Natchitoches, La. – Just three hours after securing a 1-0, 13 inning win in the opening game of the Southland Conference Softball Tournament, the Central Arkansas Bears returned to action in the Tournament's second round, taking on second-seeded McNeese State Cowgirls. The Bears built an early lead and got another outstanding pitching performance to take down the Cowgirls 6-2.

The Bears jumped out to an early lead, getting a two-run home run from catcher Jessie Taylor before striking four times in the second inning. Shortstop Hayley Parker and first baseman Ashley Boswell drew walks to open the inning and force a pitching change from the Cowgirls. After center fielder Amy Gunnells worked another walk, third baseman Sam Forrest floated a soft line drive over the Cowgirls' first baseman and just inside the right field line to drive in Parker and push the lead to 3-0. Boswell would come in to score on a wild pitch and Taylor would then strike again, roping the ball off the fence in right field to drive in Gunnells and Forrest and put the Bears up 6-0.

McNeese got on the board thanks to a solo shot from third baseman Bryanna Castro in the bottom of the third.

The teams then went scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when the Cowgirls got an RBI ground out to cut the UCA lead to 6-2. The rally attempt would stall out though, as
UCA starter Kylee Studioso induced a pop fly to first base to end the game.
 

Taylor rebounded from a rough first game by going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and four RBI, while Forrest went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

Studioso picked up her second complete game victory of the day, limiting the Cowgirls to two runs on five hits and a walk.

The Bears will take the field again tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 PM, against either top-seeded Northwestern State or fifth-seeded Lamar.