CONWAY, Ark. – Hosting its first tournament of the year, the Central Arkansas softball team welcomes four teams to Conway to play in the Michelle Short Memorial Collegiate Classic. Playing at home for the first time this season, the Bears will play four games over Sunday and Monday, starting with Saint Louis at 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, while also battling the Kansas City Roos, the Omaha Mavericks and the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lions.
 
Central Arkansas hosts this tournament in honor of Michelle Short, a walk-on player for the Bears who passed away in a car accident during her sophomore season. In honor of her memory, the Bears host this tournament as a testament to her character and impact on the program. Each year, the softball team gives a deserving senior her No. 13 jersey, someone who exemplifies the spirit of Michelle Short. This season, senior Lindsey Williams has been given that honor.
 
"It's an honor to wear her number, because it means I represent what and who she was, kind, a hard worker, a good teammate," Williams said of receiving the number. "I come out here and try to give my all every day for these girls, and wearing her number means so much more than I can say, it means a lot."
 
The Bears are off to a 3-6 start this season, with three Power 5 wins already under their belt. Last week, Central Arkansas took down Georgia Tech and Mississippi State, defeating the Jackets in the first-ever meeting between the teams. Mississippi State marks the second SEC team the Bears have taken down this season, with two games against Arkansas in the future as a possible third.
 
Batting well this season, the top of the order has continued to impress in the early stages of this season. Tremere Harris continues to swing a hot bat, hitting .467 through nine games. Last weekend, Harris roped a triple to left field, eventually crossing home as the final score against Georgia Tech. Jenna Wildeman leads the team in steals early this year, with seven swipes already.
 
Further down the order, Mary Kate Brown and Kristen Whitehouse launched grand slams while in Starkville, both massive hits that ultimately produced wins for the Bears. The duo rank firs and second, respectively, in RBI for Central Arkansas this season, with Brown at seven and Whitehouse at six.
 
In the circle, Kayla Beaver has three wins already this season, tossing a pair of complete games in her last four appearances. In six innings against Georgia Tech, she struck out a season-high eight, now with a season total of 19 Ks.
 
Saint Louis comes to Conway with a 1-4 record, including a pair of losses to ASUN member North Alabama. After routing Samford to open the season, the Billikens have lost four straight, including one run-rule and one in extra innings.
 
Gabbie Kowalik leads the team in batting average, hitting .533 through five games, with eight hits in 15 at bats. Adding four extra base hits, Kowalik leads the team in almost every major offensive category.
 
Kansas City enters the weekend with a 1-8 record, struggling out of the gates. With only one batter hitting above .250, the Roos have had a tough time scoring runs, despite five team home runs. In the circle, the pitching corps has also had a tough time, with a team ERA of 6.70.
 
With the most wins of anyone in the field this weekend, Omaha comes to Conway with a 5-4 record, most recently sweeping its four games at the Incarnate Word Tournament. There, the Mavericks outscored its opponents 17-2, including three shutouts.
 
Hitting .267 as a team, the Mavs have three hitters with double-digit hits already, and the team is a perfect 11-for-11 on stolen bases. Rachel Weber leads the team with six doubles on the season, accounting for two-thirds of her hits this season.
 
Finally, Arkansas-Pine Bluff hits the field this weekend with a 1-5 record. After failing to score a single run through their first four games, the Lions racked up 32 against Harris Stowe in just four innings of offense. Though the team hits just .226, the Lions have drawn 26 walks through six games.
 
The first pitch on both Sunday and Monday is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Central Arkansas games will be streamed at UCASports.com/watch.