Bears have another marathon with EKU that didn’t end very well

CONWAY, Ark. – Another series opener against Eastern Kentucky, another marathon game that didn’t quite have a good ending.

Central Arkansas opened its home series with EKU on Sunday night, falling 3-1 after a 10-inning pitching duel.

The Bears (17-21, 5-4 ASUN) made it to extras after a late home run by Emma Robertson, and 10 innings because of Bailie Runner going toe to toe with one of the better pitchers in the league, and a good showing from the defense behind her.

EKU scored in the second inning, pairing a couple of walks with a single to center that allowed a runner to score from second. Lilly Hood got on base with a walk in the home half of the frame with one out, but got stuck at first.

The sides traded baserunners in the third, fifth and sixth innings, but both defenses were able to keep the ball in front and prevent runs from being scored.

In the seventh, still down one, the Bears forced a three-up, three-down inning from the Colonels, which included back-to-back strikeouts from Runner.

In the home half, with one out on the board, Robertson stepped up to the plate and needed just two pitches to find one she liked and send it down the right line into the EKU bullpen, tying the game.

Both sides saw runners move to scoring position in the eighth, with Madi Young reaching third for the Bears on a double and an advance on the next batter, but just like five of the previous seven innings, neither team scored.

The ninth saw both lineups send three to the plate and return three to the dugout, and in the tenth, EKU was able to find two runs that UCA couldn’t answer.

Runner, who pitched in the road game against EKU that went 11 innings, struck out seven batters on the night.

UCA will play a doubleheader to close out the series against EKU tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Natalie Shock Stadium.

Information from UCA Sports is included in this story