Abilene, Texas – The Central Arkansas softball team took to the field for their first Southland Conference road game of the 2015 season, facing off with the Wildcats of Abilene Christian University on Friday night. The Wildcats grabbed a 2-0 lead, but the Bears clawed their way back to pick up the 5-4 win and remain perfect in SLC play.
ACU (5-19, 1-6 SLC) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, when third baseman Holly Neese hit a home run to left field, and added an unearned run in the bottom of the third to push their lead to 2-0.
Centerfielder
Amy Gunnells got the Bears (19-7, 7-0 SLC) on the board in the top of the fifth inning, leading off the frame with her first home run of the season. Third baseman
Sam Forrest then singled through the left side and moved to third on a double to right-center from right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt. UCA loaded the bases on a walk from second baseman
Sarah Bigej, then got RBI walks from catcher
Jessie Taylor and left fielder
Hannah Stirton to take a 3-2 lead. Following a Wildcat pitching change, designated player
Audrey Pratt lofted a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Bigej and make it 4-2 in favor of the Bears.
The Wildcats cut into the Central Arkansas lead thanks to an RBI double off the bat of shortstop Peyton Hedrick, but the Bears got the run back on a two-out single from Pratt in the top of the seventh.
The run would prove to be vital, as Abilene threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Second baseman Demi McNulty led off the inning with a double to left-center and advanced to third on a single through the right side from centerfielder Taylor Brown. McNulty came in to score on fielder's choice from left fielder Kristin Hedrick to cut the Bear lead to 5-4. An error put the tying run at second base, but Central Arkansas starter
Kylee Studioso got a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
Pratt led the Central Arkansas offense on the night, going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while Forrest went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.
Studioso (15-3) earned the victory for the Bears, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 12. Emily Seidel (3-16) suffered the loss, giving up four runs on four hits and six walks while striking out two batters in four innings. Julia Montoya held the Bears to one run on one hit and a walk in three innings of relief.
The Bears and Wildcats will try to play a doubleheader tomorrow, weather permitting. There is no official start time yet.
