansas hits the road for Baton Rouge, Louisiana this weekend, where they will take place in the 2015 Tiger Classic. The Bears will face Hofstra and LSU on Friday, before taking on Notre Dame and Hofstra for a second time on Saturday. UCA will close the weekend out with a neutral site game against Mississippi Valley State in Lafayette, Louisiana on Sunday.