Hammond, La. – The Central Arkansas Bears took to the field at North Oak Park in Hammond, Louisiana looking for their second consecutive Southland Conference sweep on Sunday. The Bears were able to break out the brooms, thanks to a 3-2 win.
After threatening in each of the first two innings, UCA (31-15, 12-6 SLC) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. As was the case all weekend long, right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt got things going for the Bears, drawing a walk to lead off the inning before moving to third on back-to-back singles from second baseman
Sarah Bigej and third baseman
Sam Forrest. Catcher
Jessie Taylor then singled to right field to drive in Whisenhunt and put the Bears on the board. Following a foul out and a fielder's choice, first baseman
Audrey Pratt added to the lead, drawing a four-pitch walk to plate Forrest and push the UCA lead to 2-0.
Southeastern Louisiana (19-24, 5-13 SLC) got a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning, stringing together a leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI ground out to cut the UCA lead to 2-1.
The Bears responded in the top of the fifth, as Taylor led off with a single to left field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from left fielder
Hannah Stirton. After a fly out and another walk from Pratt, an error off the bat of shortstop
Kate Myers allowed Taylor to score what would prove to be the game-winning run from second base.
SLU led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, a stolen base, and another single to cut the UCA lead to 3-2, and appeared to be set for more runs, but UCA starter
Shivaun Landeros got a strike out and a double play to escape the jam.
The Bears' hurler cruised through the bottom third of the SLU lineup in the bottom of the seventh to give UCA the sweep.
Landeros (19-9) earned her 16
th complete game of the season, allowing a pair of earned runs on four hits and two walks.
The Central Arkansas offense was led by Taylor, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Bigej, who was a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk.
The Bears step out of SLC play on Tuesday, traveling to Pine Bluff to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 4:00 PM. UCA will then return home for a three-game set against Lamar.
The Bears and Lady Cardinals will play a single game at 6:00 PM on Friday, before closing out the series with a doubleheader set to begin at 2:00 PM on Saturday.
