Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears opened the home portion of their Southland Conference schedule on Friday, playing host to the Incarnate Word Cardinals for the first two games of a three-game set. The Bears took the day's first game 5-0, before falling to the Cardinals 5-4 in the nightcap.

Central Arkansas (8-20, 1-4 SLC) wasted no time in grabbing the lead in the first game, as centerfielder Morgan Felts led off the bottom of the first by reaching on an error, stealing second base, and moving to third base on a ground out from right fielder Briana Whisenhunt. First baseman Kaylyn Shepherd then laid down a perfect bunt on the safety squeeze, driving in Felts to put the Bears up 1-0.

UCA would add to the lead in the third inning, getting a leadoff single from third baseman Audrey Pratt. Left fielder Hannah Stirton moved Pratt into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Whisenhunt roped a triple to right-center field to drive her in. After working a walk, Shepherd got in a rundown and drew it out long enough for Whisenhunt to score from third.

Central Arkansas again took advantage of a leadoff hit in the bottom of the fourth, this time from catcher Ryan Holdiness, who legged out an infield single and then stole second base before moving to third on a double from shortstop Kate Myers. Designated player Randi Wallace laid down another perfect bunt to drive in Holdiness and moved into scoring position when UIW (5-22, 1-4 SLC) failed to cover second base. Pratt would then cap the game's scoring, driving in Myers with a single to centerfield.

Kayla Gomness (5-8) picked up the win with her eighth complete game of the season. She limited the Cardinals to just six hits while striking out four.

In the second game of the day, it was UIW who would build the early lead, thanks to a three-run home run from shortstop Delaney Guzman in the top of the second inning. Incarnate Word would extend the lead to 4-0 in the fifth on a double from first baseman Alex Alonso.

The Bears battled back though, cutting the UIW lead to just one in the bottom of the fifth. Whisenhunt got the rally started with a bunt single and stole second base before moving to third on a single from second baseman Cylla Hill. Felts came on to pinch run and stole second before Holdiness worked a walk to load the bases for pitcher Kailla Searcy, who hit a sharp grounder to Alonzo, who fired home. The throw would tip off the glove of UIW catcher Christy Trevino, allowing Whisenhunt and Felts to score. Following a pair of outs, pinch hitter Cheyenne Kuhn lofted a fly ball to right that UIW right fielder Michaela Flores was unable to field cleanly, allowing Searcy to score and cutting the lead to 4-3.

The Cardinals would get an unearned run back in the top of the sixth, but the Bears would answer again in the bottom of the frame as Hill drove in Stirton with another single to make it 5-4, but that would be all that Central Arkansas could muster.

Searcy (1-4) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five in five innings. Ellie Reaves worked the final two innings of the game, striking out one and allowing one hit.

On the day, Whisenhunt went 4-for-7 with two runs and an RBI, while Pratt was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. Hill also tallied multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and an RBI.

Central Arkansas and Incarnate Word will close out the series tomorrow with first pitch set for 12:00 PM. Prior to the game, the Bears will celebrate their annual Military Appreciation Day.