CONWAY, Ark. – Already with the series in hand, the Central Arkansas softball team came up short in the ASUN series finale against North Alabama, dropping an extra-inning game Sunday afternoon.
The Bears (31-18-1, 13-6-1 ASUN) tallied 11 hits on the day, but couldn't string them together when it counted to end regulation. Defenses were forced to do a ton to close the series, with each team striking out just one time on Sunday.
Central Arkansas opened the scoring in the second inning, after three-straight walks to start the frame. With bases loaded and two outs,
Renee Christian came through with a base hit over the second baseman's head, scoring two runs to get the Bears on the board early. The Lions remained scoreless, and in no-hit territory, until the fourth inning, before a few at bats strung together for a sacrifice fly got North Alabama on the scoreboard.
The score remained 2-1 for the next few innings, until the Lions pieced together two more runs in the sixth inning to take a 3-2 lead. The Lions took advantage of an error in the inning, but then hit into a double play after scoring the run to take the lead, ending the threat and giving the Bears the bat back.
Deep in the ball game, the Bears felt like they had a great opportunity in the sixth, with a chance to turn the lineup over before the seventh. And the bottom of the lineup did its job, with
Gracie St. Hilaire getting a one-out hit to get on base.
Jade Carnahan came in to pinch hit and delivered for her first-career hit to move St. Hilaire to third. After Carnahan stole second, it was Christian coming through once more, hitting a sacrifice fly to even the score at 3-3.
Central Arkansas had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, but hit into a double play to extinguish the momentum. In extras, North Alabama came alive in the ninth, scoring four runs that Central Arkansas was unable to answer.
The Bears have one more weekend in the regular season, hosting Lipscomb next Thursday and Friday. The Bears will celebrate Senior Day following the conclusion of the series on Friday, before getting ready for the ASUN Championship in early May.
