CONWAY, Ark. –The University of Central Arkansas softball team (9-4) opened the 2020 Michelle Short Memorial Classic with two victories, one against Jackson State (5-6), 9-0, and one against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-11), 21-2. The Bears extend their winning streak to six games.
 
Central Arkansas scored the most runs in an inning in program history with 14 runs in the first against UAPB. They tied the second-most runs in UCA history with 21 in the same game. UCA drew 12 walks against UAPB and tied for the fourth most in school history.
 
Game 1 – UCA 9, Jackson State 0
 
Kayla Crutchmer started the home half of the first with a single to left field and advanced to second on an error. Mary Kate Brown reached on an error by the center fielder and scored Crutchmer from second. After a fly ball moved Brown to third, Cylla Hill laid down a sac bunt and scored Brown. UCA held a 2-0 lead after one full inning of play.
 
Reagan Sperling led the bottom of the second off with a single to right and advanced to third on an error. Tylar Vernon dropped down a sac bunt to score Sperling from third. Erin Blackburn doubled down the left field line and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Crutchmer notched an RBI single to third as Blackburn scored. The Bears added another run on an RBI double to right center off of the bat of Brown. Hill drove in Brown for the fourth run of the second. The Bears extended their lead to 6-0.
 
Morgan Nelson recorded a one-out single in the bottom of the third. Vernon then blasted a triple to deep right field and scored Nelson. Blackburn picked up an RBI single and then stole second. After a sac bunt moved Blackburn to third, Brown tripled to left and scored Blackburn. UCA held a 9-0 lead after three innings of play.
 
Rio Sanchez earned her first win of the season in the circle with a complete-game shutout and improved to 1-2 on the year. She recorded nine strikeouts and surrendered just one hit. Sanchez collected her ninth shutout of her career and moved into a tie for 12th with 125 career strikeouts.
 
Kayla Owens got the loss and fell to 3-3 on the season. She struck out three and surrendered 10 hits.
 
Game 2 – UCA 21, UAPB 2
 
The Lady Lions got on the board first on an RBI triple down the left field line by Shanice Atkins.
 
The Bears responded in historic fashion and scored the most runs in a single inning in program history with 14 runs. After a lead-off single by Crutchmer, UCA drew seven walks in the next eight batter and scored five runs. Crutchmer was hit by a pitch in her second at bat of the inning and scored Nelson. Brown drove in two runs with a single to center. UCA finished the inning with 14 runs on five hits.
 
In the home half of the second, Madi Savell led off with a single up the middle. She advanced to second when Nelson grounded out to the short stop. Jaylee Engelkes doubled to left field and scored Savell from second. Megan Crownover singled to the pitcher and scored Engelkes. UCA extended its lead to 16-1.
 
UAPB added its second run in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by Felicia Drake and made the score 16-2.
 
The Bears responded with five runs in the home half of the fourth. Lauren Brooks led the bottom of the fourth off with a walk. Coleman pinch ran for Brooks. After a Savell walk, Nelson doubled to left center and drove in Coleman and Savell. Jenna Wildeman notched an RBI single to short stop. Cailey Eary drew a bases-loaded walk and scored Wildeman from third. Coleman singled to the pitcher and scored Lindsey Williams from third.
 
Kayla Beaver improved to 4-0 with 3.1 innings pitched, five strikeouts, and gave up one earned run on four hits. Cailey Cochran pitched 1.2 innings in relief and struck out three.
 
Samar Johnson fell to 0-3 on the season with a third of an inning pitched.
 
UCA will be back on the field for matchups against Morehead State at 11:15 a.m. and Southern Mississippi at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23.
 
From the coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"We hit a little better in the first game than the second, but we had a bunch of walks. We showed good discipline at the plate. We had a professional approach at the plate, we were not being selfish, and were team oriented, which led to the number of walks. It's always a good feeling when you win two games back-to-back. Rio has worked hard and improved every year. She takes her craft seriously. It was good to see her come out here tonight and get the shutout."

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