CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team heads back out of the Natural State for its second weekend, traveling west to McNeese to play in the Cowgirl Challenge. There, the Bears will face Lamar at 1 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday, No. 1 Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Sunday, and the hosting Cowgirls at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The Bears (1-4) struggled to build much momentum in its first weekend of the season, winning only one game at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida. After dropping tight games to Notre Dame and North Carolina Central, Central Arkansas picked up its first win with a 4-1 finish over St. John's before falling in the final two games of the weekend to Kansas and South Alabama.
 
At the plate, Kylie Griffin and Lilly Hood were two bats that the Bears were able to rely on for production last weekend. Griffin led the team with a .455 average, putting down five hits in 11 at bats, including her first double of the year. The junior was also able to draw four walks without striking out a single time all weekend. Hood, a sophomore transfer from UTSA, recorded a hit in the final four games of the tournament, batting .417. Despite being a new member of the team, she came through in big moments, driving in five runs, a team-high.
 
In the circle, Bailie Runner made her Purple and Gray debut, tossing three complete games and ending the weekend with a 1.67 ERA. The junior pitcher earned her first win of the season against St. John's, holding the Red Storm to one run with three strikeouts.
 
The Bears will place twice against Lamar, once on Friday and once on Saturday. The Cardinals split their first weekend evenly, going 2-2 in four games against Tarleton State and Tennessee State, winning one game against each opponent.
 
Kalyn Xayaseng led the team with a .500 batting average through the four games, reaching base on five hits in ten at bats. She added three walks for an on base percentage of .615. Jayne Sepulveda, who landed a hit in all four games, also combined for a cycle, hitting a triple in game one, a double in game two, and a home run in game three, adding a single in games one, three and four.
 
In the circle, Emma Wardlaw tossed a complete game against Tarleton, giving up one unearned run in seven innings while striking out four. She pitched three innings of relief against Tennessee State the next day, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Makayla Valle picked up the win over Tennessee State, tossing four innings and allowing just one run, striking out three.
 
Two games against the defending national champs also await Central Arkansas in Louisiana, and not much needs to be said about Oklahoma softball. The Sooners started the season 4-0 after sweeping last week's Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico, which included wins over top-10 opponents Duke and Washington. Against the Huskies, the Sooners needed a sixth-inning run to equalize the score at three, and then scored the game-winner in the top of the eighth.
 
The Sooners are winners of 57 straight, an NCAA record. Last time the Bears met Oklahoma was in the 2015 Norman Regional.
 
McNeese is a familiar foe for the Bears, as the teams get set for the 43^rd meeting all-time. The Cowgirls own the series advantage, holding a 27-15 record against Central Arkansas. But the Bears took last season's game 2-1, thanks to a Colleen Bare RBI single in the fourth.
 
This season, the Cowgirls are 4-1, having swept their first home tournament last weekend. Corine Poncho had a massive week, hitting home runs in four of the team's first five games and driving in a run in all five games. The sophomore hitter recorded a base hit in all five games, racing out to a .500 batting average and a 1.583 slugging percent.
 
Central Arkansas kicks off the weekend against Lamar at 1 p.m. on Friday. The Bears start Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. Live stats are available for all games. Tickets for Friday's and Saturday's slate of games are already sold out.