Memphis, Tennessee – The Central Arkansas Bears hit closed out a four game road-trip on Tuesday evening, facing off with the Memphis Tigers. The Bears built an early lead, but were unable to hold on to it, falling to the Tigers 8-2.

Central Arkansas (12-23) got on the board first, taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning, when left fielder Hannah Stirton got things started by reaching on an error. After moving to second on a single from right fielder Briana Whisenhunt, Stirton came in to score the game's first run when first baseman Kaylyn Shepherd ripped a single through the right side.
Following a fly out that allowed Whisenhunt to move to third and a stolen base from Shepherd, designated player Bailey Reynolds picked up an RBI single of her own, poking one to left field to score Whisenhunt.

Memphis (18-13) would cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third before taking the lead with a two-run double in the fifth inning. The Tigers would break the game open in the sixth, putting up five runs on four hits and an error to make it 8-2.

Kayla Gomness (7-10) suffered the loss, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three in 5.0 innings. Payton Herman came on in relief and allowed a pair of runs on one hit and one walk in 0.1 innings, while Kailla Searcy surrendered two runs on three hits in 0.2 innings.

At the plate, Whisenhunt, Shepherd, Reynolds, and pinch hitter Kayla Crutchmer all picked up a hit for Central Arkansas.

The Bears return to Southland Conference play this weekend, playing host to Nicholls for a three-game set. The Bears and Colonels will play a doubleheader set to begin at 4:00 PM on Friday afternoon, before finishing the series with a single game at noon on Saturday.