CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas returns to Farris Field for the 2020 Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic Friday-Sunday. UCA hosts Belmont, ULM, Northern Iowa, and Stephen F. Austin.
 
For the third week in a row, the Bears earned Southland Conference weekly recognition. Kayla Crutchmer earned the SLC hitter of the week after a stellar week at the plate. She produced 10 runs, on 10 hits, and drove in four runs. She posted a .833 batting average and stole five bases.
 
UCA opens the tournament with a matchup against Belmont on Friday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. The Bears and Bruins have met three times. Central Arkansas holds a 2-1 series lead and won the last meeting, 3-2 (8), in 2016. The Bruins are led by Cheyenne Cavanaugh, who has a .333 batting average.  
 
On Saturday the Bears face ULM at 5:45 p.m. UCA leads the overall series 7-4 and won the last meeting, 7-3, last season. The Warhawks are led by the Sun Belt Player of the Week, Korie Kreps. She leads the team with a .510 batting average, has tallied 25 hits, two doubles, and a triple.
 
Central Arkansas wraps up the classic with matchups against UNI and SFA on Sunday. The Bears and Panthers are scheduled for an 11:15 a.m. start, followed by SFA at 1:30 p.m. UCA and UNI have met two times in the past and the Bears have won both meetings, with the last a 16-2 (5) victory in 2013. The Panthers are led by Hannah Kelley and Sammey Bunch. Kelley leads the team with a .400 batting average, while Bunch has produced a team-high five home runs.
 
The Bears close out the tournament with a familiar opponent in conference foe Stephen F. Austin. UCA won the last meeting, 6-3, in the 2018 NISC Regionals. Central Arkansas leads the overall series 22-15. SFA is led by this week's SLC Pitcher of the Week, Ashley Kriesel. She has a record of 6-1 in the circle and leads the Southland with 67 strikeouts.
 
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