CONWAY – On the final day of the inaugural Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic, the University of Central Arkansas softball team dropped a 6-4 extra-inning decision to Missouri State, Saturday at Farris Field.
UCA (11-9) found themselves in a familiar position with a 3-0 lead after four innings, but a few mistakes defensively cost the Bears as Missouri State (13-7) tied things up in the fifth. After remaining deadlocked into the eighth inning, the visiting Bears grabbed three runs to go ahead. Central Arkansas picked up a run in the bottom of the eighth, but could not rally enough as they wrapped up the weekend with a 2-2 record.
NOTABLES
- Ellie Reaves (0-1) took the hard-luck loss in the circle for UCA. The Beebe native tossed all eight innings and did not allow an earned run. She also struck out a season-high seven Missouri State batters along the way.
- Senior shortstop Libby Morris continues to rack up the stats. She launched a two-run bomb, her sixth homer of the season, to extend the UCA lead in the third. She now has a team-high 24 RBIs.
- Cylla Hill improved on her third best in the Southland Conference-batting average. She finished the contest 3-4 with an RBI-double in the eighth inning.
- First baseman Kaylyn Shepherd scored two more runs in the contest pushing her season total to 16.
- Leadoff hitter Kayla Crutchmer had another strong game, picking up two hits and a stolen base along.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH DAVID KUHN
"Ellie was great and gave us a chance to win all day," Kuhn said. "I am not happy with our record but I feel like we are swinging it well and doing some great things. We've played 20 games already so we need a day or two to rest and get back to some fundamentals work."
ON DECK
UCA is scheduled to travel to Memphis for a mid-week matchup with the Tigers on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
