Corpus Christi, Texas – The Central Arkansas softball Bears opened the Southland Conference slate on Saturday, travelling to Corpus Christi, Texas to take on the Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders edged out the Bears 2-1 in the first game of the twinbill, before the Bears rebounded to take the second game 5-2.
In the day's second game, the Bears (15-8, 1-1 SLC) got a lift from junior starter
Kayla Gomness, who made her first start in the circle since February 20
th. The righty limited the Islanders (11-10, 1-1 SLC) to just a pair of runs on six hits to improve to 3-1 on the season with her third complete game of the season.
After the Islanders took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, UCA took advantage of some TAMCC miscues in the third to take a 4-2 lead. Centerfielder
Amy Gunnells led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a single from third baseman
Sam Forrest. Right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt then lofted a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Gunnells and cut the Islander lead to 2-1. Second baseman
Sarah Bigej and catcher
Jessie Taylor each worked a walk to load the bases for left fielder
Hannah Stirton, who reached on an error that allowed Forrest and Bigej to score, giving the Bears a 3-2 lead. A passed ball then brought in Taylor.
The Bears added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning, as designate player
Krissy Fontillas led off with a double before coming in to score on another double from first baseman
Audrey Pratt.
In the first game of the day, the Bears got a strong pitching performance from
Shivaun Landeros (9-5), who allowed just a pair of runs on six hits and a walk, but suffered the loss as UCA stranded 11 runners.
Central Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when Whisenhunt roped a single to right field to drive in shortstop
Kate Myers, but the Islanders got an RBI double in the third to tie the game, before a two-out single in the fifth plated the eventual game-winner.
On the day, the Central Arkansas offense was led by Forrest, who went 3-for-7 with an RBI and a run, and Whisenhunt, who drove in a pair of runs.
The Bears and Islanders will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM.
