CARBONDALE, Ill. – Central Arkansas softball got off to a slow start in Carbondale, dropping two games at the Coach B Classic.
The Bears moved to 5-10 on the season after falling 5-0 to Purdue and 2-0 to SIU.
Addie Graham extended her hitting streak to six games after logging hits in both outings.
Kylie Griffin found three against the Salukis, but Central Arkansas found moving runners quite the challenge on Friday.
Game one for the Bears did not have an ideal start, with defensive and pitching miscues allowing the first two runs of the game in the first inning. Meanwhile, the offense put runners on in the first and second innings, but couldn't find ways to move them.
Addie Graham started the fourth with a double to extend her hitting streak to five games, but once again, the Bears couldn't move her around or put anyone else on behind her. Central Arkansas managed four hits against the Boilermakers, and picked up two walks.
Madge Layfield pitched in relief, making her third appearance. She scattered four hits in three innings, striking out one in the fifth.
The second game was decided early, with a second-inning home run by the Salukis being the only scoring hit of the day. Central Arkansas nearly found pay dirt in the second, putting a pair on with walks, but a double play ended the inning with a runner in scoring position. The feat was repeated in the third, this time with back-to-back singles from
Autumn Vessier and Griffin, but three-straight outs ended the frame without a score.
The Bears had one final chance in the seventh, just down two.
Lilly Hood doubled to left field to get on base with one out. A couple of batters later, with two outs,
Mikaela Mortimer walked to get on, and Griffin singled to load the bases. But as was the case all day, the final touches weren't there, and the Bears stranded three to end the game.
Central Arkansas is back on the field on Saturday, playing at 11 a.m. against Purdue Fort Wayne before closing the Coach B Classic at 4 PM against the Salukis.
