CONWAY – On a crucial day of Southland Conference play where the University of Central Arkansas softball team needed to hold serve at home, freshman
Tylar Vernon provided the spark needed to ignite the Bears past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 11-3 in six innings Saturday morning at Farris Field.
UCA's (21-20, 7-8 SLC) catcher picked up three extra-base hits, four RBIs, scored three runs and was strong behind the plate to help down Corpus Christi (7-32, 3-12 SLC) and send the Bears back on the road with some momentum.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Vernon was just one of many hitters who propelled the Bears on Saturday. Senior Morgan Felts also had a three-hit day. The Conway native scored three runs and drove in one to help push UCA back over .500.
- It was just another day on the basepaths for Kayla Crutchmer. The Tulsa, Okla. native notched two more steals and was 2-4 at the plate. Crutchmer has now swiped 33 bags this season, two shy of tying the program record.
- Oakley Sisemore quietly put together a strong week for Central Arkansas. The left fielder went 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI while also stealing a base for the Bears.
- Senior Libby Morris went 2-3, including an absolute rocket off the top of the left field wall, narrowly missing her 10th home run of the year. Morris leads the Southland Conference with 40 RBI on the season.
- Shortstop Erin Blackburn picked up a clutch two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning to extend the UCA lead. The Howe, Texas native has provided some much-needed offense to the bottom of the Central Arkansas order. The freshman is now in double digits for RBI on the season with 10.
- For the third time this week, Rio Sanchez (8-6) led the Bears to victory in the circle. The Erie, Colo. native tossed all 6.0 innings, allowed just two earned runs and struck out two.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH DAVID KUHN
"Tylar had a great day behind the plate and at the plate," Kuhn said. "I am real happy to see her have a big day. She's got such a great attitude and is a tremendous worker. Everybody on the team loves her and she is just an awesome teammate."
ON DECK
For the first time this season, the Bears will not play a midweek contest as they zone in on moving up the Southland Conference standings. UCA will travel to McNeese for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader next Friday, April 12 at 5 p.m. For all things UCA Softball, follow the program on Twitter @UCASoftball and @UCASports.
