Gulf Shores, Ala. – The Central Arkansas Bears overcame four defensive miscues to come back from being down 4-1 at the Sand Dollar Classic on Sunday, taking down the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks 5-4.
SEMO (0-3) grabbed a lead in the bottom of the first inning, when first baseman Savannah Carpenter launched a two-run home run to center field.
UCA (4-1) chipped into the lead in third inning, as right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt laced a two-out double down the right field line before coming around to score on a single through the right side off the bat of second baseman
Sarah Bigej.
The Redhawks extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of four Central Arkansas errors on four consecutive plays to push their advantage to 4-1, before the Central Arkansas bats came to life.in the top half of the fifth. Third baseman
Sam Forrest led off the inning with solo home run to right field, before catcher
Jessie Taylor got in on the action with two outs, cracking a solo shot of her own to left-center to cut the Redhawk lead to 4-3.
After SEMO stranded a runner at third in the bottom of the fifth, before left fielder
Hannah Stirton reset the game with her second home run of the weekend, this one to left field to even the score at 4-4.
Central Arkansas pitcher
Shivaun Landeros set SEMO down in order in the bottom of the sixth, and the Bears continued to roll in the top of the seventh. Forrest worked a leadoff walk and Whisenhunt beat out a throw to give UCA runners at first and second with one out.
Brianna McArthur came on to run for Forrest, and Taylor came through for the Bears again, ripping a double off the tip of SEMO left fielder Nicole Deering's glove to plate McArthur and give the Bears their first lead of the day.
Landeros cruised through the bottom of the seventh, setting the Redhawks down in order on just nine pitches to preserve the win.
Kayla Gomness got the start in the circle for the Bears, and went 3.1 innings, allowing four runs, just two earned, while scattering five hits. Landeros (2-1) earned the win in relief striking out five while limiting SEMO to just one hit in 3.1 innings of work.
Taylor led the Central Arkansas offense, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, while Forrest, Stirton, and Bigej each chipped in an RBI.
The Bears open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday evening, hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:00 PM.
