CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team opened its ASUN series against Austin Peay with a win for the third-straight time, downing the Governors 7-5 Friday night.
 
The win improved Central Arkansas to 22-13 overall and 4-3 in ASUN games. Bailie Runner tossed the complete game, striking out a season-high six batters and picked up her tenth win of the season in the circle. Offensively, Renee Christian extended her hitting streak to 22 games, adding to the program's only 20-game hitting streak. Addie Graham also reached safely in this one, stretching her streak of reaching base to a mind boggling 28 games in a row.
 
It was a scoreless first three innings, as pitching and defense ruled in the early goings. Central Arkansas turned its 26^th double play of the season in the third inning, retiring the only baserunner in the third inning as the Bear defense continued to play well.
 
After getting through the top of the fourth with still no score, the bats finally found some success in the home half of the frame. Trinity Brandon led off with a full count walk, and Emma Robertson followed up with the same thing. Sydney Kildow came in to pinch run, and a Kaitlyn Graham double to the wall scored Brandon from second. Lilly Hood laid down a bunt that Kildow was able to beat home, and the Bears had runners on the corners with two runs. A wild pitch moved Hood to second, putting both runners in scoring position.
 
Autumn Vessier cleared the bases with a hit down the left line, and in the blink of an eye, Central Arkansas was up 4-0. Vessier stole second, a wild pitch moved her to third, and a wild pitch allowed her to score, meaning the senior catcher moved all the way around the bases in three pitches, scoring from first without another plate appearance being completed. Back at the top of the order, Christian walked and stole second, her 18^th stolen base of the year. And finally, Graham capped the scoring with a laser up the middle, scoring Christian from second to give the Bears a 6-0 lead.
 
But Austin Peay is a dangerous offense, and the Governors got some back in the fifth inning. The visitors, who lead the ASUN in homers, small balled their way to four runs in the top of the fifth, cutting the Central Arkansas lead down to two. The Bears scored once more in the bottom of the inning, as Vessier tapped an infield single with the bases loaded to keep the lead at three.
 
Austin Peay scored once more in the top of the seventh, putting the tying run in the on deck circle, but Runner and the defense battled through, letting one more baserunner on before retiring the final batter with a groundout to third.
 
Central Arkansas has two more games in this series, playing the Governors on Saturday and Sunday. Both games will start at 1 p.m. at Natalie Shock Stadium.