MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – It was a very familiar day two of the Madeira Beach Invitational for the University of Central Arkansas softball team as they dropped a 5-4 decision to Ball State in the early game before bouncing back with a 6-5 win over Quinnipiac in the night cap. It was the second-straight day that UCA (5-4) used that pattern to earn a split in the Sunshine State.

BALL STATE 5, UCA 4

Ball State (6-3) jumped on the board early with three runs in the first inning thanks to a Cardinal home run. It did not take long for the Bears to respond as Lauren Brooks launched a three-run bomb deep to left-center to tie the game 3-3.

Central Arkansas took a momentary 4-3 lead with some timely baserunning and a few Cardinal miscues, but a tough inning in the circle and defensively allowed Ball State to regain the lead and hold on down the stretch.

NOTABLES

• Brooks' big fly was her first of the season and also doubled her RBI total on the year from three to six.
• Reagan Sperling snapped a mini-slump with a 2-2 outing at the plate. She reached base in all four plate appearances having recorded a pair of walks in the contest as well.
• Rio Sanchez (0-2) struck out three batters over 5.0 innings in her second appearance of the season. The Colorado native left the game but reentered in a crucial spot and ultimately stopped a Ball State rally in its tracks.

UCA 6, QUINNIPIAC 5

The offense juggernaut that is the Central Arkansas offense was on full display in the second game of the night. The Bears raced ahead with six runs in the first inning and held strong from there to push their record back over .500.

The six-run inning was the most productive inning so far in 2019 and it was good enough for the UCA pitching staff to hold on to the victory.

NOTABLES

• Freshman Jordan Johnson (2-0) earned her second victory of the season for the Bears. Despite some late inning struggles, Johnson was strong in the circle tossing 5.2 innings and allowing just four earned runs.
• Brooks was again a catalyst for the UCA offense as she posted a 2-3 day, with two RBIs and a walk.
• Morgan Felts found her Preseason All-Southland Conference form with a nice 2-3 effort. The Conway native picked up a timely RBI while also drawing a walk.
• Kamryn Coleman has shown her versatility of late having been rock-solid at third base for the Bears. She drew two walks in the contest, one of which resulted in an RBI.

ON DECK

Central Arkansas wraps up its stay in the Sunshine State tomorrow morning as they take on South Dakota at 9 a.m.(Local) / 8 a.m. (CST).