NATCHITOCHES, La. — The third-seeded Central Arkansas softball team made its first ever appearance in the Southland Conference Softball Tournament final on Friday, taking on top-seeded Northwestern State at Lady Demon Diamond. The Bears took down the Lady Demons 4-2, earning their first ever appearance in the NCAA Softball Championship Tournament.

Northwestern State jumped out to an early lead scoring a pair of unearned runs. The Lady Demons walked the bases loaded in their first three at-bats before a dropped foul ball extended the at-bat for designated player Cassandra Barefield, who worked another walk to give NSU a 1-0 lead. Following a strikeout, left fielder Natalie Landry then lofted a sacrifice fly to center field to extend the lead to 2-0.

The Bears came out firing in their half of the first though, striking three times to take a 3-2 lead after one. Third baseman Sam Forrest opened the inning by cracking a double to down the right field line. The double was the 48^th of her career, moving her into sole possession of first place for the UCA career record. Right fielder Briana Whisenhunt then ripped a single to center field to move Forrest to third. With second baseman Sarah Bigej at the plate, Whisenhunt swiped second base and Forrest came in to score when the throw ended up in center field. Bigej then picked up a double of her own, to drive in Whisenhunt and even the score at 2-2. Following a pitching change by the Lady Demons, catcher Jessie Taylor reached on an error and left fielder Hannah Stirton drew a walk to load the bases for designated player Audrey Pratt , who drove a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Bigej and give the Bears the lead.

"All week the girls were focused, and had great rounds of practice." Said Central Arkansas head coach David Kuhn. "I was a bit worried when we were down, but we answered with a bang, which was huge because it took the pressure off of us."

Central Arkansas added an insurance run on a bases loaded walk by center fielder Amy Gunnells in the fifth to push their lead to 4-2, but the run would prove unnecessary.

Kylee Studioso got the start for the Bears, allowing a pair of unearned runs while walking four and giving up one hit. She struck out one. Kayla Gomness (4-1) earned the win in relief for Central Arkansas, limiting the Lady Demons to five hits over five scoreless innings while striking out one.
 

"That's been my job all season," said Gomness after the game. "My defense played behind me like they always do, so it was a great game. It feels amazing, because this is
a great group of girls and we always pull for each other."

"All year long we've had a great pitching staff," said Kuhn. "Kylee's thrown most of the innings, but Kayla and Shivaun Landeros have done a great job for us in game two. Kayla's been phenomenal in all of her appearances this year, with great speed and control, and she's developed so much."

After the game, the SLC All-Tournament Team was announced, and the Bears were well represented, placing five players on the 12-player team. Bigej, who hit .357 for the tournament with five doubles and three RBI, Forrest (.353 with a double and an RBI), Whisenhunt (.353 with two stolen bases), and Taylor (.294 with two doubles, a home run, and five RBI) were all named to the team. Studioso, who went 3-0 with an 0.48 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 29.0 innings was named the Tournament MVP.

With the win, Central Arkansas will make its first ever appearance in the NCAA Softball Tournament which takes place at 16 regional sites next week. The Bears will find out which regional they are headed to Sunday night at 9:00 PM. UCA Athletics will host a watch party in the Petit Jean Meats Lounge at Bear Hall.