JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The No. 23 Central Arkansas Bears won both games of a doubleheader against Jacksonville State on Saturday, inching closer to an ASUN regular season title. The offensive production from the Bears opened an unconquerable lead in game one, then overran the Gamecocks' small lead in game two.

Two wins improved the Bears to 35-9 overall, with an 18-2 slate in conference. Central Arkansas also moved to 13-4 on the road, thanks to a big day from Jenna Wildeman. The redshirt junior outfielder was 4-for-6 at the plate, adding three runs scored and two stolen bases.
 
Game One: Central Arkansas 5, Jacksonville State - 2
The first game of the series was a defensive battle for five innings. Though both teams hit a single in the opening frame, neither runner would create much of a threat. It took until the third inning for a runner to reach scoring position, with Josie Willingham touching every base but home in the top half, reaching on an error and moving around to third before the inning ended.
 
Finally, the fifth inning provided some offense, with Josie Willingham walking as the first batter aboard. Jenna Wildeman reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, and the ball carried deep into right field, allowing Willingham to circumnavigate the bases for the first run of the game, with Wildeman sprinting all the way to third. Back to the top of the order, Tremere Harris sent Wildeman home with a double through the left side, and with one out, the Bears were cooking.
 
A sacrifice bunt moved Harris to third, and then Madi Young reached on an error, sending Harris home for a third run. Mary Kate Brown walked, putting the now pinch-running Erin Michael on second. Morgan Nelson cleared the bases on the next at bat with a double that was deeper than the Mariana Trench, bouncing it off the top of the fence in left center. The Bears scored five runs on just two hits, using two errors and a walk to aid the offense.
 
Jacksonville State avoided the shutout scoring two runs in the sixth, but it was too little, too late for the Gamecocks, as the Bears finished the job in the seventh. Jordan Johnson picked up her 17^th win of the season, the 50^th of her career. She's just the third pitcher in Central Arkansas history to reach the 50 win mark, after Kelsie Armstrong and Kayla Beaver. Beaver came in to get the save, her third of the season.
 
Game Two: Central Arkansas – 8, Jacksonville State, 2
Flip the script a little bit in game two: the Gamecocks scored the first runs of the game in the second inning, putting two on the board to take a small lead. Tremere Harris and Madi Young combined for a sacrifice fly to cut into the lead, but couldn't equalize in the third.
 
But Central Arkansas did in the fourth, starting off with a walk from Morgan Curley. Down 1-2 in the count, the senior catcher watched as the Gamecock pitcher sailed three-straight past her for a free first base. With McKayla Betts pinch running, Josie Willingham put down a single that the third base airmailed past first, allowing the duo to reach second and third. Jenna Wildeman followed that up with an infield single, scoring Betts and moving Willingham to third. Back to the top of the order, Harris drilled one to the left center fence, clearing the bases with a monster triple, giving the Bears a 4-2 lead. A couple of pitches later, Harris scored on a wild pitch, widening the gap.
 
The Bears lineup continued to press in the fifth, as Wildeman got back on base with another single. The speedster pounced at the first opportunity, stealing second before the defense could blink. Getting moved to third on a groundout, Wildeman scored on a wild pitch, the second time an awry pitch allowed a run to score. Kylie Griffin put down an infield single, scoring on a double to left by Young. With a runner in scoring position, Mary Kate Brown followed Youngs double with one of her own, scoring the shortstop to stretch the lead to its final gap, 8-2. The Bears would add one final hit in the sixth, binging the team total to 15 hits, matching a season-high.
 
In the circle, Kayla Beaver threw a complete game, allowing just three hits and two unearned runs. The redshirt junior struck out five while lowering her ERA to a miniscule 1.29.
 
The Bears and Gamecocks have one more game on Sunday, completing the series with a chance to clinch an ASUN title on the line for the Bears. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.