Baton Rouge, La. – The Central Arkansas softball team returned to action at the Tiger Classic on Saturday, squaring off with #20 Notre Dame before having a rematch against Hofstra. The Bears came up short in both games, falling 4-1 to the Fighting Irish and 8-0 to the Pride.
In the day's first game, the Bears (5-5) faced their second top-20 team in as many games. The Irish (5-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as second baseman Jenna Simon reached on a single through the left side and came around to score on three wild pitches.
Central Arkansas evened the score in the third inning, taking advantage of a two-out rally to tie the game. Right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt ripped a double to left-center field and scored when second baseman
Sarah Bigej singled to centerfield.
After both teams were unable to score in the fourth and fifth innings, Notre Dame retook the lead in the top of the sixth. Simon opened the frame with an infield single before advancing to second on a passed ball. First baseman Micaela Arizmendi gave the Irish the lead with a double to right-center to plate Simon.
The Bears threatened in the bottom of the frame, putting a runner in scoring positon, but were unable to fine an equailizer.
The Irish opened the top of the seventh with a pair of walks and a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third with one out, before leftfielder Karley Wester picked up an RBI ground out and Simon got an infield single to put Notre Dame up 4-1.
Central Arkansas put a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but a strike out and a pop up ended the threat.
Allie Rhodes (2-1) picked up the win for Notre Dame, allowing one run on seven hits and a walk in seven innings while striking out five.
Kylee Studioso (4-2) suffered the loss for Central Arkansas, surrendering three earned runs on six hits and five walks in seven innings. She struck out one.
In their second game, the Bears were unable to get their offense going, as Hofstra pitcher Morgan Lashley no-hit Central Arkansas. The Pride (1-2) took advantage of five UCA errors to score in every inning but the first.
Lashley (1-1) issued two walks and hit a batter while earning the win for Hofstra.
Shivaun Landeros (1-3) took the loss for Central Arkansas, allowing six runs, four of which were earned on five hits and four walks in 3.2 innings.
Kayla Gomness gave up a pair of unearned runs on two walks and two hits in 2.0 innings of relief. Both UCA pitchers struck out a batter.
The Bears will wrap up their current road trip tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM, facing Mississippi Valley State in Lafayette, Louisiana.
