Conway – The final weekend of the regular season looks to be a busy one for the Central Arkansas softball team. Not only will the Bears take the field against McNeese State in a battle for the second seed in next week's Southland Conference Softball Championship Tournament, but they will also celebrate the first 20 seasons of the program's existence on Saturday, before honoring the careers of their three seniors following Sunday's game.

Saturday's doubleheader, which begins at 1:00 PM, will serve as a celebration of all that the program has accomplished in its first 20 seasons. The Bears will welcome over 30 former players to Farris Field, where they will be honored with a ceremony between games.

"It's a great weekend to honor the ladies that laid the foundation of UCA softball," said head coach David Kuhn. "We are so happy to have them return to Conway this weekend."

Prior to the first game of Saturday's twin-billing, former UCA player Lisa Dreher and former head coach Natalie Shock will throw out ceremonial first pitches. Dreher, from Little Rock, Arkansas, was a key part of the very first UCA softball teams, playing from the program's inception in 1996 until 1999. She played in 157 games during her career, making 156 starts. She hit .334 while collecting 34 doubles, eight triples, and seven home runs, all while driving in 96 runs. She led the team in batting average and slugging percentage in 1997 and 1998, while leading the team in hits in three straight seasons from 1996-98.

Shock, who currently serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and the Senior Women's Administrator in the UCA Athletic Department, was the first head softball coach at UCA. Over an 11 year career, which stretched from 1996 to 2005, and saw her return for one season in 2008, Shock guided the Bears to 207 victories. Under her guidance, the Bears tallied four third-place finishes in the Gulf South Conference West Division and saw seven players earn NFCA All-Region honors, three named GSC-West Freshman of the Year, and one named GSC-West Player of the Year. She had 19 players named All-GSC-West First Team and 16 named All-GSC-West Second Team.

On Sunday, the Bears will honor the career achievements of a trio of seniors. First baseman Ashley Boswell, shortstop Hayley Parker, pitcher Kylee Studioso will all be taking the field at Farris Field for the final time on Sunday.

During four years in Conway, Boswell has played in 210 games, making 205 starts. A career .267 hitter, she has hit 31 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, and driven in 91 runs while drawing 76 walks. She ranks in the top-ten in program history in multiple categories, including games played (2^nd), games started (2^nd), walks (2^nd), at bats (8^th), doubles (8^th), home runs (8^th), RBI (8^th), and hits (10^th).

"Boswell has been a four-year starter for us," said Kuhn. "She has been a tremendous leader, both on and off the field; she was even awarded the number 13 jersey, which goes to the Michelle Short Scholarship recipient."

Parker, who has battled injuries during her time as a Bear, has still managed to see action in 101 games, making 94 starts over the last two seasons. Since coming to UCA from Chipola College, she has hit .234, hitting nine doubles, three triples, and six home runs while driving in 25.

Studioso has plastered her name all over the programs record books during her two seasons at UCA. The 2014 SLC Newcomer of the Year, she has compiled a record of 41-23 with an ERA of 3.13, striking out 447 while walking 135 in 376 innings pitched. She is in the top ten in school history in strikeouts per seven innings (1^st), strikeouts (2^nd),  wins (3^rd), shutouts (3^rd), opponent batting average (4^th), and ERA (8^th).

"Hayley and Kylee have been great additions to the program since coming from junior college two years ago," said Kuhn. "They are both great athletes and have made huge contributions on and off the field."

The Bears and the Cowgirls will play a doubleheader at 1:00 PM on Saturday before wrapping up the regular season with a single game on Sunday at 11:00 AM.