CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team split its second and final day of the Milisa Moore Tournament, falling again to Louisiana but recovering to shutout Stephen F. Austin to cap the weekend.
Splitting again moves the Bears to 8-15 on the season and 6-7 at home. Central Arkansas split its three home tournaments down the middle, going 6-6 in tournament play while at Farris Field.
Kylie Griffin continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-6 on the day to complete a tremendous weekend in which she went 9-for-12 over four games.
Morgan Nelson was terrific in the second game, going 3-for-4 with five RBI.
Game One: Central Arkansas – 0, Louisiana – 10
The Bears gave up a couple of big innings against the Ragin' Cajuns in the first game of the day, starting with a four-run first inning. It happened in a number of ways, as Central Arkansas struggled to find its footing early in the day. The Bears tallied four hits in the first game, three from the top of the order.
Central Arkansas loaded the bases in the third inning, putting together singles from
Madison Connolly-Hojas, Griffin and
Tremere Harris, but with two outs, it made it hard to get a run in. The Bears advanced to third base again in the fourth, but came up short in that frame as well. Louisiana put up five more runs in the fifth to end the game.
Game Two: Central Arkansas – 7, Stephen F. Austin – 0
Central Arkansas rebounded in its second game of the day, scoring quickly in the first inning.
Kylie Griffin outran an infield single to get on board, then stole second. Three batters later,
Morgan Nelson put a double down in the gap in left center, scoring Griffin for the first run of the game.
The lead would grow in the third.
Tremere Harris and
Gracie St. Hilaire got on board with a fielder's choice and a walk, respectively. Nelson would double again, this time to right center, sending the pair home.
Nelson would send two more runs across home with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, her second of the season.
Kennedy Fisher would mirror that with her own two-run shot, but Fisher's was a result of a collision on a hit down the right line, two defenders taking each other out and allowing Fisher to round the entirety of the basepath.
Julia Petty got her fourth win of the season with the decision, and tossed the first shutout of the year for the Bears. The transfer allowed just four hits and struck out five batters in the complete game outing.
Central Arkansas is on the road for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday, heading West to face Oklahoma State. First pitch against the Cowgirls is set for 6 p.m.
