Conway – The Central Arkansas Bears had an offensive explosion on Saturday afternoon, using 11 hits, five walks, and a pair of hit-by-pitches to defeat the Sam Houston State Bearkats 10-4. With the win, the Bears completed the sweep, their second of a Southland Conference foe this season.

As with the first two games of the series, Sam Houston State (11-21, 4-5 SLC)  grabbed a lead in the top of the first inning, thanks to an RBI single from catcher Bailey White, but Central Arkansas (16-13, 6-2 SLC) was able to respond in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from first baseman Kaylyn Shepherd.

After the 'Kats retook the lead on a sacrifice from third baseman Tayler Fuselier in the top of the second, the Bears answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning to blow the game open. Catcher Lauren Brooks led off with a double and third baseman Audrey Pratt was hit by a pitch before an error on a sacrifice bunt from centerfielder Kayla Crutchmer loaded the bases. Right fielder Morgan Felts worked a walk to drive in Brooks and even the game at 2-2, and shortstop Kate Myers lofted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Pratt and give Central Arkansas the 3-2 lead. After Shepherd drew a walk to reload the bases, second baseman Libby Morris found the gap in right-center field to empty the bases and push the lead to 6-2.

White would deliver an RBI double to cut the UCA lead to 6-3 in the top of the third, and would add an RBI single in the sixth to make it 6-4, but the Bears would add another big inning in the bottom of the frame, putting up four runs on five hits to put the game out of reach. Felts got things going with a one-out walk and stole second base before scoring on a single from left fielder Oakley Sisemore, who then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. After Myers worked a walk, Shepherd drove in Sisemore with a single through the left side, and Morris loaded the bases with a single of her own. Pinch hitter Brianna McArthur then stepped to the plate and delivered her third RBI pinch hit of the series, driving in Myers and Shepherd with a single up the middle to give the Bears a 10-4 lead.

Rachel Haberman (3-0) earned her second win in as many days, tossing her first complete game of the season while allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out two batters.

Shepherd turned in a 2-for-3 day with two RBI and two runs scored, and Morris also went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a double, while Brooks was 2-for-4 with two doubles and McArthur drove in a pair of runs.

Central Arkansas hosts three games at Farris Field this week, welcoming Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a doubleheader at 5:00 PM on Tuesday and Ole Miss for a single game at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, before heading to Thibodaux, Louisiana for a three-game series at Nicholls next weekend.