FORT COLLINS, Colo. – After falling into an offensive slump for five-plus innings, the Central Arkansas softball team found life late in the game against Kansas, taking a 5-4 win over the Jayhawks in eight innings Sunday afternoon. The Bears improve to 36-20 on the year and will face Virginia in the next round of the National Invitational Softball Championship.
 
Kayla Beaver, who came in relief in the first inning, picked up her 20^th win of the year after tossing eight innings, striking out five of her first six batters while scattering six hits. Jenna Wildeman moved into a tie for second place in school history with her 99^th stolen base, swiping a base in the first inning. Jaylee Engelkes tied a Central Arkansas single season record with her 12^th home run of the year, demolishing a first-inning pitch past the right field wall to tie the game early.
 
After nine days off, the rust and weather played a factor early, as the Jayhawks put three runs up in the top half of the first inning. Making a change in the circle, Beaver came in and struck out three-straight, zipping pitches past the Jayhawks' batters.
 
Backing up the pitching staff, the offense went right to work in the home half of the frame, with Jenna Wildeman leading off with an infield single and a steal. After walking, Tremere Harris and Wildeman moved into scoring position on a passed ball, with Wildeman coming to rest at third and Harris at second. With one out in the inning, Engelkes came up to the plate and battled to a 2-2 count before sending the fifth pitch of her at bat high into the Rockies to level the score at 3-3. The back half of the lineup fought their way onto base, but the Bears stood pat with three runs after one.
 
The Jayhawks recaptured the lead in the second, working station to station before driving in a run with two outs to take a 4-3 lead midway through the second inning. After the top of the second, pitching and defense dominated, as neither team was able to establish more than one baserunner through the end of the fourth inning.
 
Kansas again threatened in the fifth inning, putting a pair of runners on with one out, seemingly making the move to take control of the game. After allowing both runners to move into scoring position, the Bears retired the next two batters in order on a groundout and a strikeout to eliminate the scoring chance.
 
It would take until the seventh inning for Central Arkansas to make its move. Reagan Sperling led off with an infield single to get on base, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Heads up baserunning allowed her to move to third on a groundout, setting up Tylar Vernon at the plate with a runner at third, two outs in the seventh. With a 2-0 count, Vernon dribbled one to the shortstop, who bobbled it just enough to allow the catcher to reach safely, allowing Sperling's run to count to tie the game.
 
In the eighth, the Bears took over, sending the Jayhawks down in order to keep Kansas from having any shot of taking another lead. In the final half inning, Harris kicked things off with a walk, after which Mary Kate Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Harris to speed all the way to third base, putting a runner 60 feet from home with just one out. After intentionally walking Engelkes, a pinch running Megan Crownover stole second to put runners in scoring position, forcing Kansas to load the bases with a second intentional walk to Morgan Nelson. Back up to the plate, Sperling smacked down a high bouncing infield single to bring Harris home for the walk-off run.
 
The win advances Central Arkansas to the next round of the NISC, setting up a game against Virginia on Tuesday. In defeating Kansas, the Bears defeat their fourth Power 5 school of the year, avenging a loss to the Jayhawks from a season ago. First pitch against the Cavaliers on Tuesday is set for 2:30 p.m.