Natchitoches, La. – The Southland Conference-leading Central Arkansas Bears took the field on Saturday looking to put some space between themselves and the Northwestern State Lady Demons, a team that came into the day tied for second in the SLC. While the two teams traded victories in a pair of pitcher's duels on Friday, they played a completely different style of game on Saturday, as the Bears fell 9-7.

Northwestern State (22-14, 12-2 SLC) got on the board first, when designated player Cassandra Barefield led off the bottom of the second with a  home run to left-center field.

The Bears (24-12, 12-3 SLC) responded in the top of the third, putting up three runs on three hits shortstop Hayley Parker got the inning started with a single to center, and stole second base before first baseman Ashley Boswell worked a walk. Following a flyout, third baseman Sam Forrest then connected on a pitch from NWLA starter Mikayla Brown, launching it over the fence in right-center to give UCA a 3-1 lead.

The lead would be short-lived, as the Lady Demons would put up four two-out runs to retake the lead. Third baseman Brittany Virgoe got the rally started with a double to left, and then came around to score on a double from right fielder Kellye Kincannon. After Barefield drew a walk to extend the inning, first baseman Brittany Jones hit a three-run shot to left-center to make it 5-3.

Bailey Reynolds got a run back for the Bears in the top of the fourth, launching her first home run of the season to centerfield to cut the Northwestern State lead to 5-4.
The NWLA offense would strike again in the bottom of the fourth, putting up four more runs on a two-run homer, an RBI triple, and an RBI ground out to push its lead to 9-4.

After a scoreless fifth and sixth innings, the Bears came to the plate in the top of the seventh looking for a rally. Forrest drew a walk to open the inning and moved to second base when second baseman Sarah Bigej was hit by a pitch with one out. Following a flyout, pinch hitter Brianna McArthur was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Reynolds, who ripped a double to left-center to score pinch runner Tylor Dodson and Forrest. With the tying run at second base, a groundout ended the game.

Reynolds led the Bear offense on the day, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, while Forrest went 1-for-2 with three RBI and a pair of walks.

Kylee Studioso (19-7) took the loss for the Bears, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks in 2.2 innings while striking out three. Kayla Gomness came on in relief, surrendering four runs on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Shivaun Landeros threw the final inning for the Bears, striking out one.  Brown (5-2) got the win, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Shelby Sells faces one batter in the fifth inning, issuing a walk before Brown returned to the circle. Sells surrendered one run.

Central Arkansas will step out of SLC play this week, travelling to Arlington, Texas to take on the University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks. The Bears and the Mavs will play a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM on Wednesday.