Monroe, Louisiana – The Central Arkansas Bears opened their 2018 season on Thursday, splitting a pair of games at ULM's Mardi Gras Classic. The Bears opened the day with a 3-1 loss to Tennessee-Martin before rebounding with a 5-4 walkoff win over North Texas.

After starter Kailla Searcy set North Texas (0-2) down in order to open Thursday's nightcap, Central Arkansas wasted little time in grabbing a lead, as Morgan Felts was hit by a
pitch and stole second base before coming in to score on a double from Kayla Crutchmer.

The Mean Green would even things up with an RBI single in the top of the second inning, but the Bears would respond in their half of the third, getting a leadoff triple from Oakley Sisemore and an RBI single from Felts to regain the lead, 2-1.

That lead would hold until the fourth, when North Texas would even things up by stringing together a double, a single, and an error. Another Central Arkansas miscue and a double would put the Mean Green on top 4-2 in the fifth inning, but the Bears would again find an answer.

Down to their final three outs, UCA would get a leadoff bunt single from Sisemore to open the frame. The Bears would continue to take advantage of their speed, as the throw on a ball off the bat of Felts was rushed, sailing into right field and allowing Sisemore to score from first, cutting the UNT lead to 4-3. Felts finished the play standing on third base. Crutchmer would continue the Bears' speed display, legging out a bunt single of her own and stealing second base, before Kaylyn Shepherd drove in Felts with an RBI single to even things up at 4-4. Reagan Sperling stepped to the plate and delivered for Central Arkansas, lofting a sacrifice fly to scored Crutchmer and give the Bears a 5-4 win.

Searcy allowed four runs over four innings pitched, and Rachel Haberman picked up her first win for the Bears, tossing three innings of scoreless relief.

Central Arkansas also took the early lead in the day's first game, as Felts led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Crutchmer before coming in to score on a single from Shepherd, but that would be all the offense the Bears could muster.

Tennessee-Martin (1-1) would even things up with a leadoff home run in the top of the second and get an RBI double later in the frame to take a 2-1 lead, before adding an insurance run on another RBI double in the fourth. Central Arkansas would threaten in the sixth inning, loading the bases with singles from Sisemore, Felts, and Shepherd, but the Bears were unable to push a run across.

Ellie Reaves took the loss, allowing three runs in seven innings of work.

Central Arkansas returns to action tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, taking on Grambling State.