HAMMOND, La. – The Central Arkansas softball team returned to the diamond for its first game of the Southland Conference Tournament at North Oak Park on Thursday. The Bears dropped a heartbreaker to the McNeese Cowgirls, 6-5. With the loss, UCA fell to 34-18 on the year, while McNeese improved to 32-24.
 
The Cowgirls managed to get two runners on in the top of the first, but Jordan Johnson regained focus and got out of the inning unscathed.
 
McNeese got on the board first in the top of the second on a double to left field by Chloe Gomez. The Cowgirls added another run on an error by the first baseman. Mary Kate Brown made a spectacular diving catch on a liner up the middle to end the top of the second.
 
Alayis Seneca notched an RBI double down the left field line to extend the Cowgirl lead to 3-0 in the top of the third.
 
Tremere Harris produced a one-out single in the bottom of the third. She then stole second and third. The Bears were unable to get a run in the inning.
 
In the top of the fourth, Kayla Beaver came into the circle for UCA. She went three up, three down.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Cylla Hill blasted a solo home run to left, her ninth of the season, and cut the deficit to 3-1.
 
Beaver recorded another perfect inning in the top of the fifth. In the home half of the inning, UCA loaded the bases with no outs, but the Bears were unable to capitalize and cut into the Cowgirl lead.
 
McNeese added three runs on three hits in the top of the sixth.
 
Brown led off the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle. Hill drew a one-out walk to give the Bears some momentum. Kristen Whitehouse doubled to left center to drive in Brown and Hill. UCA left two runners on base, but cut the deficit to 6-3.
 
Reagan Sperling led off the bottom of the seventh with a seven-pitch walk. Brown produced a one-out single to right and advanced to second on an error by the right fielder. Kaylyn Shepherd grounded out to first, but drove in Sperling from third. Hill reached on an error by the first baseman, which allowed Brown to score from third. The Bears were unable to get the tying run across and fell to the Cowgirls 6-5.
 
Johnson fell to 11-8 on the season with the loss. She went three innings and struck out four. She gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits. Beaver notched four innings in relief. She struck out three and surrendered three earned runs on four hits.
 
Offensively, the Bears were led by Whitehouse with a 2-for-3 game with two RBIs. Brown finished the game with two hits and scored twice. Hill produced her ninth home run of the season to provide some power to the offensive.
 
Whitney Tate collected the win and improved to 12-7 on the year. She went five innings and surrendered two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout. Ashley Vallejo pitched an inning in relief and gave up one earned run on two hits with one strikeout. Saleen Flores picked up her third save of the year with one inning in relief. She collected two strikeouts and gave up one earned run on one hit.
 
Seneca and Gomez each went 2-for-3 to lead McNeese. Toni Perrin added two hits and scored twice.
 
UCA returns to North Oak Park for an elimination game against host Southeastern Louisiana. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"McNeese played well and made the most of their opportunities. We kept playing hard and had a chance to win. We look forward to playing tomorrow."
 
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