CONWAY, Ark. –The University of Central Arkansas softball team (12-7) suffered a heartbreaking loss in extra innings against Louisiana-Monroe (9-10), 8-5, on day two of the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic on Saturday. The Bears were led by Kaylyn Shepherd, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
 
Kayla Crutchmer extended her hitting streak to 11 games with a 1-for-4 night at the plate. She added two stolen bases for a career total of 94 and is creeping up on the all-time record of 99.
 
Shepherd and Tylar Vernon are currently riding a four-game hitting streak.
 
The Bears jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Shepherd got the momentum started with a two-out single up the middle. Cylla Hill followed with a single up the middle. Vernon shot one to the right center gap for a double, which allowed Shepherd and Hill to score.
 
The Warhawks tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the second. Jessica Williams and Alysia Anderson ran the first and third double steal to get the first run across. ULM scored the second run on a throwing error by the second baseman.
 
After Mary Kate Brown recorded a one-out double to left in the bottom of the third, Shepherd was intentionally walked. Hill drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Vernon battled at the plated and drew a walk on the 10th pitch of the at bat, which scored Brown from third. UCA held a 3-2 lead after three innings.
 
The Warhawks took their first lead of the game when Jayden Mount doubled to right field and drove in two runs in the top of the fourth.
 
The Bears were unfazed and regained the lead in the home half of the inning. Erin Blackburn singled to left center with one out in the frame and then stole second to move into scoring position. Crutchmer singled to the third baseman. Brown reached safely on a fielder's choice when the short stop threw Blackburn out at third with the force out. Crutchmer then stole third to put runners on the corners with two outs. Brown and Crutchmer executed the first and third double steal to perfection, which allowed Crutchmer to score. Shepherd then roped a ball in the right center gap for a double and drove in Brown from second.
 
ULM tied the game in the top of the sixth on a fielding error by the Bears' short stop and allowed Korie Kreps to score from second.
 
The game remained tied at 5-5 until the eighth inning.
 
During most early-season tournaments, if a game goes to extra innings, the international tiebreaker comes into play. The batter that made the last out of the inning is placed on second base to start the inning.
 
The Warhawks drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out. Ana Hogan doubled to right center and drove in two runs, but ULM scored another run on the play off of an error by the center fielder. The Warhawks held an 8-5 lead after 7.5 innings in the books.
 
 The Bears were unable to get any runs across the plate in the home half of the eighth and went down in order.
 
Murphy Williams got the win for ULM and moved to 4-1 on the year. She pitched three scoreless innings in relief and did not give up a hit. Amber Coons started the game for the Warhawks and pitched five innings with five strikeouts.
 
Jordan Johnson got the start in the circle for UCA and went 3.1 innings and gave up four runs, only three were earned. Rio Sanchez got the loss in her relief effort and fell to 1-4 on the season. Sanchez struck out five batters in her four innings. Kayla Beaver added 0.2 innings in the circle and struck out one.
 
UCA returns to action on Sunday, March 1, for two games to close out the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic. The Bears are scheduled to play Northern Iowa at 11:15 a.m., followed by a matchup with conference foe Stephen F. Austin at 1:30 p.m.
 
From the coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"The bottom line is you have to give ULM credit. They played better than us tonight and made more plays. We have to continue to learn from our mistakes and get better every day."

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