CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team will play at the friendly confines of Farris Field for the first time this season as it hosts Omaha, Missouri State, Western Illinois, and UAPB for the Michelle Short Memorial Classic. The tournament begins Thursday, Feb. 25, at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 2:30 p.m.
 
The Bears are coming off of a really strong weekend at the Texas A&M Invitational, where the team posted a 3-2 record against Texas Tech, Colorado State, and Texas A&M. UCA then traveled back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a doubleheader with LSU. LSU won both of those contests and Central Arkansas enters the Michelle Short Classic with a 3-7 record.
 
UCA swept the weekly Southland Player of the Week honors as Tylar Vernon and Kayla Beaver won Hitter of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. Vernon leads the team with a .450 batting average, leads the squad with five runs scored, and leads the team with three doubles. Jenna Wildeman is second on the team with a .423 batting average and leads the team with 11 hits. Cylla Hill leads the team with two home runs. In the circle for the Bears, Beaver, Rio Sanchez, and Jordan Johnson all have one win each. Beaver leads the team with 14 strikeouts, followed by Johnson with 12, and Sanchez has 11.
 
The Bears will face off with the Mavericks to open the tournament on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. This will be the first ever meeting between UCA and Omaha. The Mavericks are led by Rachel Weber who has a .444 batting average. Kamryn Meyer leads the team with 21 strikeouts, while Sydney Hampton has 15 strikeouts.
 
UCA and Missouri State will meet for the 13th time this weekend. Missouri State has an 8-4 series lead and has a 5-1 record in Conway. Missouri State has won the last two meetings. Missouri State's Madison Hunsaker was the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week. Hunsaker has a 2-0 record and has a 0.00 ERA. Daphne Plummer leads Missouri State with a .545 batting average and leads the team with four runs scored.
 
Western Illinois has won all three meetings against UCA, including a 6-3 win in Conway on Feb. 24, 2017. Piper Foote was named the Summit Softball Player of the Week, while Abby Carlin earned Pitcher of the Week honors. Foote is leading the team with a .400 batting average and has a team-high six runs scored. Sydney Hollings leads the team with two home runs. Savannah Rodriguez leads the team with a 0.44 ERA and a 3-0 record in the circle.
 
UCA holds a commanding 39-1 series record against Pine Bluff and has won the last 35 meetings. UAPB has yet to play any games this season.

Attendance will be limited for all games of the Michelle Short Memorial Classic. Spectators are required to wear masks and be socially distant.
 
LIVE STATS (All Games)
Thursday, Feb. 25

Time	Home	Visitor
9:30 a.m.	Central Arkansas	Omaha
11:45 a.m.	Central Arkansas	Missouri State
2 p.m.	Omaha	Pine Bluff
4:15 p.m.	Western Illinois	Pine Bluff
6:30 p.m.	Missouri State	Western Illinois

Friday, Feb. 26

Time	Home	Visitor
10 a.m.	Missouri State	Omaha
12:15 p.m.	Omaha	Pine Bluff
2:30 p.m.	Western Illinois	Missouri State
4:45 p.m.	Pine Bluff	Western Illinois

Saturday, Feb. 27

Time	Home	Visitor
10 a.m.	Missouri State	Omaha
12:15 a.m.	Central Arkansas	Western Illinois
2:30 p.m.	Central Arkansas	Pine Bluff

 

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