CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After stumbling in game one, the Central Arkansas softball team recovered to take game two of its ASUN series against Austin Peay on Saturday. Game one didn't go the Bears' way, falling 2-4, but the team picked it up in game two to win 5-4.
 
Central Arkansas moved to 9-21 on the year and 1-4 in conference games with the split, thanks to a big fifth inning in game two. Kylie Griffin tallied six hits on the day, including a perfect 4-for-4 in game two.
 
Game One: Central Arkansas – 2, Austin Peay – 4
The Bears struck first in game one, pairing a couple of early singles with a walk from Colleen Bare to load the bases. Lilly Hood connected on an infield single to drive in a run, getting Central Arkansas off to a 1-0 start in the first inning.
 
Austin Peay answered in the third, scoring on a sacrifice fly with runners on second and third, and a double to center field to drive in a pair of runs to take the lead. Central Arkansas battled back in the fifth, starting the inning with a Kylie Griffin single. A walk from Tremere Harris moved her to second, and an error on the Govs allowed Griffin to score from second.
 
But two runs in the bottom of the fifth put the Bears behind again, and despite putting a baserunner on in the seventh, Central Arkansas couldn't find the tying run. The Bears scattered six hits, five of which came from the first three batters in the lineup. Julia Petty had four strikeouts in the circle in the loss.
 
Game Two: Central Arkansas – 5, Austin Peay – 4
It was Austin Peay's turn to continue the momentum after game one, as a pair of extra base hits scored three runs in the opening frame of the second game. Central Arkansas would cycle through the lineup, loading the bases in the third, but couldn't put a run through to chip away at the lead.
 
The Bears again came 60 feet from scoring in the fourth, moving a pinch-running Tallulah Pascucci to third base before two outs later down the lineup ended the threat. The Govs capitalized in the home half of the inning, pairing a single and a triple with two outs to score a fourth run in the game.
 
But Central Arkansas was not going away quietly in this one, coming out in the fifth and getting the bats going. Back-to-back singles and a fielder's choice had runners at first and second with one out, and both Renee Christian and Tremere Harris stole bases to move into scoring position. Two batters later, a two-out single by Morgan Nelson plated the first run of the game for the Bears. Lilly Hood followed it up with a 2-RBI single through the right side, bringing the Bears within one. Gracie St. Hilaire took a pitch to get on base, and McKayla Betts slammed a ball through the right side to score two more runs, giving the Bears a 5-4 lead.
 
Bailie Runner allowed just two more Govs on base the rest of the game, slamming the door shut with the defense behind her through the final three innings for Austin Peay. It marked the fifth win of the season for Runner, who scattered five hits across her seven innings of work.
 
The Bears are back in action on Sunday, taking on the Governors one more time at 1 p.m. to close out the series.