Conway – The Central Arkansas softball team took the time to honor the three members of it senior class on Sunday. On the field though, the Bears were unable to avoid the sweep, falling to McNeese State 13-10 in eight innings.

McNeese (36-18, 21-5 SLC) stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Bears (31-19, 16-8 SLC) got an RBI double from left fielder Hannah Stirton to score third baseman Sam Forrest and cut the lead to 4-1.

The Cowgirls added a pair in the top of the second, but UCA answered with a pair of their own in the bottom of the inning. Shortstop Hayley Parker opened the inning with a single up the middle and a stolen base, before coming in to score on a single up the middle from first baseman and fellow senior Ashley Boswell. After Forrest drew a one-out walk, she and Boswell both moved upon a wild pitch, before second baseman Sarah Bigej brought in Boswell on a sacrifice fly to left field.

The score would remain 6-3 until the sixth, when McNeese would extend its lead to 7-3. The lead would prove to be short-lived though, as the Bears exploded for five runs on five hits in the bottom of the frame, taking an 8-7 lead. Forrest opened the inning with a double to right-center that moved her into a tie for first place on the UCA career list, and then moved to third on a one-out ground out from Bigej. Catcher Jessie Taylor then set a new UCA single-season record, roping a single to left field that drove in Forrest and gave Taylor 50 RBI on the season. Stirton picked up a single of her own, and pinch hitter Ryan Holdiness followed with a double to center that scored Taylor and gave the Bears runners at second and third. After Parker was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Boswell hit a sharp ground ball back up the middle. The ball glanced off of McNeese pitcher Bianca Kelly's glove and when second baseman Hailey Drew dove to knock it down, it bounced off of her glove as well. Though the ball never left the infield, all three runners were able to score, giving the Bears an 8-7 lead.

McNeese found an equalizer in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of a two-out walk and two singles.

Forrest drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but she was stranded, sending the game to extra innings.

McNeese tallied five runs to build a 13-8 lead in the top of the eighth. Stirton got the bottom of the inning going with a single and Holdiness drew a walk before Boswell reached on a fielder's choice. With runners at second and third, centerfielder Amy Gunnells blasted a double to left-center field to cut the lead to 13-10, but a strikeout ended the rally.

Kylee Studioso (24-12) took the loss for Central Arkansas, allowing 12 runs on 12 hits while walking four and striking out six in seven innings. Kayla Gomness worked one inning of relief, striking out two.

Central Arkansas, who earned the third seed in next week's Southland Conference Softball Tournament, will return to action on Wednesday. The Bears will take on sixth-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the tournament's opening game at 11:00 AM at Northwestern State's Lady Demon Diamond. The winner will move on to a second round game against second-seeded McNeese State at 4:00 PM on Wednesday.