CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas softball team opened its ASUN series at EKU with a heartbreaker, dropping a 9-8 final score in Richmond.
 
The Bears (28-17, 10-5 ASUN) battled through a couple of lead changes, emotional moments and tough situations, but ultimately couldn't hold on in the bottom of the seventh. Central Arkansas tallied seven hits, including four extra base hits, and drew seven walks in the game.
 
EKU opened the scoring in the first inning, capitalizing on a wild pitch to establish the early lead. Both teams went scoreless in the second, and the Bears put up no runs in the first two innings, despite going through the entire lineup.
 
But that changed quickly in the third. Renee Christian opened the frame with a triple off the wall in center field, sprinting around the bases for her team-leading fifth three-base knock of the year. Addie Graham looped one over the shortstop, who couldn't get enough on it to reel it in, allowing Christian to score to tie the game. Trinity Brandon then stepped up to the plate and launched one through a gusty day, blasting her ninth home run of the season to make it 3-1. But as Central Arkansas seemed to be grabbing momentum, EKU found four runs in the bottom of the frame to stay in front.
 
EKU grabbed one more run in the fourth, and the Bears would go cold until the sixth inning. Kaitlyn Graham opened the sixth with a single, and Sydney Kildow came in to pinch run. LJ Smith walked, and EKU made a pitching change. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, and a couple of batters later, Grace Molitor came through with a big-time double to score both, cutting the deficit to a single run.
 
Gracie St. Hilaire entered the game to pinch hit, and battled through a full count to draw a walk, and Molitor moved to third on a wild pitch. After another pitching change, and reentering Autumn Vessier at first base, the senior catcher stole second, moving herself into scoring position. Christian walked to load the bases, and another wild pitch advanced all three runners, scoring Molitor from third and tying the game. Graham tapped an infield single, forcing the defense to hold the runners on base instead of trying to record the out.  Brandon stepped to the plate and dribbled a ball to the pitcher, who fired home for a force out. The catcher then threw to first to try and get the double play, but Christian, who was sprinting around from second, continued her run home and the Colonels couldn't get the ball back in time, giving the Bears a 7-6 lead. Emma Robertson added an RBI single to cap the five-run inning, driving in Graham to give the Bears an 8-6 lead.
 
After the top of the seventh, with EKU down to its final three outs, the rain opened up, going from 0-60 in a heartbeat. After a few minutes of confusion that saw the field cleared but no rain delay signaled, the game continued, and EKU was able to take advantage of the conditions and a tough call on what would have been the final out at first base to sneak through a game-winning run.
 
Central Arkansas and EKU will play a double header tomorrow, starting at 9 a.m. CT, to determine the series.