CONWAY – It was a one-run game entering the seventh inning in the series finale between the University of Central Arkansas softball team and Sam Houston State, but the Bearkats strung together a few hits in their half of the final frame to extend its lead and hold off the Bears for a 5-2 win Saturday afternoon at Farris Field.
UCA (12-16, 1-5 SLC) dropped all three games of the weekend series, making it the first time the Bears have lost all three in a Southland series at Farris Field since the 2015 season when it happened against McNeese. The good news, that is also the year the Bears bounced back to win the Southland Conference Tournament Championship and advanced to a NCAA Regional.
NOTABLES
- It was a strong start for UCA as they opened up the scoring on an RBI-sacrifice fly from Libby Morris in the first.
- Kayla Crutchmer came home on the Morris sac-fly having led off the first with a single. The Tulsa, Okla. native stole her 21st base of the season and advanced to third on a groundout before Morris brought her home.
- Senior Conway native Morgan Felts went 2-3 with a pair of infield singles in the contest. She is hitting a team-best .313 in conference play this season.
- Freshman Kamryn Coleman (1-4) picked up the tough-luck loss for UCA. She tossed 4.2 innings, having struck out two.
- Rio Sanchez and Kailla Searcy combined for 2.1 innings in relief and three strikeouts for the Bears.
ON DECK
UCA will take its first road trip in quite a while next week when they head to UL Monroe Tuesday for a nonconference tilt. The Bears will have a quick turnaround as they travel to Waco, Texas for a showdown with Baylor Wednesday. For all scheduling updates and news surrounding UCA Softball follow the team on Twitter @UCASoftball and @UCASports.
