RICHMOND, Ky. – Central Arkansas softball dropped both halves of a doubleheader to open ASUN play, falling against EKU on Friday.
Game One: Central Arkansas – 1, EKU – 2
The Bears started the scoring, pairing a
Kylie Griffin single and steal with a single up the middle by
Madi Young that allowed Griffin to score from second. The Colonels answered in the vottom of the first, and thus began nine-straight innings of scoreless ball.
Central Arkansas put runners on in the second, putting
Mya January on third, but with two outs, couldn't score the freshman. Young walked in the third, and
Kaitlyn Graham hit a double in the fourth, putting a runner on in the first four innings, but coming away with only one run.
Meanwhile,
Bailie Runner and the defense combined for a masterclass, retiring the Colonels in order from the second through the sixth inning. Then, in the seventh, facing the first real threat since the first inning, EKU loaded the bases with two outs, but Runner was able to induce a flyout to center to send the game to extras.
Both sides added baserunners in the eighth, but stranded runners in scoring positions. Central Arkansas moved a pinch-running
Carmen Uribe to second in the ninth, but again, couldn't push her through to home. But after playing to the 11
th inning, the Colonels were able to score a game-winner.
Game Two: Central Arkansas – 1, EKU – 11
The Colonels jumped out in the first couple of innings, and led 9-0 after two. Central Arkansas tried a number of things to get back into the game, and after having just one baserunner in each of the first two innings, finally tallying a run in the third.
Renee Christian and
Autumn Vessier both singled to get on base, and a wild pitch moved both to scoring position.
Kylie Griffin singled to score Christian, and the Bears got on the board. EKU added a couple more runs, and the Bears were unable to push through and find more offense.
The Bears are currently on track to start game three tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT, but weather may affect the game's start time.
