CONWAY – A hungry University of Central Arkansas softball team returned to Farris Field Wednesday night and picked up two nonconference victories over Southwestern Athletic Conference-foe Arknasas Pine-Bluff.

UCA 3, UAPB 2 (8 INNINGS)

UCA (8-4) needed extra innings to dispatch the Golden Lions 3-2 in the first game of the evening, but thanks to some heroics by freshman Kamryn Coleman, the Bears claimed their first win of 2019 at Farris Field. Coleman's line shot into right field was her second base knock of the game which brought home the winning run, Oakley Sisemore.

NOTING GAME ONE
 

• Cylla Hill and Sisemore were the only other Bears to record a multi-hit game in the first contest. The Bears struggled to string together hits, but ultimately found a way to win. Hill is mashing the ball right now hitting a team-high .486 while Sisemore increased her average to .367.
• Despite not getting the decision, Jordan Johnson continued her strong start to her UCA career. She tossed 7.0 innings, allowed just three hits and just one earned run. Rachel Haberman (2-1) tossed the top of the eighth and shut down UAPB to earn the victory.
• Morgan Felts, Libby Morris, Lauren Brooks and Krissy Fontillas each recorded a hit in the game for Central Arkansas.

UCA 8, UAPB 0 (5 INNINGS)

It was a tale of two games as Central Arkansas dominated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8-0 in a five-inning run-rule victory in the nightcap. Sophomore Rio Sanchez (1-2) dazzled in the circle with her second-career no-hitter. It was the first time a UCA pitcher tossed a no-no in the circle since Sanchez no-hit Grambling State Feb. 9, 2018.

Not to be outdone by the stellar play in the circle, the UCA bats came alive in game No. 2. Morris launched a pair of two-run shots in the contest as the Bears pounded out 11 hits in just four innings of at-bats.

NOTING GAME TWO

• Sanchez not only held the Golden Lions without a hit, but also struck out nine batters along the way. The win was the Erie, Colo. native's first of the season.
• Morris just continues to rake. She now leads UCA in homers (4), RBIs (15) and slugging percentage (.800).
• Brooks did something on Wednesday night that not a lot of softball players can say they have accomplished. The Placentia, Calif. native recorded two different triples, both of which were near home runs that clanged off the top of the Farris Field-wall.
• Hill picked up two more hits and two runs scored. She is tied with Morris for the most runs scored this season with 10.
• Felts got things started with an RBI single in the second inning. It was her 10th hit and second RBI of the season.
• Reagan Sperling, Kaylyn Shepherd, Tylar Vernon and Sisemore each recorded hits in the victory as well.

QUOTING

Morris on the offense clicking in Game 2:

"We are seeing the ball really well right now," Morris said. "We just have the approach of one game at a time and one at-bat at a time and it's working for us. From top to bottom, this is one of the best lineups I have ever been a part of."
Head Coach David Kuhn on the contests:

"The big thing is we found a way to win the first game," Kuhn said. "We know we are capable of playing like we did in that second game, but for us to make some mistakes and not get those timely hits in the first game and still find a way to win, that's big.

"What Jordan Johnson did in the first game and then with Rio coming in and shutting them down in game two is big for us. We hope the offense continues, but it will be pitching and defense as we go on that could lead us to some wins."

ON DECK

UCA will take a few days off before returning to Farris Field to host the Michelle Short Memorial Classic. The four-team field consists of UCA, North Alabama, Jackson State and South Dakota State. Games will start Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and will continue throughout Sunday and Monday.