CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas softball team takes to the road on Tuesday and Wednesday for two contests in Mississippi. The Bears will play two non-conference games against SEC foes Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
 
Earlier today, Kayla Beaver was named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week. She recorded two of the three wins for UCA in the series sweep of Northwestern State. She led the team in strikeouts, innings pitched, wins, and did not surrender an earned run. She threw a complete-game shutout in the second game of the series with six strikeouts and no walks. She finished the weekend 2-0 with eight strikeouts, three walks, and an ERA of 0.00 in 11.2 innings in the circle.
 
Jenna Wildeman leads the team with a .442 batting average, 29 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases. Mary Kate Brown is second on the team with a .420 batting average and leads the team with nine doubles. Cylla Hill has a team-high seven home runs. In the circle, Beaver paces the staff with a 0.93 ERA in 83 innings, 11 complete games, 11 wins, and is second on the team with 67 strikeouts. Jordan Johnson is second on the team with seven wins, 71.2 innings pitched, and has a team-high 71 strikeouts.
 
The Rebels hold an 11-2 series lead over the Bears and are 8-0 in meetings in Oxford. Ole Miss is currently riding a five-game winning streak, including an 8-0 victory in the last meeting on March 9, 2020.
 
The Rebels are led by Tate Whitley with a .423 batting average. Paige Smith has a team-high 27 RBIs and leads the team with 10 homers. Blaise Biringer is second on the team with a .350 batting average and has a team-high four triples. Savannah Diederich has pitched 86 innings and has 100 strikeouts, both are team highs.
 
The Bulldogs have a 7-1 series advantage against the Bears. Mississippi State is 6-1 at home against UCA. The Bulldogs are currently on a five-game winning streak, including a 6-3 victory on Feb. 26, 2020, in the last meeting.
 
Mississippi State is led by Fa Leilua with a .337 batting average, 29 RBIs, and 10 home runs. Chloe Malau'ulu and Carter Spexarth are tied for second on the team with a .320 batting acerage. Malau'ulu has a team-high six stolen bases. In the circle, Annie Willis leads the Bulldogs with 2.52 ERA and a 10-4 record. She also has a team-high 86 strikeouts in 72.1 innings of work.
 
UCA begins the trip with Ole Miss on Tuesday, April 6, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. Live stats can be found here. The Bears face Mississippi State on Wednesday, April 7, at 4 p.m.
 
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