NATCHITOCHES, La. – Although the day originally started with a scheduled doubleheader at Northwestern State, the University of Central Arkansas softball team played just one game, dropping a 2-1 pitcher's duel to the Lady Demons on Friday afternoon at Lady Demon Diamond.

UCA (25-26, 11-14) took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning but were stymied offensively after that by some solid Northwestern State pitching. With the setback, the Bears are now locked into the No. 8 seed at next week's Southland Conference Tournament with their opponent still to be determined.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Making her first start in the circle in nearly a month, freshman Kamryn Coleman (3-6) was solid for UCA all game. She tossed all 6.0 innings, allowing just the two earned runs while striking out three along the way. Unfortunately for the Walla Walla, Wash. native, she was saddled with the loss.
• Junior Kaylyn Shepherd continued her torrent stretch as we near the conclusion of her junior season in Conway. The Mechanicsville, Va. native picked up more than half of the Bears total hits in the game. She went 3-3 with a double and is now hitting a team-high .360 during Southland Conference play this season.
• The lone RBI of the game came off the bat of junior Cylla Hill. She sent a deep sacrifice fly onto the right-center warning track in the first inning to score fellow junior Kayla Crutchmer and give the Bears an early lead.
• Seniors Morgan Felts and Oakley Sisemore each picked up a base knock in the contest.

ON DECK

The Bears will resume their series with Northwestern State tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. With expected inclement weather in the forecast, make sure to follow UCA Softball on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest scheduling updates.