LAFAYETTE, La. – The Central Arkansas softball team split a pair of games Friday morning, defeating old Southland foe Sam Houston before falling to Northern Illinois to open the Ragin' Cajun Invitational. Game one was a low-scoring nailbiter, while game two left some work to do for the Bears.
Game One: Central Arkansas – 2, Sam Houston – 1
Defenses ruled the early innings against the Bearkats, as both sides looked to gain an advantage. The Bears started the top of the first with a strikeout from
Bailie Runner and a double-play to keep Sam Houston off the board. Central Arkansas put two on in the bottom of the frame, but couldn't bring them around to score. Likewise, in the second, the Bears moved
Lilly Hood to third, but once again, couldn't finish the job.
Sam Houston found the first run of the game in the third inning, pairing a double with a single to the outfield to get on the board. The Bears nearly answered in the home half of the inning, again moving a runner to third, but two straight outs ended the inning without a run.
The teams went back and forth until the seventh inning, with neither side able to add runs. The top of the seventh saw the Bearkats put one runner on, but a fielder's choice sent the Bears back to the plate with three outs to scratch at least one across home plate. Luck shined on the first at bat, as
Emma Veach got on board thanks to an error by the first baseman, and she was able to find her way to second.
Carmen Uribe came in to pinch run, and the speedster was able to get home on a hit to right field by
Autumn Vessier. A couple of batters later,
Kylie Griffin moved Vessier to third, and
Madi Young finished the job, putting a ball in play that allowed Vessier to make it home.
Game Two: Central Arkansas – 0, Northern Illinois – 4
Northern Illinois jumped out early, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning after combining for a walk and two doubles in the opening frame. Central Arkansas had a hit in the bottom of the first, but couldn't turn it into anything.
The Huskies added another run in each of the second and third innings, building a 4-0 lead after the first time through the order. Meanwhile, the Bears struggled to put consistent at bats together, reaching scoring position only three times the entire game.
The Bears are back in action for two more games this weekend, after Louisiana officials changed the schedule due to incoming weather. Central Arkansas will play Ole Miss on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., then face the hosting Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday.
