Conway – The Central Arkansas softball team took a break from Southland Conference play on Wednesday night, hosting cross-town foe Central Baptist at Farris Field. The Bears picked up their third win in the past four games on the night, taking down the Lady Mustangs 5-1.
Central Arkansas (16-27) wasted no time in getting on the board, as centerfielder
Briana Whisenhunt led off the first with a walk before stealing both second and third. Following a walk from right fielder
Morgan Felts, the pair pulled off a double steal to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
Central Baptist (12-26) evened the score in the top of the third, thanks to an RBI single from shortstop Whitney Wade, but the Bears answered immediately. Felts got things going in the bottom of the frame by legging out an infield single and stealing second base, before first baseman
Kaylyn Shepherd ripped a double to right-center field to drive her in and give the Bears a 2-1 lead.
UCA would add to the lead in the fourth inning, as third baseman
Audrey Pratt opened things up with a one-out double down the left-field line and moved to third on a single from left fielder
Hannah Stirton. After Stirton stole second and Whisenhunt worked a walk, Felts poked a single through the right side and second baseman
Cylla Hill hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to push the lead to 4-1.
After shortstop
Kate Myers led off the fifth inning with a walk, catcher
Lauren Brooks moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. When no one covered third base, Myers took advantage, rounding second and beating CBC left fielder Cali Lankford to the bag. Following a pop up, Stirton beat out an infield single, driving in Myers and capping the game's scoring.
Kayla Gomness (10-12) worked her 14
th complete game of the season to earn the win, allowing just one run on 10 hits and a walk while striking out four batters.
At the plate, Stirton and Felts each went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run, while Pratt was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of doubles. Whisenhunt was 1-for-2 with three stolen bases and two walks, while Shepherd went 1-for-2 with an RBI, a walk, and an HBP.
Central Arkansas returns to SLC play this weekend, heading to Beaumont, Texas for a three-game set at Lamar. The Bears and Cardinals will play a doubleheader set to begin at 5:00 PM on Friday, and will finish up the series with a single game at 2:00 PM on Saturday.
