HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Central Arkansas softball team came up just short in its comeback bid against Sam Houston State Sunday afternoon, falling 6-4 to close out the Bearkat Classic.
The Bears (3-2) close the weekend with three wins, while the two losses were by a combined three runs. Central Arkansas stared slowly against the Bearkats, giving up three runs in the bottom of the first to fall behind quickly.
Emma Robertson answered in the top of the second with a solo home run, her third of the weekend, trying to get her team going. Robertson's homer extended a run to three games with a home run, the first time a Bear has hit a home run in three-straight games since 2022.
Sam Houston extended the lead in the second, taking a 6-1 lead after adding three more in the home half of the second. Central Arkansas, meanwhile, had just the lone hit from Robertson for the first four innings.
Gracie St. Hilaire punched a double in the fifth, and a walk drawn by
Grace Molitor forced a pitching change from the home team. And while the Bears couldn't jump on the new pitcher in the fifth, the change did give the top of the order a new person in the circle to attack.
That's exactly what happened as the sixth inning rolled around. Back at the top,
Addie Graham swung on the first pitch she saw and knocked a double to right field.
Trinity Brandon hit a double the other way, and Graham scored from second.
Kaitlyn Graham hit a third-straight ball to the outfield, and the Bears had some life again.
Renee Christian came in to pinch run and stole second, and an
LJ Smith hit to center field scored Brandon and Christian to make it 6-4. St. Hilaire walked to load the bases, but the Bears couldn't drive in any more runs. When the seventh rolled around, Central Arkansas got stuck, unable to keep the momentum going, ultimately coming up just short.
The Bears are back in action next weekend in Troy, Alabama, taking part in Troy's home tournament. Central Arkansas will play five games while in Alabama, facing Radford, Troy and IU Indy starting next Friday.
