Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears got a pair of walk-off wins, one in extra innings, to earn a doubleheader sweep against Sam Houston State at Farris Field in Conway on Friday evening.

Catcher Lauren Brooks was the hero in the day's first game, poking a single through the left side to drive in second baseman Libby Morris and giving Central Arkansas (15-13, 6-2 SLC) a 7-6 win, while in the nightcap it was first baseman Kaylyn Shepherd who delivered the winning hit, singling to left field to score right fielder Morgan Felts from second base for a 3-2 win in nine innings.

Sam Houston State (11-20, 4-4 SLC) traded runs in the second inning of the series opener, with the Bearkats getting an RBI single from third baseman Taylar Fuselier and the Bears responding with an RBI double from Morris, before SHSU built a 4-1 lead with a two-run single from catcher Bailey White and a sacrifice fly from designated player Megan Crosby. Central Arkansas would answer with a sacrifice fly from shortstop Kate Myers in the bottom of the fifth, before the 'Kats pushed the lead back to three with an RBI double from shortstop Tiffany Thompson in the top of the sixth.

Central Arkansas cut the lead to one, at 5-4 in the bottom of the frame thanks to a double from pinch hitter Brianna McArthur and a single from Brooks, but Sam Houston was again able to respond, taking a 6-4 lead on triple off the bat of third baseman Brooke Malia.

The Bears again proved up to the task, bouncing back a final time with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. After Myers and Shepherd led off with back-to-back singles and moved into scoring position on wild pitch, Morris ripped a single back up the middle to drive in both runs and even the game at 6-6. After a pair of outs put the game on the verge of extra innings, Brooks laced a single off the outstretched glove of Fuselier and into left field to plate Morris and give the Bears the victory.

The nightcap saw Sam Houston again take an early lead, this time on an RBI single from first baseman Codi Carpenter, but again Central Arkansas was able to even things up immediately on a sacrifice fly from Shepherd.

The Bearkats would take the lead in the fifth, thanks to an RBI double from centerfielder Megan McDonald, and the Bears would answer again in the sixth with a single to center from McArthur. Left fielder Oakley Sisemore would lead off the bottom of the seventh with a triple to right field, but the Bears were unable to capitalize, sending the game to extra innings.

With neither side able to strike in the eighth inning, and a strong defensive showing from Central Arkansas in the eighth that saw Morris turn a double play and centerfielder Kayla Crutchmer make a diving catch on a sinking line drive in the right-center gap, the Bears proved able to answer the call a final time in the bottom of the ninth.

Felts was hit by a pitch to open the inning and then stole second base, before Myers was also hit by a pitch. Shepherd then delivered single to left field and Felts came in to score to give the Bears their second walk-off win of the night.

Kailla Searcy got the start in the circle for the day's first game and allowed three runs on six hits and a walk in 3.0 innings, while Ellie Reaves surrendered a pair of runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one Bearkat in 2.2 innings. Rio Sanchez (7-4) earned the win in relief after giving up one run on two hits in 1.1. innings.

Sanchez got the start in the second game and threw 4.0 innings of four-hit, two run softball, before giving way to Rachel Haberman (2-0), who gave the Bears their second relief win of the day by allowing just four hits and striking out two in 5.0 scoreless innings.

The Bears and Bearkats close out the series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:00 PM.