Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears played host to the Lyon College Scots on Wednesday evening, for a non-conference match-up at Farris Field. The Bears had a big day at the plate, picking up 14 hits while taking down the Scots 13-4 in six innings.
The Bears (11-20) got things going in the third inning, thanks to an RBI single from designated player
Lauren Brooks and a grand slam from second baseman
Cylla Hill, taking a 5-0 lead.
After a wild pitch put the Scots (13-11) on the board in the top of the fourth, Central Arkansas went back to work in the bottom of the inning, adding three more runs on five hits. Centerfielder
Briana Whisenhunt started things with a single to up the middle and stole second base before coming in to score on a single from first baseman
Kaylyn Shepherd. Catcher
Ryan Holdiness drew a walk, before shortstop
Kate Myers reached on an error to load the bases. Hill delivered again, ripping a single through the left side to drive in pinch runner
Jessie Hoover, and third baseman
Audrey Pratt plated Holdiness with a sacrifice fly to put the Bears up 8-1.
Lyon would cut the UCA lead to 8-4 in the fifth, but Central Arkansas would again waste no time in responding, getting an RBI double from catcher
Bailey Reynolds and a run-scoring single from Brooks to take a 10-4 lead.
After Hill opened the bottom of the sixth with a single, it looked like Pratt had delivered the game-ending two-run home run, but the ball was ruled foul, sending the Bears back to work. Left fielder
Brianna McArthur reached on a fielder's choice and pinch hitter
Morgan Felts drew a walk, before Whisenhunt ended the game by blasting her first career home run to put the run-rule into effect.
Kayla Gomness (7-8) got the win for the Bears, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out one in 3.1 innings of work.
Nicole Fullilove relieved her and gave up two runs on two hits in 1.0 inning, while
Ellie Reaves faced two batters and surrendered a run while issuing a pair of walks.
Payton Herman worked 0.2 innings and gave up a hit and a walk, before
Jordan Ward came in for the final 1.0 inning, in which she walked one batter and struck out another.
Central Arkansas returns to Southland Conference play in Huntsville, Texas this weekend against Sam Houston State. The Bears and Bearkats will play a double header set to begin at 3:00 PM on Friday, before wrapping up the series with a single game at 3:00 PM on Saturday.
