The softball Bears walked away with two wins, 9-0 and 11-2, in Wednesday’s doubleheader against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Lady Lions.
In the first game, the Bears scored four runs in the first inning, two in the third inning and three in the fourth inning.
In the second game, the Bears had four runs in the first inning, two in the second inning and five in the third inning. The Lady Lions scored one run in the second inning and one in the fourth inning.
The Bears won each of the games in just four and a half innings.
In game one of the series, the Bears had nine hits and only left four on base the entire game.
The Lady Lions had two hits and seven left on base.
Also, in game one, Bears sophomore pitcher Kelsie Armstrong, who pitched four innings, had eight strike outs, while Lady Lions junior pitcher CeCe Kolesar, who pitched the whole game, had two strikeouts. Junior Kristen Johnson pitched only one inning for the Bears.
In the first game, the Bears walked five players, Armstrong with three and Johnson with two, and the Lady Lions walked four.
Bears junior pitcher Katie McGregor and sophomore catcher Melanie Bryant each had three RBIs in game one.
Bears sophomore shortstop Melissa Bryant and junior first baseman Kasey Britt each had one RBI in the first game.
“I’m excited we got two wins,” junior pitcher Cami Newsome said. “I was glad that everybody got a hit tonight. We played really well as a team.”
In game two, the Bears had 12 hits and had four players left on base. The Lady Lions had six hits and six players left on base.
Newsome pitched three innings in the second game and had five strike outs. Bears junior pitcher Kelley Martino pitched two innings and had two strikeouts.
Lady Lions sophomore pitcher Heather Leigh, who pitched the entire game, had no strike outs and walked four players.
Newsome walked one played, and Martino didn’t walk any.
“It was good to get all the pitchers in,” Bears pitching coach Jennifer Binnie said after the games. “Tonight’s wins were a total team effort.”
Sophomores Melissa and Melanie Bryant each had three RBIs in game two.
Britt had two RBIs in the second game.
Sophomore center fielder Candice Gauntt, senior first baseman Shay Ristau and McGregor each had one RBI in game two.
Misti Cosby, senior pitcher for the Lady Lions, had the team’s only RBI of the series.
Kayla Curbow, head softball coach for the UAPB Lady Lions, said, “UCA is a really good team and that’s why we play them. You have to play the tough teams in order to play better. We learned a lot tonight.”
Wednesday night’s games also helped the Bears to prepare for upcoming conference games.
“These games were a great confidence booster,” Binnie said. “We really need to get three wins against Nicholls this weekend. We’re loose, we’re confident and we’re ready.”
In the 17 times that these two teams have met, the Bears have won 16 times and the Lady Lions just once.
The Lady Lions, who are in the Southwestern Conference, have a record of 2-20 overall and 2-6 in their conference
The Bears have an overall record of 14-20, with a record of 4-8 in the Southland Conference.
