NEW ORLEANS – Kayla Beaver shined once again in the pitcher's circle as she collected her second-complete game shutout of the season as the University of Central Arkansas (3-3) was back on the field on Sunday. The Bears used an all-around effort to beat Louisiana Tech (1-4), 3-0.
 
For the second time in as many starts, Beaver recorded a shutout and tied a career-high five strikeouts. She retired 13 batters in-a-row before giving up back-to-back hits in the bottom of the six, but she was resilient and struck out the next three batters.  
 
After she led the game off with a single to left field, Kayla Crutchmer stole second and tied for the third-most stolen bases in a career with 78. She got into a rundown and was caught stealing at home to end the top half of the inning.
 
Reagan Sperling made an outstanding play in the home half of the fourth, when she ran down a fly ball that was hit in the gap in right center.
 
The Bears scored the only runs on the game in the top of the fifth. Kamryn Coleman started the inning with a single through the left side. Lexi McClellan drew a walk to make it first and second. Sperling roped an RBI single that scored Coleman. McClellan scored on a throwing error by the center fielder. Sperling scored later in the inning when Kaylyn Shepherd singled to center.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Beaver made two great defensive plays on back-to-back comebackers to retire the side. After two Lady Techsters had back-to-back singles, Beaver closed the door with three consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
 
UCA will be at Farris Field for the home opener against Lyon on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m.
 
From the coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"It was a good weekend! We pitched well the past four days. We played great defense and had some timely hitting today. It was a good team win today. Kayla Beaver threw a great game and had some great defense behind her. It is a good start for the Bears and I'm looking forward to see us get back to practice and plan for the next game."

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