MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A dominant second inning propelled the Central Arkansas softball team to a 9-0 victory over Memphis Tuesday afternoon. The win moves the Bears to 26-15 on the year, with two wins over Memphis this season.
Morgan Nelson and
Reagan Sperling both hit home runs, while
Kristen Whitehouse went 3-for-3 and scored two runs in the win.
After a clean first inning that saw catcher
Tylar Vernon gun down a Memphis baserunner, the Bears kicked the offense into high gear in the second inning. Whitehouse fired off a single on the first pitch of the inning, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Sperling went yard with a 2-1 count, scoring the opening runs of the game on her first home run of the season.
Three-straight walks to
Tremere Harris,
Mary Kate Brown and
Jaylee Engelkes loaded the bases with two outs, putting the Tiger pitcher in a tight spot early in the game. Battling a two-strike at bat, Nelson launched a grand slam over the left field wall, breaking over the game and putting the sixth run through before the end of the second inning.
Vernon reached on a fielder's choice in the third, getting moved to second with a walk by Sperling. Advancing to third on a
Jenna Wildeman fielder's choice, Vernon was finally sent home on Harris' infield single on the next at bat.
Central Arkansas capped off the run rule win in the fifth inning, scoring a pair of runs to down the Tigers early.
Kylie Griffin flew around from first after an outfielder misplayed Whitehouse's deep shot to left field, scoring to put the Bears at the coveted eight-run lead. Whitehouse scored on an error by the Memphis infield, adding an insurance run to the total.
Freshman pitcher
Jorde Chartrand picked up her second win in the circle after dealing a complete game, striking out four and limiting the Memphis offense to just two hits all afternoon. Nelson's grand slam marked the fourth of the season by the Bears, all four coming off the bat of a different hitter.
Next up for Central Arkansas is an ASUN series against Lipscomb this weekend. The team will honor its seniors with Senior Day on Saturday before hosting a graduation for the graduating members of the squad on Sunday.
