Mobile, Alabama – The Central Arkansas softball team opened the 2017 season on the road on Thursday evening, travelling to Mobile, Alabama for a match-up with the South Alabama Jaguars. Despite taking an early lead, the Bears were unable to overcome five errors and nine runners left on base, falling 9-3 to USA.
Central Arkansas (0-1) took the lead in the top of the second inning; when second baseman
Krissy Fontillas led off with a double to left field and advanced to third on a productive out from third baseman
Morgan Felts. Shortstop
Kate Myers then drove in Fontillas with a single to right field.
UCA starter
Kayla Gomness (0-1) was able to work around an error in the bottom half of the frame, but wasn't so lucky in the bottom of the fourth, when South Alabama (1-0) paired five hits with three UCA miscues to take a 6-1 lead.
After a quiet fourth inning, the Bears would cut into the lead in the fifth, as first baseman
Kaylyn Shepherd drew a one-out walk to start the rally. A throwing error on a ground ball from right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt gave the Bears runners at second and third, before a sacrifice fly from centerfielder
Briana Whisenhunt and a single from catcher
Lauren Brooks made it 6-3.
After the Jaguars strung together three doubles to push the lead to 8-3 in the bottom of the fifth, it appeared that the Bears would answer the call again in the top of the sixth. Myers led off with a double and designated player
Bailey Reynolds drew a one-out walk before a single from Shepherd loaded the bases, but the Bears would leave them that way thanks to a strikeout and ground out to second base.
The Jaguars would add an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth and Central Arkansas would get just a single from third baseman
Kailla Searcy in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Gomness took the loss for UCA, allowing five earned runs in 4.2 innings of work while walking two and striking out four.
Ellie Reaves relieved her in the fifth inning, giving up one earned run and getting one strikeout.
The Bears open play in the 2017 Sand Dollar Classic with a pair of games tomorrow. UCA will face off with Jacksonville State at 3:00 PM, before getting a rematch with South Alabama at 5:30 PM.
