Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears opened play at the 2017 Southland Conference Tournament on Wednesday afternoon, taking on Sam Houston State. Despite some late offense, UCA was unable to secure the win, falling to the Bearkats 3-2.

The Central Arkansas (24-33) offense was unable to produce early, as the Bears managed just three hits through the game's first six innings, getting singles from catcher Ryan Holdiness in the second, right fielder Morgan Felts in the third, and centerfielder Briana Whisenhunt in the sixth.

Senior Kayla Gomness kept the Bears in the game though, despite allowing seven hits through the first five frames, thanks in large part to limiting the Bearkats (24-25) to one hit in seven chances with runners in scoring position.

Sam Houston State would finally break through in the bottom of the sixth inning, when left fielder Ashley Goetz got things started by reaching on a Central Arkansas error. Goetz would move to second on a sacrifice bunt from second baseman Emily Bounds and third on a single from pinch hitter Kaitlynn Dawson, before a fielder's choice off the bat of centerfielder Morgan McDonald scored her and gave Sam Houston the 1-0 lead.

Central Arkansas would answer in the top of the seventh, when shortstop Kate Myers got things going with a one-out double to left-centerfield. After a flyout pushed the Bears to their final out, third baseman Audrey Pratt was hit by a pitch to bring left fielder Hannah Stirton to the plate. The UCA outfielder found herself facing a 1-2 count, but ripped a double to the gap in right-center to drive in Myers and Stirton and give the Bears a 2-1 lead.

The Bears were unable to hold the lead, however, as the Bearskats struck twice for the 3-2 win. Designated player Hannah Marino led off with a single to left-center and, after she was lifted in favor of pinch runner Katie Andrie, first baseman Codi Carpenter ripped a double down the right field line. A sacrifice fly from catcher Megan Crosby scored Andrie to even the game at 2-2, before Goetz moved Carpenter to third with a ground out. Bounds would then leg out a single to shortstop, driving in Carpenter and giving Sam Houston the walk-off win.

Gomness (16-17) took the loss for Central Arkansas, allowing a pair of earned runs on 11 hits and two walks while striking out two in 6.2 innings.

At the plate, Stirton was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs driven in, while Pratt was 1-for-1 with a single and a run scored.

Central Arkansas returns to action tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM, taking on third-seeded Lamar in an elimination game. The winner will advance to play the winner of Northwestern State and either McNeese or Sam Houston State at 5:30 PM.