Conway – The Central Arkansas softball team returned to Southland Conference action on Saturday night, playing host to the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks at Farris Field. The Ladyjacks grabbed an early lead, but after that is was all Central Arkansas, as the Bears picked up the 9-2 victory.
Stephen F. Austin (7-13, 1-3 SLC) jumped out to 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Following a one-out walk and a single, catcher Taylor Fraccastoro doubled to right field to drive in a run, and was followed by third baseman Katelyn Standley, who picked up an RBI ground out.
Central Arkansas (16-6, 4-0 SLC) wasted no time in responding, scoring four runs on four hits in their half of the first to take a lead that they would not give back. Right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt got things going with a one-out single and second baseman
Sarah Bigej followed suit, ripping a single through the left side of the infield. Catcher
Jessie Taylor then knotted the score at 2-2 with a double to left-center field and came in to score when leftfielder
Hannah Stirton launched her first home run of the season over the fence in right-centerfield.
The Bears tacked on to their lead in in the third, when shortstop
Hayley Parker roped a triple down the rightfield line to score Bigej and Stirton.
Taylor capped the night's scoring in the bottom half of the sixth, pounding a ball over the fence in leftfield to drive Whisenhunt and Bigej and make the lead 9-2.
Kylee Studioso (13-2) overcame a shaky first inning that saw her allow two runs on two hits and two walks to earn her 14
th complete game of the year. She limited the Ladyjacks to a pair of rus on five hits and three walks while striking out nine in seven innings. Callee Guffey (3-6) took the loss for SFA, surrendering six runs on five hits and a walk. She struck out two in three innings. Hannah Welch threw three innings in relief of Guffeh, allowing three runs on six hits and walk while striking out one.
The Bears and Ladyjacks will finish up their series with a doubleheader slated to begin at 1:00 PM tomorrow.
