CONWAY, Ark. – Central Arkansas softball is back on the road for its next ASUN series, this time taking on Bellarmine in a three-game set. The Bears will play a doubleheader at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, followed by a 10 a.m. start time on Sunday.
 
The Bears (18-22, 6-5 ASUN) face off against the Knights for the first time this season, as part of the ASUN Gold Division. Central Arkansas is coming off a series against EKU that saw the Bears drop game one before rebounding to split a doubleheader this past Monday. The Bears were able to run-rule the Colonels in the game two win, scoring 11 runs in the fourth inning alone.
 
While the Bears' numbers haven't been completely outlandish during conference play, there have definitely been some high marks during league games. Four full-time starters are hitting .350 or better against ASUN teams, led by Kylie Griffin's .425 average. The senior leads the team with 17 hits and 13 runs scored, and has five of the team's 11 stolen bases. She, along with fellow senior Madi Young, have been downright impossible to strike out, even as Central Arkansas has faced some of the best pitchers the ASUN Gold Division has to offer. The pair has a combined three strikeouts in over 90 plate appearances, with 18 walks between the two.
 
Last season, the Bears and Knights played on the final weekend of the regular season. Managing to get in only one full game, Central Arkansas went 1-0-1 for senior day weekend, cruising to a 6-0 win in game one before tying in game two as weather got in the way on the last day of play. The 1-1 result was the first and only tie in program history. All-time, the Bears are 7-0-1 against Bellarmine, and over the course of the series, have only allowed four runs to the Knights.
 
This season's Bellarmine squad is 5-24 overall, with a 1-11 showing in ASUN games. The Knights picked up ASUN win number one in their last series, claiming game two of the series with Austin Peay, winning 4-3 on the road. Megan Konermann hit a solo shot to left center to land the fourth run, and stout defense down the stretch got the Knights ASUN win number one.
 
Bellarmine is still looking for answers, however, with only two players starting all 29 games this season. Eighteen players have started at least one game this year, with 12 making 10 or more starts. As a team, the Knights hit just .199, but don't strike out a lot, with just 93 strikeouts this season, compared to 86 walks.
 
Saturday's doubleheader is set for an 11 a.m. start, followed by a 10 a.m. start on Sunday. Saturday's games will be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats are available for all three games.