Mobile, Alabama – The Central Arkansas Bears closed out their appearance at the 2017 Sand Dollar Classic on Sunday morning, taking on the Alabama State Lady Hornets. The Bears had their best game of the season offensively, but fell to the Lady Hornets by a final tally of 7-5.
After Alabama State (1-3) got a single run in both the first and second innings, the Bears (0-5) got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Second baseman
Morgan Felts got things started with a one-out single to third bases and moved into scoring position thanks to a wild pitch before coming in to score on a single from shortstop
Kate Myers.
A three-run home run in the top of the third pushed the ASU lead to 5-1, before the Bears cut into it again in the bottom of the fourth inning. This time it was Myers who got things going reaching base on an error by the ASU second baseman and moving into scoring position thanks to a sacrifice bunt from left fielder
Hannah Stirton. After a single from designated player
Kayla Crutchmer gave the Bears runners at the corners, back-to-back singles from centerfielder
Jessie Hoover and right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt scored Myers and Crutchmer and made it 5-3 ASU.
The Bears tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth, when catcher
Lauren Brooks led off with a walk and moved to second base on a ground out from Felts. Myers would then pick up her second RBI of the day, singling to centerfield to drive in Brooks and cut the lead to 5-4.
After a two-run home run in the top of the seventh made it 7-4 ASU, the Bears came to the plate in the bottom of the frame looking for a rally. First baseman
Kaylyn Shepherd and Brooks got things going, with Shepherd getting hit by a pitch and Brooks reaching on an error, before a fly out from third baseman
Kailla Searcy and a ground out from Felts moved them into scoring position. A wild pitch on a walk to Myers allowed pinch runner
Brianna McArthur to score from third to make it 7-5, but a ground out ended the threat.
Kayla Gomness (0-3) took the loss for the Bears, allowing three earned runs on five hits and a walk in 2.1 innings of work.
Ellie Reaves came on in relief, giving up a pair of runs on five hits and a walk in 4.2 innings.
The Bears return to action on Wednesday afternoon, traveling to Pine Bluff to take on UAPB at 3:00 PM.
