Bears
Bears split pair of games against Omaha, Illinois State on Saturday
UCA back on field on Sunday, playing one game against Illinois State to close Milisa Moore/Shane Lamb Memorial Tournament
CONWAY, Ark. — Day Two of the Milisa Moore/Shane Lamb Memorial Tournament saw Central Arkansas split two games, falling to Omaha before rebounding for a win over Illinois State.
Omaha 7, UCA 2
UCA (9-14) fell to Omaha for the second time this weekend, but fared better this time around, at least offensively.
After holding the Mavs scoreless in the first, UCA got on the board, as Addie Graham opened things up with a single, and Lilly Hood blasted a home run over the left center fence.
But Omaha’s patience at the plate started paying off in the second, as a pair of walks and a home run put the Mavericks in front.
A four-run third inning put the visitors up five, and both defenses and pitching staffs settled in after that. UCA would draw three walks and scatter two more hits, but couldn’t add anything together to get runners moving for a comeback.
UCA 4, Illinois State 1
Madge Layfield got the start in game two of the day, and the freshman went to work early, sending the first three Redbirds back to the dugout, including a big strikeout to end the first inning. She would repeat the feat in the second inning, retiring the first seven batters before allowing her first hit.
The Bears got the offense moving in the third inning, breaking the scoreless game with the first run of the afternoon.
LJ Smith reached on an error on the second baseman, and then a pickoff attempt that sailed into the right corner of the outfield allowed the freshman to scamper all the way to third. A Kylie Griffin single sent her home, and UCA was on top.
Illinois State evened the game with a miscue by the Bears, evening the score in the fifth inning. But the Bears answered right back in the home half of the frame.
Griffin hit a single with one out, and moved to second on a single by Addie Graham. The pair stole bases, putting both in scoring position, and a Lilly Hood triple scored both. Mya January punched a single past the 5-6 gap, scoring Hood for a three-run lead.
Layfield and the defense wrapped things up with a double-play in the sixth and a one-two-three inning in the seventh, and the Bears closed Saturday’s play with a solid, all-around win.
The Bears will be back on the field on Sunday, playing one game against Illinois State to close the Milisa Moore/Shane Lamb Memorial Tournament. First pitch is currently set for noon.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
