NEW ORLEANS – Cailey Cochran earned her first career victory in the circle as the Bears won, the first game of the day in the Big Easy Tournament against Alabama A&M (0-3), 4-0. The University of Central Arkansas (2-3) outhit Texas Tech (4-0), but fell in a hard-fought battle, 1-0.
 
Cochran helped UCA secure back-to-back games with a shutout and win by a freshman pitcher. Rio Sanchez closed out the shutout with a save.
 
The Bears have played two ranked opponents and outhit them in both games. Central Arkansas has faced two aces and still doubled the hits of the ranked foes.
 
Game 1 – UCA 4, Alabama A&M 0
 
Jacqueline Rookaird started the game with a single back to the pitcher in the top half of the first inning for Alabama A&M. After a ground out advanced Rookaird to second, Taylor Woods singled to center and set up a play at the plate. Reagan Sperling fielded the hit cleanly and threw a laser to Tylar Vernon, who applied the tag to Rookaird before she reached the plate.
 
With two outs in the top of the third, Rookaird hit a sinking fly ball towards the left field line. Lexi McClellan came out of nowhere and made a spectacular diving play to end the inning.
 
Mary Kate Brown started the home half of the fourth with a double to right center. Jaylee Engelkes recorded a two-out double to right field and scored Brown from second. Kamryn Coleman came in to run for Engelkes. Erin Blackburn roped a pinch-hit single up the middle and allowed Coleman to score from second. UCA held a 2-0 lead after four innings of play.
 
The Bears added a run in the bottom of the fifth when Sperling scored on a passed ball.
 
Coleman led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk. After an Erin Blackburn single up the middle, McClellan dropped down a bunt single and allowed Coleman to score.
 
Cochran earned her first collegiate victory and tallied two strikeouts in her four innings of work. Rio Sanchez picked up her first save of the season on three innings of work.
 
Game 2 – #16 Texas Tech 1, UCA 0
 
Jordan Johnson got the start in the circle and pitched a complete game. She had three strikeouts and only surrendered two hits to the No. 16 team in the country.
 
The Red Raiders scored the only run of the game in the second inning. Breanna Russell drove in Karli Hamilton on a single to the short stop.
 
The Bears' defense showed up big in the bottom of the third. Kayla Crutchmer made a spectacular play with a diving catch on a sinking liner for the second out of the inning. A few pitches later, Emily Sampson threw out a Texas Tech base runner that was trying to steal second.
 
Erin Edmoundson earned the win for the Red Raiders with a complete-game shutout.
 
The Bears conclude the Big Easy Tournament on Sunday with a matchup with host Louisiana Tech at 10 a.m. at LaSalle Park on Sunday.
 
From the coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"Our pitching was outstanding today. Cailey Cochran, Rio Sanchez, and Jordan Johnson all had good games in the circle. Our defense played well all day. In game one, Jaylee came up big with her RBI double. Blackburn was clutch right behind her with two-out RBI single. We've played two ranked opponents and have outhit them both. That's very encouraging this early in the season."

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