The UCA women’s softball team opened its season with two wins and two losses at the Belmont Invitational in Nashville over the weekend.
The Bears (2-2) opened up the invitational playing the hosting team, Belmont, on Friday. The Bears downed the Bruins 3-1 in the first game of the tournament.
The Bears got on the board first in the contest, when sophomore first baseman Ashley Boswell cranked a solo home run over the center field fence.
UCA added to its total in the fourth inning when freshman pinch hitter Jessie Taylor’s bases-loaded single up the middle of the field brought in freshman right fielder Sam Forrest.
With the bases still loaded, the Bears brought their lead to three on another single from freshman pinch hitter Lindsay Elliot plated Boswell.
The Bruins lone run of the game came in the top of the fifth, on a bases-loaded walk. Belmont failed to rally against the Bears to give UCA its first win of the season.
In the first of two games on Saturday, the Bears faced Western Illinois at 11 a.m.
The game was tied at 3-3 at the end of seven innings, calling for extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Leathernecks dropped seven runs on the Bears.
The rally began on two errors from the Bears. With the bases loaded, Western Illinois junior left fielder Monica Rondon hit a grand slam off of UCA senior pitcher Kelsie Armstrong. Armstrong pitched all eight innings in the game.
The Bears were unable to manufacture any runs in the bottom of the frame, falling 10-3.
In the second game of the double-header, UCA responded by downing the Jackson State Lady Tigers 7-3.
The Bears fell behind early to the Lady Tigers. After two innings, Jackson State had a 3-0 lead on the Bears.
The Bears held the Lady Tigers scoreless for the remainder of the game.
In the top of the third, with two outs, the Bears had the bases loaded. Two singles from sophomore infielder Lissa Avitia and freshman third baseman Lindsay Elliott trimmed the margin to 3-2. A bases-loaded walk tied the score at 3-3.
After a series of errors in the top of the sixth, the Bears brought their scoring total to 7-3 to down Jackson State.
UCA wrapped up its stint in Nashville on Sunday with a 7-3 loss to Valparaiso.
Both teams scored early. Valparaiso earned a run in the top of the first off of a left field double from sophomore designated hitter Brittany Duncan.
In the bottom of the frame, UCA freshman outfielder Sam Forrest led off with a solo home run, her first as a Bear.
Neither team was able to add to its total until Valparaiso plated six runs in the top of the fifth.
Errors allowed runners to advance on base for the Crusaders. Valparaiso didn’t hold back in the inning to hand UCA its second loss of the season.
UCA Head Coach David Kuhn said the fifth inning wasn’t a good performance.
“The wheels just kind of fell off there,” Kuhn said.
Kuhn said he applauded the effort Forrest in the invitational.
“Forrest really stuck out this weekend,” Kuhn said.
Armstrong said she was happy with the trip.
“I think overall we did alright for our first weekend,” she said. “We still have a lot of work to do. We are learning to come together and when that happens, I believe we will be at the top of our game.”
