UCA splits Saturday doubleheader against North Alabama

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas’s offense couldn’t muster much in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against North Alabama, losing 2-1. But the Bears’ offense came to life in the second game and UCA’s Julia Petty didn’t allow any hits in an 8-0 victory.

Game One: UCA 1, North Alabama 2

The UCA bats struggled to get going early in the first game, as the first couple of innings passed with only a single baserunner. Meanwhile, the Lions put through the first run in the second frame, using a pair of doubles to notch the opening score. A hit batter would advance to second on a wild pitch and score on a double in the third, putting the Bears back 2-0 headed into the fourth.

As the sixth inning came around, the outs were getting thin for the Bears, who still trailed by two. Renee Christian gave the home team some life with two outs, punching a single just over the shortstop’s head to establish herself on base. After stealing second, a single by Tremere Harris moved the speedy freshman to third base. Lilly Hood followed up Harris with a single of her own, scoring Christian to put the Bears on the board.

But the Bears couldn’t capture that elusive equalizer, as the final four batters were retired in order to drop game one.

Game Two: UCA 8, North Alabama 0

Julia Petty started game two of the series, and opened the game with seven-straight batters getting retired. Petty continued to deal while the Bears figured out how to get the bats going, as both pitchers were near perfect through three innings.

UCA finally started seeing the ball better in the fourth. Harris started things off with a single, and was replaced on a fielder’s choice by Hood. A couple batters later, Gracie St. Hilaire sent Hood to second with a single. Eric Michael drilled one up the middle, and a diving shortstop sent the ball off course into no-man’s land, allowing Hood to score on the play. Michael stole second, and interference at the plate kept St. Hilaire’s run on the board, as the Bears struck first to go up two.

Petty struck out the side to send the Lions back to the field, only getting to a 2-2 count on one batter during the frame. Kylie Griffin started the home half with a terrific bunt single to get on board, and the Bears were rolling. Christian singled through the right side, and a misplay by the second baseman sent the ball almost to foul territory, allowing Griffin to score from first base. After a pitching change, the Bears took three-straight walks, scoring Christian to make it a four-run lead with the bases still loaded.

The Lions reentered their starting pitcher, who gave up a bases-clearing triple to St. Hilaire, who sent a ball to the wall in right center to stretch the lead even further. Michael capped the game with a first-pitch single past the left side of the infield, scoring St. Hilaire for the run rule win. In addition to the offensive explosion, the Bears pulled something off that had yet to happen in North Alabama’s Division I history. For the first time, the Lions were no-hit, as Petty was a walk away from a perfect game. The no-no is the first by a Bear since Jordan Johnson kept Bellarmine hitless on April 16, 2023.

The Bears and Lions play the rubber match on Sunday, facing off for the series at 1 p.m. at Farris Field.