CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team played two games on day one of the Milisa Moore/Shane Lamb Memorial Tournament, dropping both results against Omaha and Illinois State.
Game One: Central Arkansas – 1, Omaha – 6
The first game of the day saw the Bears fall behind early, as the Mavs connected on two solo homers in the first inning. The Bears struck back in the home half of the inning, pairing a
Kylie Griffin single with a stolen base and two at bats to move her around, and the senior third baseman crossed home plate on an RBI groundout to get Central Arkansas in the scoring column.
But Omaha scored again in the third inning, also on a long ball, to stretch the lead. Central Arkansas, meanwhile, was up against one of the best pitchers in the midmajors, and struggled to put bat to ball and generate offense.
Emma Veach tried to start a rally in the sixth inning, putting down a single up the middle, but was stranded after advancing on a wild pitch and moving to third on a groundout.
Game Two: Central Arkansas – 7, Illinois State – 10
Just like the first game, Illinois State started the scoring with a home run, tagging one to left field in the third inning. Also just like the first game, Central Arkansas answered in the home half of the frame.
Kylie Griffin tripled to right center, sprinting around the bases as the outfielder collected the ball against the fence.
Addie Graham punched one past the 3-4 gap, and Griffin trotted home for the Bears' first run of the game.
Madi Young followed Graham's hit with one of her own, a towering shot to right center that landed underneath the scoreboard to give Central Arkansas a 3-2 lead.
The Redbirds answered in the fourth, scoring two more runs to retake the lead. Freshman
Lucy Crowder made her collegiate debut in relief, tossing two innings and recording her first strikeout in Purple and Gray. Central Arkansas rallied in the fifth, as Graham got on with one out to give her team a chance. A four-pitch walk moved her to second, and a double-steal moved her to third.
Lilly Hood came in and knocked a double to center, and Graham scored to tie the game at 4-4. A groundout on the next at bat allowed a pinch-running
Carmen Uribe to sprint home, giving Central Arkansas a one-run lead heading into the sixth.
Illinois State responded in the sixth, sending eight batters to the box and scoring four runs to break it open, and added two more in the top of the seventh to make the deficit five. Down to their last three outs, the Bears found some life with a Hood double with one out.
Kaitlyn Graham walked to put two runners on, and
Mya January bashed a single to right field, scoring Hood.
Emma Veach drilled a single up the middle to score Graham, but that was all the Bears could muster in a comeback bid.
The Bears will play three more games this weekend, repeating Friday's schedule but an hour earlier on Saturday, playing Omaha at 1:30 and Illinois State at 4 p.m. Central Arkansas will then close the Milisa Moore/Shane Lamb Memorial Tournament with a noon game against Illinois State on Sunday.
