HOUSTON – The Central Arkansas softball team was back on the field for a pivotal game three against Houston Baptist at Husky Field on Sunday. Kaylyn Shepherd and Tremere Harris led the Bears as they each had 2-for-3 days at the plate. UCA falls to 26-14 overall and 14-4 in SLC play, while HBU improves to 16-12 overall and 9-9 in the Southland, after the Huskies defeated the Bears 2-1.
 
In the first two innings both the Bears and Huskies left runners on base.
 
Harris led off the top of the third inning with a single to right field. Jenna Wildeman followed with a bunt single to give the Bears runners on first and second with no outs. Mary Kate Brown dropped down a sac bunt and moved the runners to second and third. Shepherd doubled to left field and scored Harris. Wildeman tried to score from second but was thrown out on the play. UCA held a 1-0 lead as the game went to the bottom of the third.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Autumn Sydlik hit a solo home run to tie the game after three innings.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, UCA managed to get runners on second and third with just one out. Unfortunately, the Bears were unable to capitalize and take a lead. UCA was able to get a runner to second in the top of the sixth, but like the previous inning, the Bears were unable to break the tie.
 
Sydlik gave HBU a 2-1 lead as she hit her second solo home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Harris doubled down the left field line with one out in the top of the seventh inning. She was able to get to third after a ground out, but the Bears stranded another runner in scoring position as HBU went on to win the game 2-1.
 
Shepherd produced a 2-for-3 game with two doubles and the team's only RBI. Harris finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and the team's only run. Wildeman and Kristen Whitehouse each added a hit. Jordan Johnson got the start in the circle for the Bears and threw her 11th complete game. She finished the game with five strikeouts and gave up two runs on five hits. She fell to 9-5 on the season.
 
Sydlik was the difference in the game as she went 2-for-3 with two home runs for the Huskies. Jessica Patak got the start in the circle for HBU. She went four innings with three strikeouts and one earned run. Lyndie Swanson got the win with her three innings of relief. She picked up one strikeout and moved to 7-0 on the season.  
 
UCA returns to the diamond for a midweek matchup with Arkansas. The Bears make a return trip to Fayetteville after the Razorbacks came to Conway earlier this season. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday, April 21.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"We left too many runners on base and didn't get the timely hit we needed. HBU outplayed us the entire series. You have to tip your cap to them. We have to dust ourselves off and go back to work tomorrow."

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