CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team closed out the Michelle Short & Adam Brown Memorial Collegiate Classic Sunday afternoon, producing a titanic inning late to carry a 12-4 win over Evansville.
The Bears improved to 9-6 overall with the win.
Bailie Runner got the win in the circle, 3.0 innings to get the team out of a tough spot, and the graduate came through and shut down the Purple Aces lineup. Offensively, all nine starters registered at least one hit, totaling 13 hits on the day to close out the weekend.
But early on, it seemed like Evansville was the team ready to play, as the Purple Aces jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a pair of two-RBI hits in the top of the first.
Kaitlyn Graham got on base early to try to get something going for the Bears in response, and
Emma Robertson answered the bell with a double to the wall in right center that allowed Graham to score from first.
It took until the third inning for the Bears to get the bats going again, and Graham again established the first runner of the inning for Central Arkansas. After Graham walked,
LJ Smith got on base with a single, and
Grace Molitor was plunked to load the bases. Back-to-back hits by
Renee Christian and
Lilly Hood sent three across the plate, and the Bears knotted up the score in the bottom of the third.
Runner came in during the fourth inning with two runners on base. After another single loaded the bases, a strikeout, a flyout, and a fielder's choice ended the threat of a possible score, sending the Bears back to the plate with momentum. The teams battled through scoreless innings until the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back doubles put two runners in scoring position without an out. Robertson walked to load the bases, forcing a pitching change. Smith and Molitor went back-to-back, hitting singles to each score a run. An error allowed another pair of runs to score, and just like that, it was 8-4 Bears. But Central Arkansas wasn't done yet; after Christian stole second, Hood hit another two-RBI base knock to stretch the lead even further.
Autumn Vessier made it to third on her at bat in the sixth, scoring Hood, and
Addie Graham sealed the deal with a knock to shallow center to complete the run-rule win.
The win marked the fourth time Central Arkansas has hit .400 or better in a game this season, and the 13 hits were a season-high mark, with 12 runs tying a season-high. The Bears are back on the field on Wednesday, heading down to Oxford, Mississippi to play at Ole Miss. First pitch in Oxford is set for 5:30 p.m.
