COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Central Arkansas softball team collected two victories on day two of the Texas A&M Invitational at Davis Diamond on Sunday. The Bears defeated Colorado State 4-0 in the morning game, before they recorded the second shutout of the day against Texas Tech, 5-0, in the night cap.
 
UCA improved to 3-4 on the season after the two games today. The Rams fell to 1-3, while the Red Raiders fell to 2-2 on the year.
 
Game One UCA 4, Colorado State 0
 
It was a pitcher's duel to start the game as both pitchers combined to surrender just three hits combined.
 
Kaylyn Shepherd started the bottom of the fourth with a double to left field. Megan Crownover came in to pinch run for Shepherd. After a Tylar Vernon walk put runners on first and second for the Bears, Kristen Whitehouse reached on a fielder's choice and loaded the bases due to an error by the Rams' second baseman. Mary Kate Brown followed with a single to the shortstop and scored Crownover from third. Gabbi Scott reached safely on a fielder's choice and scored Vernon from third. With runners at first and third, Scott stole second and the pitcher cut the throw to second off and threw home. The catcher dropped the ball and allowed Whitehouse to score from third. UCA held a 3-0 lead after four innings.
 
Jenna Wildeman led the home half of the fifth off with an infield single. She then stole second and moved into scoring position. After a ground out advanced Wildeman to third, Shepherd lined a single to right field and scored Wildeman from third. The Bears ended the bottom of the fifth with a 4-0 lead.
 
The four-run lead was all Rio Sanchez needed as she went three up, three down, in the final two innings. Sanchez picked up the win as she struck out six batters in the complete-game effort. She walked three batters and scattered two hits. Sanchez improved to 1-1 on the season.
 
Shepherd and Brown led the offense as they both recorded two hits and one RBI each. Shepherd had the only extra-base hit with a double.
 
Julia Cabral fell to 0-1 in the circle for the Rams.
 
Game Two UCA 5, Texas Tech 0
 
Both teams had opportunities in the first three innings, but neither was able to capitalize.
 
After a Brown walk started the top of the fourth, Cylla Hill blasted a home run to center field and put UCA on top, 2-0.
 
In the home half of the fourth, Texas Tech managed to get runners to second and third, but Jordan Johnson was able to get out of the inning unscathed.
 
Reagan Sperling led the top of the fifth off with a single up the middle. A ground out by Shepherd advanced Sperling to second. Vernon lined a single to right field which scored Sperling from second. Whitehouse followed with a single to left field and put runners on first and second with two outs. Crownover came in to pinch run for Whitehouse at first. Hill ripped a double to center field and scored Vernon and Crownover. The Bears took a 5-0 lead into the home half of the fifth.
 
The Red Raiders had runners on first and third with one out in the fifth, but Johnson induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
 
Texas Tech added two more hits with one out in the bottom of the seventh. After a two-out walk loaded the bases, Johnson worked her way out of a jam and kept the Red Raiders off of the scoreboard.
 
Johnson pitched a complete-game shutout with three strikeouts and scattered seven hits. She improved to 1-2 on the year.
 
Hill finished the game with four RBIs on a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a two-run homer. Sperling, Vernon, Crownover, and Brown all scored runs for UCA.
 
Missy Zoch got the loss for the Red Raiders with 4.1 innings pitched with five earned runs on six hits and struck out three. Morgan Hornback pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts.
 
Heaven Burton, Karli Hamilton, and Yvonne Whaley all had two hits for Texas Tech.
 
The Bears conclude the Texas A&M Invitational on Monday with a game against the Aggies. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"We played two complete games today. We had solid pitching and timely hitting when we needed it. Our pitchers had two solid games for us and our defense didn't make any mistakes, which helped us record two shutouts. It's always a good feeling winning two games in one day, especially when you're playing a Power Five program."

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