CONWAY, Ark. – Two wins on Friday clinched the ASUN West Division title for the Central Arkansas softball team, as the Bears downed Jacksonville State 4-3 in game one before blanking the Gamecocks 8-0 in five innings in game two. The title comes in just the first season as members of the ASUN Conference and set up a possible first-round bye in the ASUN Championship.
 
The Bears (32-18, 16-7 ASUN) held on in game one after taking a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning before surrendering a three-run homer to the Gamecocks in the sixth inning. In game two, Jordan Johnson tossed her second no-hitter of the season, striking out five and only allowing a single runner on a hit by pitch in the first inning. The runner was gunned down by Tylar Vernon on a steal attempt, eliminating the only baserunner and holding Jacksonville State to their minimum 15 at bats.
 
Game One: Central Arkansas – 4, Jacksonville State – 3
Kayla Beaver came out wheeling and dealing in game one, striking out five of the first six batters, just zinging pitches past the Gamecocks. Though the offense was a little slow in the early stages, Beaver's command of the strike zone and ability to keep contact in front of the defense allowed the Bears to work through the order before finding some answers.
 
Those answers finally came in the fourth inning, with Tremere Harris leading off with a hard-hit single to center field. The speedster stole second to put a runner in scoring position, advancing to third on Mary Kate Brown's single and advance to second as the defense tried to catch Harris at third. A couple of batters later, Morgan Nelson laid down a bunt. A Jacksonville State infielder dove for it, but missed, allowing Nelson to reach base safely and Harris to score the game's first run.
 
Tylar Vernon led off the fifth with a double past the third baseman's head. Back-to-back singles by Reagan Sperling and Jenna Wildeman loaded the bases with nobody out. Vernon took the force-out at home, but allowed Harris to reach first to keep the bases stacked for Brown. With her at bat, an infield touch gave Sperling the room she needed to score, adding to the lead with runners still in scoring position. Up next at the cleanup spot, Jaylee Engelkes planted a hit up the middle, scoring two runs to make it 4-0 in the fifth inning.
 
Jacksonville State answered in the next half inning, establishing a pair of runners on first and second with one out. Designated player and Gamecock home run leader Addie Robinson came in and found a three-run homer to almost wipe away the lead entirely, closing the gap to one run. But Beaver and the defense regrouped and retired two of the next three to stop the bleeding.
 
Jordan Johnson came into the game in the seventh inning and sealed the deal, striking out a pair of batters to end the game on her third save of the year.
 
Game Two: Central Arkansas – 8, Jacksonville State – 0
Locked and loaded with a division title on the line, the Bears came out with a purpose in game two. Starting the second game, Johnson caught a tough break with a hit by pitch in the first inning, narrowly catching the hand of the second batter. After taking the base, Tylar Vernon delivered the perfect throw across the diamond to Kristen Whitehouse, who made the tag at second to retire the runner.
 
Now on offense, Jenna Wildeman and Tremere Harris hit back-to-back singles to put immediate pressure on the Jacksonville State defense. The duo proved deadly as they pulled off the double-steal on the next at bat, both moving another base on a wild pitch, scoring Wildeman. Later on down the order, Morgan Nelson knocked a double to left center to bring Harris home to build a quick 2-0 lead.
 
Central Arkansas added two more runs in the third. Mary Kate Brown started things with a full-count walk, before Jaylee Engelkes connected on her 11^th home run of the season to stretch the lead to 4-0. Eleven home runs this season are tied for the second-most in Central Arkansas history, now sitting just a single bomb away from tying the single-year record.
 
The runs came aplenty in the fourth inning, building the lead to the run rule threshold of eight. Three straight walks and a fielder's choice at the start of the inning loaded the bases with one out. Brown chopped a fielder's choice with her at bat, but the throw home bounced off of Reagan Sperling and ricocheted away, which gave Wildeman a chance to cross home too. With a 6-0 lead, Morgan Nelson decked a single to the fence in center field, bringing Harris and Brown home to put the lead at eight.
 
With one last chance to put anything on the board, Johnson retired the Gamecocks in order to put the icing on her second no-hitter of the season, just one baserunner away from another perfect game. Johnson picked up her 12^th win of the season, posting her fourth shutout of the year.
 
With one game left on the schedule tomorrow, the Bears now hold their destiny in their own hands, as a win in game three will earn the team the No. 2 seed in the ASUN Championship. First pitch against the Gamecocks is set for 1 p.m. at Farris Field.