CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After splitting the first two games of the series, the Central Arkansas softball team demolished Austin Peay to claim the series, forcing the Govs to take a five-inning loss on Senior Day.
 
The 8-0 win took just 82 minutes, thanks to a dynamite outing from Bailie Runner in the circle and two big offensive innings, improving the Bears to 25-25 overall and 13-7 in ASUN games. Runner tossed a one-hitter, giving up a single in the third inning and two walks. The offense put down nine hits, scoring five runs in the third and three in the fifth.
 
Madi Young also had a great defensive outing, logging four putouts and three assists, including her 19^th double play of the season. Young was responsible for all three outs to start the game, ending the first inning with three-straight fielder's choices. Both offenses struggled for the first couple of innings, but the Bears got going in the third.
 
Mya January took the first pitch for an infield single, establishing a runner quickly. Another infield single off the bat of Autumn Vessier moved January to scoring position, and a sacrifice bunt put both runners in threatening spots. Kylie Griffin singled to the third baseman, and Addie Graham put a ball in play to score a run, as January beat the throw home. Graham reached to keep the bases loaded, and on a 1-1 count, Young located and detonated, crushing a grand slam to right field to make it 5-0. The bomb was Young's second of the season, and the back-to-back scoring plays forced a pitching change.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Bears went back to the dish looking to end the game in five innings. Graham laid down a bunt and beat the throw to open the frame, and Young singled to move her to second. Kaitlyn Graham walked on five pitches, loading the bases. Lilly Hood tagged a sacrifice fly to score Graham from third, and Emma Robertson walked on a full count to reload the bags. January drilled a single up the middle, which allowed a pinch-running Carmen Uribe and Graham to score, lifting the lead to that all-important eight runs. Down to their final three outs, the Govs went down on an infield pop-up, a casual groundout to Runner, and a swinging strikeout.
 
Central Arkansas takes four games of the six against Austin Peay, winning both the home and road series. The Bears closed both series with a run-rule win, showing a great ability to adapt and adjust over the course of a series.
 
The Bears are back at home next weekend, celebrating Graduation and Senior Day. Central Arkansas will host North Alabama for the final series of the regular season, playing on Friday at 5 p.m. and a doubleheader on Saturday at 11 a.m.