CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team takes to the road for its first midweek of the season, heading to Ruston, La., to face Louisiana Tech on Wednesday. First pitch against the Lady Techsters is set for 6 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
Central Arkansas (11-2) goes back on the road after a successful showing at the Michelle Short Memorial Classic. The Bears went 4-0 on the weekend, defeating Missouri State twice, Mississippi Valley and South Dakota State, playing four games in four days. The Bears gave up more than one run just once, beating a top-50 program in South Dakota State 7-6 on a two-RBI double in the sixth inning.
Kylie Griffin was dynamite at the plate over the weekend, batting .667 with two doubles and her first-career home run. She drove in eight runs on the weekend, slugging 1.222 and scoring four times herself. In the circle,
Kayla Beaver picked up three wins in three appearances, dicing up lineups to the tune of a 0.82 ERA, giving up two earned runs in 17.0 innings. She held batters to a .189 average, striking out 19.
Beaver has been one of the best pitchers in the ASUN this season, ranking in the top-two in innings pitched (52.0), shutouts (2), strikeouts (61) and wins (7).
All-time, Central Arkansas and Louisiana Tech have faced off seven times. The Bears have claimed a 4-3 series advantage, most recently playing in 2020, where the Bears took a 3-0 win. Beaver, then a freshman, picked up her second win of the season in a three-hit effort, striking out five.
Louisiana Tech comes into the week with a 9-5 record, having split four games at the South Alabama Tournament last weekend. After defeating Tulsa, the Lady Techsters dropped a game to Mississippi State, defeated Furman, and closed the weekend with a shutout loss to the hosting Jaguars.
Caroline Easom put together back-to-back games of three hits, going 6-for-7 across two games against Mississippi State and Furman. Easom leads the team in batting average, hitting .333 through 13 games this year. Sierra Sacco has been a terror on the basepaths, stealing 12 bases already, getting caught only once.
In the circle, the Lady Techsters have thrown six pitchers, combining for a team ERA of 2.44. Mary Martinez has been the most effective, despite starting just one game. With a 1.45 ERA, she's dealt 19.1 innings and given up just four earned runs. With eight appearances, she's compiled a 3-1 record with three saves.
Wednesday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. The game will be broadcast on CUSA TV.
