Softball
UCA Softball shuts out Jacksonville to open ASUN Tournament
Senior pitcher Bailie Runner threw a near-perfect one-hitter as the Bears blanked the Dolphins 8-0 in five innings.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Senior pitcher Bailie Runner was nearly untouchable Thursday as Central Arkansas rolled past Jacksonville 8-0 in five innings to open the 2026 ASUN Championship.
The win moved UCA to 35-18-1 on the season, and Runner picked up her 15th victory of the year in the run-rule victory.
Runner didn’t allow a baserunner through the first two complete innings, keeping Jacksonville’s lineup sitting in order. She didn’t give up a hit until there were two outs in the fifth inning, when a sliced ball down the left line ended her no-hit bid.
She closed the game with a strikeout, finishing with three punchouts and no walks across five innings of work.
The Bears broke through in a big way in the second inning. Kaitlyn Graham got things started with a single up the middle.
Lilly Hood drew a walk to move Graham into scoring position, and Gracie St. Hilaire kept it going with a single that loaded the bases.
Renee Christian then punched a double to the wall, plating the first two runs of the game. Addie Graham followed with her fifth home run of the season, a bases-clearing shot that pushed the lead to five.
UCA got a look at Jacksonville’s defense in the third inning when the Dolphins put their first runner on base. The Bears responded by turning a double play to end the threat and keep the inning clean.
Run Support Keeps Coming After Lineup Change
Jacksonville pulled its pitcher — the ASUN Pitcher of the Year — after the third inning, but the UCA offense didn’t slow down.
Kaitlyn Graham started another rally with a single to left field, and LJ Smith drew a walk. Sydney Kildow entered as a pinch runner for Graham, and St. Hilaire kept the bats alive with an infield single that scored a run.
Grace Molitor then knocked a double down the right line to bring home two more, stretching the lead to eight.
The Bears didn’t score in the fourth, and Jacksonville went down in order in the top of the fifth.
Runner started with back-to-back groundouts before the Dolphins finally got their lone hit. She struck out the next batter to end the game and send UCA into the winner’s bracket semifinals.
The Bears had nine hits in the contest and committed no errors. Renee Christian and Kaitlyn Graham each finished with two hits. St.
Hilaire went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI. Addie Graham led the team with three RBIs on one hit, while Molitor added two RBIs off her fifth-inning double.
UCA Faces Stetson Next in Semifinal Round
With the opening-round win secured, the Bears advance to the winner’s bracket semifinals. UCA needs just two more victories to win the ASUN Tournament Championship.
After results from the second game of the day were determined, the Bears learned they’ll face No. 2 seed Stetson next. First pitch for that matchup is set for 11 a.m. CT on Friday, May 8.
