CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas softball team is set to host its second tournament of the season, the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic, on Friday. The Bears welcome Mississippi Valley State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Stephen F. Austin, and Western Michigan. While SFA is making the trip to Conway, the Ladyjacks and Bears will not play this weekend, but will play in the regular season.
Jenna Wildeman leads the Bears with a .500 batting average and has a team-high five doubles, which is tied for No. 11 in the NCAA and is tied for the Southland lead.
Cylla Hill has provided the power with four home runs and 15 RBIs, both lead the team.
Mary Kate Brown and
Tylar Vernon lead the team with six runs scored each.
Kayla Beaver has a team-low 1.43 ERA in the circle and is tied for the team lead with three wins. Beaver has a team-high 26 strikeouts and two shutouts, which is tied for 13th in the country and tied for the SLC lead.
Rio Sanchez is tied for the team lead in wins with three. She has 19 strikeouts in 30 innings in the circle.
UCA opens the tournament with a matchup against MVSU on Friday, March 5, at 2:30 p.m. The Bears hold an 11-2 series lead over the Devilettes. Central Arkansas has won the last five meetings, with the last a 9-3 victory in Conway, on March 8, 2017. The Devilettes enter the weekend 0-4. MVSU is led by Cailyn Peterson who has produced a .364 batting average with a double and two RBIs. Keisha White is second on the team with a .333 average and has the team's lone homer. Mercedes Silva has a team-low 3.23 ERA in 4.1 innings of work with three strikeouts.
Central Arkansas will play Pine Bluff in its next two games of the tournament. UCA holds a commanding 39-1 series record against Pine Bluff and has won the last 35 meetings. UAPB enters the weekend with an 0-4 record. Alyssa Wesley leads the Lady Lions with a .500 batting average with a double and an RBI. Shanice Akins leads the team with two runs scored. Sydney Green has a team-low 3.23 ERA and has produced one complete game. Paola Rodriguez has a team-high three strikeouts in the circle.
The Bears and Broncos will meet for just the second time. UCA won the only other meeting 1-0 in Clearwater, Florida, on March 1, 2014. Western Michigan comes into the weekend with a 2-3 record. Mackenzie Swinehart leads the Broncos with a .600 batting average and has a team-high four runs scored. Sydney Stefanick has a team-high two homers, leads the team with seven RBIs, and is hitting .364. In the circle, Rissa Bajusz has a 0.91 ERA with seven strikeouts. Reily Galloway leads the pitching staff with eight strikeouts.
Adam Brown was a Navy SEAL and a member of the elite SEAL Team SIX. After he was killed in action on his final mission to kill a high-level Taliban target, a group of UCA Alumni and fraternity brothers of the Epsilon Phi Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha created a scholarship in honor of their fallen friend. Brown attended UCA in the late 1990's and was a proud member of the community. To donate to the Adam Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund, follow this link:
Donate. The Bears will also honor all of our military for military appreciation weekend.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, March 5 – MVSU 2:30 p.m. -
Stats
Friday, March 5 – UAPB 4:45 p.m. –
Stats
Saturday, March 6 – UAPB 10 a.m. –
Stats
Saturday, March 6 – Western Michigan 2:30 p.m. -
Stats
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"We have the honor and privilege to have the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic. Adam was a true American hero and fearless in every sense of the words. He is also part of the UCA family. We also take the weekend to stop and reflect on those who lost their lives fighting for freedom as some gave all and all game some. We want to honor those that are gone as well as those that are still with us and those that are still serving on active duty along with our veterans."
Follow the Bears
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
