SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Central Arkansas softball nearly pulled off the comeback against Missouri State, falling 7-6 to the Bears on Tuesday.
The Bears (8-20) came back in a big way after falling behind early, but came up just short after giving up a run in the bottom of the seventh. Central Arkansas tallied 11 hits, with all nine batters recording at least one hit.
Things did not start off well for the Bears, as Missouri State scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Meanwhile, Central Arkansas only had a single hit after the third inning, and things were looking dire for the visitors.
But the fourth inning changed things in a major way, as the Bears were able to find five hits in the process.
Renee Christian opened the frame with a single, then back-to-back singles from
Tremere Harris and
Lilly Hood scored Christian.
Colleen Bare singled to load the bases, and then a double by
Gracie St. Hilaire scored two more runs.
An inning later, Harris got back on with another single.
Morgan Nelson came to the plate, wind blowing out to left field. Battling in the count, Nelson found her pitch and blasted one to left field, scoring two and giving the Bears their first lead.
But in the home half of the inning, Missouri State came back and found a home run of its own, scoring two and reclaiming the lead. Another rally in the sixth helped Central Arkansas tie the game in the sixth, thanks to hits by
Kennedy Fisher,
McKayla Betts and
Kylie Griffin. Griffin got into scoring position with a stolen base with just one out, but the Bears couldn't bring her home for another lead.
The game stayed tied until the bottom of the seventh, when Missouri Tate was able to load the bases and take a hit by pitch to send home the winning run.
Reese Parker tossed 5.2 innings in just her second appearance in the circle, striking out a pair while scattering seven hits. Though she ended up taking the loss, she worked around some big moments, like a massive strikeout in the sixth with the bases loaded that ended the inning.
Central Arkansas plays again tomorrow, taking on the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
