Bears drop pair in doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky

RICHMOND, Ky. — Central Arkansas dropped both halves of a doubleheader to open ASUN play, falling against Eastern Kentucky on Friday.

Game One: EKU 2, UCA 1

The Bears started the scoring, pairing a Kylie Griffin single and steal with a single up the middle by Madi Young that allowed Griffin to score from second.

The Colonels answered in the vottom of the first, and thus began nine-straight innings of scoreless ball.

UCA put runners on in the second, putting Mya January on third, but with two outs, couldn’t score the freshman. Young walked in the third, and Kaitlyn Graham hit a double in the fourth, putting a runner on in the first four innings, but coming away with only one run.

Meanwhile, Bailie Runner and the defense combined for a masterclass, retiring the Colonels in order from the second through the sixth inning.

Then, in the seventh, facing the first real threat since the first inning, EKU loaded the bases with two outs, but Runner was able to induce a flyout to center to send the game to extras.

Both sides added baserunners in the eighth, but stranded runners in scoring positions.

UCA moved a pinch-running Carmen Uribe to second in the ninth, but again, couldn’t push her through to home. But after playing to the 11th inning, the Colonels were able to score a game-winner.

Game Two: EKU 11, UCA 1

The Colonels jumped out in the first couple of innings, and led 9-0 after two. UCA tried a number of things to get back into the game, and after having just one baserunner in each of the first two innings, finally tallying a run in the third.

Renee Christian and Autumn Vessier both singled to get on base, and a wild pitch moved both to scoring position.

Kylie Griffin singled to score Christian, and the Bears got on the board. EKU added a couple more runs, and the Bears were unable to push through and find more offense.

The Bears are currently on track to start game three tomorrow at 12 p.m., but weather may affect the game’s start time.