ABILENE, Texas – The Central Arkansas softball team was back in action on Saturday as it completed the series sweep against Abilene Christian. UCA improved to 16-10 overall and 4-2 in SLC play, while ACU fell to 6-18 overall and 2-4 in Southland competition. The Bears were led by Jaylee Engelkes and Mary Kate Brown, who both went 3-for-3 at the plate.
 
The game was scoreless after one complete inning of play. Reagan Sperling led off the top of the second with a walk. Kristen Whitehouse launched a two-run homer to left-center with one out and put UCA up 2-0. Tremere Harris reached on an error and then was thrown out trying to steal second. Jenna Wildeman drew a two-out walk and was followed by a Brown triple to left center to extend the UCA lead to 3-0.
 
ACU got on the board in the bottom of the second on a lead-off home run by Shaylee Alani and cut the Central Arkansas lead to 3-1.
 
Cylla Hill recorded a one-out single to center in the top of the third. White drew a four-pitch walk to put runners on first and second. Harris singled to center field to load the bases. Wildeman followed with a single to left and scored Hill from third. Brown picked up another RBI as she drew a bases-loaded walk. The Bears took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the third.
 
Engelkes doubled to left center to start the top of the fourth inning. Megan Crownover reached on an error by the center fielder and Engelkes was able to score on the play. Whitehouse singled to center and put runners on the corners with two outs. Harris was hit by a pitch and loaded the bases. Wildeman recorded two RBIs on a single to center. Brown cleared the bases with a double to left field and put UCA on top 10-1. After a Kaylyn Shepherd walk, Engelkes doubled to left center and drove in two more runs for the Bears.
 
Gabbi Scott started the top of the fifth off with a walk, then was thrown out trying to steal second. Whitehouse drew a walk. Erin Blackburn reached on an error by the first baseman, which allowed Whitehouse to move to third. Lexi McClellan reached on an error by the left fielder and allowed Whitehouse and Blackburn to score. Erin Acors singled and advanced McClellan to third. Shepherd doubled to right center which drove in McClellan.
 
The Wildcats got one run back in the home half of the fifth on an RBI single by Val Rudd, but that was all ACU was able to get across. The run rule was put into effect and the Bears won 15-2.
 
Kayla Beaver picked up her eighth win on the season as she improved to 8-3 in the circle. She pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and one earned run.
 
Brown and Engelkes led the team with three hits each. Wildeman went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Whitehouse went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored, and a two-run homer.
 
Samantha Bradley got the loss and fell to 3-9 on the season. She went three innings and gave up five runs, four earned, with two strikeouts. Alivia Sinnott added 0.2 innings in relief and gave up seven unearned runs. Riley White went 1.1 innings in relief and surrendered three unearned runs.
 
Alani led ACU at the plate with a home run. Rudd finished with a team-high two hits for the Wildcats.

The Bears return to the field on Tuesday, March 23, against Mississippi State. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"Good weekend for the Bears! We had timely hitting, good starting pitching, and solid defense. Any time you can sweep an opponent, it's a good weekend."

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