Lake Charles, Louisiana – The Central Arkansas Bears opened Southland Conference play on Friday night, travelling to Lake Charles, Louisiana to take on defending SLC Champion McNeese State. The Bears struggled offensively on the day, gathering just five hits while falling 8-0 and 6-2.
McNeese (15-10, 2-0SLC) would open the scoring in the day's first game, getting a leadoff single from shortstop Hailey Drew and an RBI from centerfielder Tori Yanitor in the
bottom of the first inning.
The Bears (7-16, 0-2 SLC) took advantage of some strong defense to keep the Cowgirls off the board over the next two innings, with catcher
Bailey Reynolds gunning down a pair of would-be base-stealers at second base, before McNeese broke the game open in the fourth inning, thanks to a six-run frame highlighted by a grand slam from left fielder Taylor Schmidt. A Central Arkansas error and a sacrifice fly from third baseman Erika Piancastelli would end the game in the sixth.
Central Arkansas collected just one hit in the game, a lead-off double from right fielder
Briana Whisenhunt in the fifth inning.
Kayla Gomness (4-7) took the loss in the game, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two in 3.2 innings of work.
Nicole Fullilove came on in relief, surrendering two runs on one hit while striking out one Cowgirl in 2.0 innings of work.
In the nightcap, McNeese again struck in the first, thanks to a three-run homer from designated player Morgan Catron and a single from Schmidt. The Bears responded immediately, as pitcher
Kailla Searcy led off the top of the second with a solo shot, her third of the season, to cut the lead to 4-1.
The Bears would chip away again in the fifth inning, as third baseman
Cylla Hill led off by reaching on an error. Catcher
Ryan Holdiness poked a single to centerfield, before centerfielder
Kayla Crutchmer reached on another error to load the bases for Whisenhunt, who lofted a sac fly to left to plate pinch runner
Morgan Felts.
McNeese would get the two runs back with a pair of RBI doubles in the sixth to close out the day's scoring.
Searcy (1-3) was the pitcher of record for Central Arkansas, giving up four runs on five hits and a pair of walks with one strikeout in one inning of work. Fullilove again came on in relief, and struck out two while allowing two runs on nine hits and a pair of walks.
The Bears and Cowgirls will wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM.
