Softball
Bears complete sweep of North Alabama with 9-3 win
UCA improves to 14-17 and 3-2 in ASUN play with win with pair of midweek games on road coming up
FLORENCE, Ala. — Central Arkansas finished off its first ASUN sweep of the year on Saturday, dominating North Alabama 9-3 to round out the series.
The Bears got ahead early before running away late with a big sixth inning.
The Bears improved to 14-17 overall and 3-2 in ASUN play with the win. Bailie Runner got the win in the circle, tossing three perfect innings to start the game, and ultimately ending up with five hits across seven innings.
Just like games one and two, UCA scored first.
Madi Young reached on an error, and the ensuing deflection rolled to the right field wall, allowing Young to make it to third. Addie Graham flew out to center field, but got credit for a sacrifice fly after Young scampered home on the tag.
After eviscerating the order the first time through, the Bears continued the offense in the fourth.
With two outs, Kaitlyn Graham smoked her second home run of the year, blasting one to right center to double the lead.
The next inning, the Bears went back to the small ball offense; Kylie Griffin singled to get on base and stole second to get in scoring position.
A couple of batters later, Addie Graham hit a single to center field to score Griffin.
Still just a three-run lead, the Bears broke it open in the sixth.
Mya January opened the inning with a solo shot to left field, forcing a pitching change by the Lions. The first two batters the new pitcher faced were both hit by pitches, putting two on with nobody out.
Autumn Vessier singled to load the bases, and after a fielder’s choice to shuffle the runners, Young singled to right field, and a misplay on the ball scored two more runs. Graham walked to reload the bases, before a Lilly Hood triple off the wall cleared everyone to make it 9-0.
North Alabama scored three over the final two innings, but it was too little, too late for the Lions, who suffered their first home ASUN sweep since 2021.
The Bears picked up their first road sweep since the last road series of the year last year against Kennesaw State, and averaged eight or more runs in a conference series for the first time since last season’s road series at Lipscomb.
The Bears defense also pulled off three double plays against the Lions on Saturday, reaching 16 on the year.
The Bears are on the road for two midweeks this week, heading out to face Wichita State on Tuesday before facing Tulsa on Wednesday.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
