CLEARWATER, Fla. – Central Arkansas softball split a pair of games on Saturday, picking up its first win of the season over St. John's before dropping the night cap against Kansas.
 
The Bears totaled eight hits across two games, and Bailie Runner picked up the win against the Red Storm.
 
Game One: Central Arkansas – 4, St. John's – 1
The Bears nearly got the scoring started in the first inning, moving Tremere Harris around to third before the Red Storm were able to get a third out. In the home half of the inning, St. John's went three up and three down, with Lilly Hood making plays to get the last two outs.
 
Central Arkansas got rolling in the second after Colleen Bare opened the frame with a walk. Emma Veatch doubled to left center, moving the pair into scoring position. Hood came to the plate and belted one down the left line, sending the pair home for the first scores of the day. After recording two-straight outs, the Red Storm pitcher walked three-straight batters, the last of which drove in a run.
 
In the fourth inning, the Bears scored one more time, starting off with a Kennedy Fisher single that turned into a run two batters later, when a slap up the right side by Kylie Griffin drove home Fisher.
 
St. John's responded and scored one in the home half of the fourth, and threatened again in the sixth, but Runner stayed in control the entire game, scattering eight hits but only allowing one run, striking out three batters.
 
Game Two: Kansas – 9, Central Arkansas – 1
The Bears struggled to replicate their success in game two against Kansas, letting the Jayhawks jump out to a lead in the second inning. As Central Arkansas tried to regroup and put base runners on, Kansas added a run in each of the third and fourth innings.
 
Down big in the sixth, the Bears were in need of anything to keep from getting run ruled. Mogan Nelson opened the frame with a single, punching one through the left side. Two outs later, Colleen Bare gutted out a big walk, moving Nelson to second. Then Lilly Hood came through at the plate again, driving a ball through the right side of the infield to score Nelson.
 
But it was too little, too late for the Bears, as the Jayhawks scored two more to end the game.
 
The Bears have one more game in the NFCA Leadoff Classic, playing South Alabama on Sunday. First pitch against the Jaguars is set for noon CT.