CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team will be back in action on Friday for the Southland Conference opener in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Bears will take on the McNeese Cowgirls in a three-game series.
 
Despite the loss, UCA is coming off of one of the biggest games in program history. Central Arkansas hosted in-state foe No. 19 Arkansas at Farris Field on Tuesday night. The crowd was the largest in UCA history and that's with limited attendance due to COVID-19 protocols. UCA turns its focus on conference play.
 
The Bears are led by Jenna Wildeman with a .500 batting average. Wildeman leads the squad with 16 runs scored, and is tied for the team lead in doubles with six. Mary Kate Brown is second on the team with a .388 batting average, has 14 RBIs, and is tied for the team lead with six doubles. Cylla Hill leads the team with four home runs and leads the team with 19 RBIs, while Kaylyn Shepherd is second with three and is second on the team with 15 RBIs.
 
In the circle, UCA is led by Kayla Beaver with a 1.21 ERA and a 5-2 record. Beaver has tallied a team-high 40 strikeouts in 46.1 innings of work. Rio Sanchez is second on the staff with a 1.91 ERA and bolsters a 4-2 record. Sanchez has compiled 36.2 innings of work and amassed 28 strikeouts. Jordan Johnson is second on the team with 38 strikeouts and has 3.31 ERA in 36.0 innings in the circle. As a staff, the Bears have a 2.11 ERA, 107 strikeouts, and are holding opponents to a .199 batting average.
 
This will be the 37th meeting between the two programs. McNeese holds a 23-13 series lead over Central Arkansas. The Cowgirls have won the last three contests, all of which were in Lake Charles.  McNeese is 18-5 all-time against UCA.
 
The Cowgirls are led by Kaylee Lopez with a .344 batting average. Cori McCrary is second on the team with a .328 average and leads the Cowgirls with 13 RBIs along with a team-high five home runs. The McNeese pitching staff is led by Jenna Edwards with a 2.39 ERA and a 2-1 record. Ashley Vallejo leads the team with 26 strikeouts.
 
The Bears and Cowgirls will play one game Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Live stats for the weekend can be found here and video for the games can be found here.

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