Starkville, Miss. - The Central Arkansas Bears closed out their three-week, 14-game road trip on Wednesday, travelling to Starkville, Mississippi to square off against #25 Mississippi State. The Bears picked up their first win over a ranked opponent since March 27, 2013, edging out the Bulldogs 1-0.
UCA (20-10) got a gem from starter
Kayla Gomness, who shut out the Bulldogs while scattering five hits over the course of her fifth complete game of the season. Her four strikeouts were a season high.
The Bears grabbed the game's lone run in the top of the first inning, as third baseman
Sam Forrest led off the inning with an infield single to second base. After a wild pitch moved her to second and right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt sacrificed her to third on a bunt, second baseman
Sarah Bigej drove a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Forrest, who slid around the tag to put the Bears on top.
UCA threatened again in the third inning, with Forrest again leading off with an infield single. Another sacrifice bunt from Whisenhunt mover her to second and Bigej drew a walk, before Mississippi State starter Cori Cooper worked out of the jam thanks to a diving catch in foul territory by shortstop Kayla Winkfield.
Both sides scattered runners throughout the next few frames, but neither side had a solid threat until the bottom of the sixth, when the Bulldogs (20-9) got a pair of singles. The threat was ended by UCA catcher
Jessie Taylor, who gunned down both baserunners as they tried to steal second base.
Jessie Taylor threw out two baserunners to preserve the UCA leadAfter the Bears went in order in the top of the seventh, Gomness mowed through the heart of the Mississippi State order in the bottom half of the frame, getting a ground out, a strikeout, and a fly out to secure the win.
On the day, Forrest and Taylor each picked up a pair of hits, while Whisenhunt and designated player
Bailey Reynolds added a hit apiece.
It was the first win over a Top 25 opponent for the Bears since a 1-0 win over No. 18 Tulsa in Conway in 2013. The Bears also defeated No. 23 Houston 1-0 in Waco in 2011.
Central Arkansas returns to Southland Conference play this weekend, hosting Abilene Christian at Farris Field. The Bears and Wildcats will open the series with a doubleheader set to begin at 4:00 PM on Friday, before closing out the series with a single game on Saturday at noon.
