KENNESAW, Ga. – The Central Arkansas softball team picked up two wins on Saturday, gutting out a pair of high-intensity games against Kennesaw State. After holding off a late comeback in game one's 6-4 final, the Bears got a shutout in game two, winning 1-0.
The Bears improved to 22-24 on the season, and stand 13-7 in ASUN games.
Julia Petty picked up a win and a save, and
Bailie Runner picked up a win and two hits at the plate. The Bears tallied ten hits and six walks on the day.
Game One: Central Arkansas – 6, Kennesaw State – 4
The Bears struggled through the first half of the game, producing little offense through the first four innings. Defensively, Central Arkansas was able to fight through some tough innings defensively, including a bases loaded situation in the third inning.
Finally, the offense kicked into gear in the fifth inning, as
Gracie St. Hilaire reached on an error with two outs. That spark kicked the rest of the lineup into gear, as
McKayla Betts dropped in a single to break up the no-hitter.
Bailie Runner got hit by a pitch to load the bases, and the momentum was starting to lean in favor of the Bears. Pinch hitting at the bottom of the order,
Colleen Bare cleared the bases with a swing of the bat, drilling a double to the wall and sending all three runners home. Two batters later,
Kylie Griffin drove Bare home with a single of her own.
The Bears added a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, the first of which came on a St. Hilaire RBI hit and a sacrifice fly by Griffin, and Central Arkansas headed to the bottom of the seventh leading 6-0. But the Owls weren't going away quietly. The home team put together three-straight hits to open the inning to put a run on the board. But with two outs, the Bears just couldn't quite get that final out, giving up a walk to load the bases and a double to clear the bases, cutting the lead from five to two.
Julia Petty came in and was able to get the final out, marking her second save of the season.
Game Two: Central Arkansas – 1, Kennesaw State – 0
The second game of the doubleheader started similarly to the first, with offensive struggles at the plate.
Bailie Runner, just batting in this one, broke up the slump with a single.
Kennedy Fisher took a walk, and
Renee Christian put down a bunt to load the bases.
Kylie Griffin put home the lone run of the game with her at bat, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field to send Runner home.
Kennesaw State nearly answered in the home half of the inning, putting a runner on third, but a flyout to center field ended the threat. Central Arkansas had runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings, but couldn't score any more. Meanwhile, Kennesaw State again threatened in the seventh, putting the tying run on second. But two of the final three plate appearances resulted in pop-outs in foul territory, silencing the threat.
The Bears play one more game against the Owls on Sunday, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. CT.
