Norman, Okla. – The Central Arkansas Bears stepped out of Southland Conference play on Tuesday, travelling to Norman, Oklahoma to battle the sixth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. The Bears put up an impressive offensive display, but the Sooners proved to be too much, as Central Arkansas fell 12-6.

OU (29-5) took an early lead, putting up six runs over the first two innings to go up 6-0 on the Bears. The Sooners got an RBI double to left-center from designated player Paige Parker to take a 1-0 lead after the first inning, before putting up five runs in the second. The runs game on a two-run home run to center from catcher Lea Woodach and a three-run shot from Parker.

The Bears refused to give up though, exploding for six runs on three hits in the top of the third to even the score at 6-6. First baseman Ashley Boswell got the rally started with a one-out walk and moved to second when centerfielder Amy Gunnells was hit by a pitch. After third baseman Sam Forrest loaded the bases with a single through the right side, right fielder Briana Whisenhunt worked a walk to drive in Boswell and get the Bears on the board. An RBI groundout from second baseman Sarah Bigej pushed Gunnells across, and then catcher Jessie Taylor lofted a double to right-center to pull the Bears to within two runs. Left fielder Hannah Stirton tied the game up, launching her second home run this season to drive in Taylor and knot the score at 6-6.

OU would retake the lead in the bottom of the frame with six runs to cap the game's scoring. Wodach picked up her second homer of the game, a three-run homer to center, while first baseman Lauren Chamberlin got an RBI triple and shortstop Nicole Pendley added a two-run homer.

Neither team would score over the remaining three and a half innings.

Taylor and Stirton each went 2-for-3 on the day with both driving in two runs and scoring one.

Kylee Studioso (19-5) took the loss for Central Arkansas, allowing nine runs on seven hits and three walks over two innings. She struck out one. Kayla Gomness worked four innings of relief, surrendering three runs, two earned, on five hits and a walk while striking out two. Kelsey Stevens got the start for OU, and gave up six runs on three hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. Parker (14-3) earned the win in relief, striking out five over 3.1 innings and holding the Bears to just a pair of hits. Leslie Miller threw the final inning for OU, giving up a hit and a walk but striking out two.

Central Arkansas, who is tied for the lead in the SLC race, travels to Natchitoches, Louisiana to battle Northwestern State. The Lady Demons sit in second place, just half a game back of the Bears and McNeese State. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM on Friday, before closing out the series with a game at noon on Saturday.