COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Central Arkansas softball team returned to the diamond for the Texas A&M Invitational on Saturday, at Davis Diamond. The Bears defeated Texas Tech, but fell to Texas A&M. Tylar Vernon led UCA with a 4-for-5 day at the plate.
 
The Bears improved to 1-3 after a 6-1 victory over Texas Tech who drops to 1-1 on the year. UCA (1-4) dropped the second game 9-0 to Texas A&M (1-0), falling to 1-4 on the season.
 
Game One UCA 6, Texas Tech 1
 
Tremere Harris led the game off with a walk and then stole second. Reagan Sperling singled up the middle and scored Harris from second. UCA took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first.
 
Kayla Beaver got the start in the circle and struck out two batters in the first inning.
 
In the top of the second, Vernon led off with an infield single. She stole second and moved into scoring position. Jenna Wildeman singled through the left side and allowed Vernon to score from second.
 
Beaver struck out two more batters in the bottom of the second.
 
After a scoreless third inning, Kristen Whitehouse got hit by a pitch to lead off the home half. Vernon singled to center and moved Whitehouse to second. Mary Kate Brown doubled to deep center and scored Whitehouse from second. UCA held a 3-0 lead after three and a half innings.
 
Texas Tech got on the board in the home half of the fourth when Arriana Villa singled through the left side and scored Heaven Burton and cut the UCA lead to 3-1.
 
Vernon led off the top of the sixth inning with a single to center. Brown doubled to left field and scored Vernon from first. After two walks loaded the bases, Kaylyn Shepherd singled to left center and scored Lexi McClellan and Brown. UCA took a 6-1 lead after five and a half innings of play.
 
Beaver pitched a complete game and surrendered just one run on six hits. She struck out six batters with no walks. Beaver picked up the win in the circle and improved to 1-1 on the season. Vernon finished the game with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate with two runs scored. Brown went 2-for-3 at the dish with two RBIs and a run scored.
 
Missy Zoch got the loss in the circle for the Red Raiders and fell to 1-1 on the season. She went 3.1 innings and gave up three runs, all earned, with three walks and two strikeouts. Morgan Hornback pitched 1.2 innings and surrendered two runs, both earned. Karli Hamilton added two innings in relief and gave up one earned run.
 
Game Two Texas A&M 9, UCA 0
 
The Aggies opened the home half of the first inning with a two-run home run off of the bat of Haley Lee. In the bottom of the third, Shaylee Ackerman scored on a fielder's choice. Lee added her second home run of the game and extended the Texas A&M lead to 4-0 after three innings.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, Vernon and Brown recorded back-to-back two-out singles, but the Bears were not able to get a run across the plate.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Makinzy Herzog led off with a solo home run. After a walk, Lee hit a two-run homer to center field, which was her third of the game. With the bases loaded, Ackerman singled to left and drove in two runs to enforce the run rule.
 
Jordan Johnson got the start in the circle for the Bears and went four innings. She struck out three batters and gave up eight runs, all earned. Johnson fell to 0-2 on the year after she picked up the loss in game two. Jaylee Engelkes went 0.2 innings of relief and struck out one batter.
 
Herzog pitched a complete game and struck out seven UCA batters. She scattered four hits on her way to her first victory on the year.
 
Lee led the Aggie offense with a 3-for-3 performance with three home runs and five RBIs.
 
The Bears look to improve on a 1-4 record on day two of the Texas A&M Invitational. UCA starts the day with Colorado State at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21. The Bears close the day out with their second game against Texas Tech at 5:30 p.m.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"We started the day with our first complete game of the season. We had solid pitching, good defense, and timely hitting. I'm proud of the way we came out in the first game. In the second game, it was the complete opposite. We faced a really good pitcher and the Texas A&M offense made our pitchers pay for their mistakes."

Follow the Bears
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram