Starkville, Mississippi – The Central Arkansas Bears returned to play in the 2017 Bulldog Slamboree with a pair of games on Saturday, both of which proved to be pitcher's duels. The Bears found themselves on both sides of the decision on the day, falling to host Mississippi State 2-1 in the day's first game, before defeating UMass 2-1 in 11 innings to advance to a championship game rematch against the Bulldogs.

Against MSU (16-3), the Bears found themselves in a hole early, as the Bulldogs got an RBI single from right fielder Olivia Golden in the bottom of the first inning. Central Arkansas answered immediately though, as second baseman Krissy Fontillas led off the top of the second with her third home run of the season, blasting a 3-1 offering from Regan Green over the fence in left field.

The Bulldogs would manufacture what would prove to be the game-winner in the bottom of the frame, when a fielder's choice from second baseman Emily Heimerberger allowed third baseman Caroline Seitz to score.

Sophomore Ellie Reaves (1-5) would take the hard-luck loss for the Bears, limiting the Bulldogs to a pair of runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four in 4.0 innings of work. Fellow sophomore Nicole Fullilove was outstanding in relief, entering with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the sixth and managing to keep the Bulldogs off the board on the way to 2.0 innings of perfect relief.

Central Arkansas got another dazzling pitching performance against UMass, as senior Kayla Gomness (4-5) held the Minutewomen to a single run on seven hits and a walk while striking out four in 11.0 innings. The complete game was her sixth of the season.

Despite 14 combined base runners through the first nine innings of the game, neither side was able to plate a run until the international tie-break went into effect in the 10^th inning. UMass (3-11) took advantage of a pair of singles to move their runner in from second base, while the Bears got a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Kate Myers to move centrerfielder Morgan Felts to third base before she came in to score on a wild pitch.

Gomness set the Minutewomen down in order in the top of the 11^th, and the Bears capitalized in the bottom of the inning, moving right fielder Briana Whisenhunt to third with a sacrifice bunt from first baseman Kaylyn Shepherd before third baseman Audrey Pratt drove her in with a single to right field.

The win over UMass means the Bears advance to the championship game of the Slamboree, where they will get another go at the Bulldogs. First pitch is set for 1:30 PM.