Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears and Nicholls State Colonels took to the field on Saturday afternoon for the rubber match of their three-game Southland Conference Series. For the second time in the series, the Bears and Colonels found themselves in a pitcher's duel, which Nicholls ended up winning 3-1.

The Bears (13-25, 4-8 SLC) would generate the game's first scoring chance in the third inning, when left fielder Hannah Stirton got things going with a one-out walk. Right fielder Kayla Crutchmer would poke a single up the middle, before first baseman Kaylyn Shepherd was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Bears would leave them that way, as Nicholls starter Jackie Johnson knocked down a hard-hit grounder from designated player Cylla Hill and fired to first to end the inning.

Nicholls (24-12, 10-2 SLC) would get on the board first, thanks to a two-run double from catcher Veronica Villafranco in the top of the fourth inning, but Central Arkansas would cut the lead in half immediately. Catcher Lauren Brooks reached on base on a fielding error, advancing to second base on the play, before pinch hitter Bailey Reynolds ripped a double down the left field line to plate Brooks and make it 2-1 Colonels.

The Colonels looked poised to break the game open in the top of the seventh, but Stirton was responsible for all three outs, catching a fly ball and doubling off the runner at first base for the first two outs before gunning down a runner at home for the third out of the inning. Nicholls would tack on a run in the inning to push the lead to 3-1.
Brooks would lead off the bottom of the frame with a single to right-center and move into scoring position on a wild pitch, but the Bears were unable to bring her in.

Kayla Gomness (8-11) took the loss for the Bears, scattering nine hits and a walk while just one earned run for her second complete game in as many days. She struck out three batters.

At the plate, Crutchmer was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, while Brooks was 1-for-3 with a run scored and Reynolds went 1-for-1 with a double and an RBI.

The Bears take a break from SLC play on Tuesday, heading to Oxford, Mississippi to take on the Ole Miss Rebels at 6:00 PM, before returning to Conway to host Stephen F. Austin for a three-game set next weekend. The Bears and Ladyjacks will play a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 PM on Friday, before closing out the series with a single game at noon on Saturday.