Springfield, Mo. – The Central Arkansas Bears traveled to Springfield, Missouri to battle the Bears of Missouri State on Wednesday night. The purple Bears took advantage of three two-run home runs, including two from third baseman Sam Forrest, to roll past the maroon Bears 9-3.

Central Arkansas (25-14) wasted no time in getting on the board, as right field Briana Whisenhunt led off the top of the first inning with a walk. Forrest then picked up the first of her two bombs, blasting a full-count offering from Missouri State (13-19) starter Erin Struemph over the fence in left field to give the purple Bears a 2-0 lead.

Whisenhunt again set the table for Forrest in the third inning, leading off with an infield single, before the UCA third baseman blasted a ball out to right field to push the UCA
lead to 4-0.

In the top of the fifth, Forrest got things started with a one out walk before left fielder Hannah Stirton launched a two-run shot of her own to center field to make it 6-0 in favor of the purple Bears.

UCA continued their trend of striking in the odd innings in the seventh, putting up three runs to push the lead to 9-0. Pinch hitter Lindsay Elliott led off the inning with a walk, before moving to second on a single from Forrest. Stirton poked a single down the right field line to load the bases for first baseman Audrey Pratt, who ripped an RBI ground out to third to drive in Elliott. Designated player Bailey Reynolds then roped a two-run double to left-center field to plate Forrest and Stirton and make it 9-0 UCA.

Missouri State would strike three times in the bottom of the seventh to cut the UCA lead to 9-3, but Stirton would cut down a runner at the plate to end the game.

Kayla Gomness (7-3) went the distance for Central Arkansas, allowing just one earned run on six hits and a pair of walks in seven innings.

Forrest led the UCA offense on the day, going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and four RBI, while Stirton went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored.

Central Arkansas returns to Southland Conference play with a key series this weekend. The Bears host Northwestern State for a three-game set in a rematch of last season's SLC Tournament championship game. The Bears and Lady Demons will play a single game at 6:00 PM on Friday, before closing out the series with a doubleheader set to begin at noon on Saturday.