Conway – With the 2017 softball season starting to wind down, the Central Arkansas Bears will head into their final home weekend of the regular season when they welcome the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions to Farris Field on Friday and Saturday. The Bears will use the weekend to honor the career achievements of seniors Tylor Dodson, Kayla Gomness, Bailey Reynolds, Hannah Stirton, and Briana Whisenhunt, junior Randi Wallace, and student assistant Taylor Kuhn.

Dodson, a first baseman from Welch, Oklahoma, has seen action in 94 games while making 20 starts for the Bears. She has hit two home runs and two doubles, scored 31 runs and driven in seven, drawn nine walks and stolen 10 bases while turning in a fielding percentage of .985. She will graduate with a degree in communication science and disorders.

"For most of her career Tylor was a role-player for us," said UCA head coach David Kuhn. "But she comes to work every day with a great attitude and a smile on her face. She's a tremendous student, a tremendous person, and she approaches every day with a workman-like attitude. She's had a great career. She may not have played in a lot of games, but she's done the work, she's put in the time, and she's been a huge part of our success, in pushing girls, in showing them how to work and in showing them what it takes to be successful."

Gomness, a pitcher from Lemoore, California, has thrown in 104 games, making 56 starts, while compiling a record of 27-26 with five saves. The righty has thrown 415.2 innings with an ERA of 3.12, striking out 181batters while issuing just 72 walks. She has peppered the UCA record books, holding the record for fewest walks per game in a season (0.76 in 2016), and ranks in the top-ten of the career book in walks per game (1.21, 2^nd), saves (2^nd), appearances (2^nd), shutouts (7, 5^th), starts (5^th), wins (6^th), innings pitched (6^th), strikeouts (8^th), ERA (9^th), and complete games (28, 10^th). She is pursuing a degree in nursing.

"Kayla has steadily improved every year she's been here," said Kuhn. "She's gone from someone who just got a few innings as a freshman, to winning the conference championship game her sophomore year, to being our ace this year. She's really developed and worked hard and it's great to see her name scattered throughout our record books."

Reynolds, a catcher from Greenbrier, Arkansas, has seen action in 139 games while making 69 starts. She has tallied 18 doubles, one triple, and five home runs while scoring 23 runs and driving in 40. She has worn Michelle Short's #13 jersey, given to a UCA player that is in good academic standing, this season. Reynolds will graduate with a degree in accounting.

"Bailey spot-played as a freshman and a sophomore, had a big hit to beat Abilene Christian as a sophomore," said Kuhn. "And then she started a lot last year as the designated player and has started a lot this season at DP and at catcher, and she's done a really good job. She's worn the Michelle Short jersey with a lot of pride and honor, and she's an amazing person and an amazing teammate."

???????Stirton, an outfielder from Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been a mainstay in left field over the past four year, playing 218 games and making 216 starts. She has collected 27 doubles, 10 home runs and 67 RBI while scoring 97 runs and stealing 26 bases. The UCA record holder for times hit by a pitch, Stirton has been plunked 37 times and drawn 77 walks. A career .975 fielder, she has thrown out 19 runners during her career. She ranks in the top ten in program history in HBP (1^st), games started (3^rd), walks, (5^th), games played (6^th), runs scored (7^th), stolen bases (6^th), and stolen base percentage (.839, 10^th). She is pursuing a degree in Family and Consume Science.

"Hannah has started almost every game since she's been here," said Kuhn. "She's a phenomenal defensive player who's done a good job of getting on base; and she's been as good defensively as any outfielder to ever play here."

Wallace, in infielder from Madera Ranchos, California, has played in 59 games while making 13 starts during her career. She has collected two doubles, a triple, and two home runs while slugging .417 and reaching base at a .397 clip. Wallace has served as the President of the UCA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the 2016-17 academic year, and will graduate with a degree in nutrition.

"Randi has been a great asset to our program, both on and off the field," said Kuhn. "She has played in some big games and been called upon in several key situations. She has a tremendous, team-first attitude, she's represented the Southland Conference at NCAA meetings, and she has served as the SAAC President."

???????Whisenhunt, an outfielder from Crandall, Texas, has played in 219 games, making 215 starts during her career. A career .318 hitter, she has collected 33 doubles, eight triples, and two home runs while driving in 66 runs, scoring 137, and stealing 91 bases. A three-time All-Southland Conference honoree, Whisenhunt ranks in the top-10 in program history in stolen bases (91, 2^nd), triples (t-2^nd), hits (t-3^rd), runs scored (3^rd), games played (4^th), total bases (272, 6^th), stolen base percentage (.901, 7^th), on-base percentage (.385, 8^th), walks (67, 8^th), and doubles (10^th).She is pursuing a degree in nursing.

"Briana is capping off an amazing career," said Kuhn. "She's a three-time All-Conference player and I feel like she's got a good chance at doing it again this year. She's been a great base-stealer, she's hit for average and scored a lot of runs. And to be able to do that while going through nursing school is amazing. She's going to be in our record books for a very long time."

Kuhn, from Conway, played one season for the Bears before moving into a student assistant role, where she has helped the team in all facets of the game.

"TK has been great help to me and to Coach Parsons," said Kuhn. "She's done a little bit of everything, helping with video and film, field work, laundry. She's done some managerial and coaching duties. She's been a tremendous help, and to be out here every day with one of my two daughters is a privilege and an honor."

The Bears will have an on-field graduation ceremony prior to tomorrow's first game at 3:45 PM, where Dodson, Reynolds, Wallace, Kuhn and graduate assistant coach Hayley Parker will be recognized for all that they achieved in their academic careers, before hosting traditional Senior Day ceremonies at 11:45 AM on Saturday.

On the field, the Bears (17-30, 7-11 SLC) will look to make up some ground the Southland Conference standings, where they currently sit ninth, one-and-a-half games back of the final spot in the upcoming SLC Tournament. Southeastern Louisiana (22-22, 9-9 SLC) is currently in fifth place in the conference standings, tied with Sam Houston State.

"It's a big, big series for us," said Kuhn. "We've got to come out and win the series. Taking all three would be great for us, but our focus is set on winning it and letting things fall where they may. Southeastern is really good. They've got a lot of speed, some outstanding players, so they're going to be tough and put a lot of pressure on us on defense. We're going to have to be ready, because they aren't going to take any plays off."

First pitch for Friday's doubleheader is set for 4:00 PM, while Saturday's game will begin at 12:00 PM.