UCA drops tough 9-8 ASUN opener to Eastern Kentucky

RICHMOND, Ky. — It was a game that had a little bit of everything including lead changes, a five-run rally, rain, a disputed call and a gut-punch finish.

Central Arkansas softball opened an ASUN Conference road series at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday and came up one run short in a 9-8 loss that’ll sting for a while.

The Bears fell to 28-17 overall and 10-5 in conference play, while EKU improves to 24-19 and 11-4 in the ASUN.

Pitcher Bailie Runner took the loss to fall to 12-6 on the season, going 6.2 innings and striking out five while issuing eight walks.

EKU’s Tayteum Vigansky earned the win to improve to 8-2.

Brandon gets Bears going

Through the first two innings, the Bears didn’t score despite cycling through the entire batting lineup.

EKU grabbed the early advantage in the first inning, cashing in on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. But the third inning changed everything for UCA.

Renee Christian got it started with a triple off the center field wall — her team-leading fifth three-base hit of the season.

Addie Graham followed with a looping single over the shortstop that scored Christian and tied the game at 1-1. Trinity Brandon then stepped up and launched her ninth home run of the year to put the Bears in front 3-1.

It was a big swing on a gusty afternoon and for a moment, UCA seemed to be building something.

EKU, though, answered right back with four runs in the bottom of the third to retake the lead, 5-3. The Colonels added one more in the fourth to push it to 6-3 and the Bears went cold offensively for the next two innings.

Five-run sixth puts UCA ahead

The sixth inning turned into one of the most active frames of the season for the Bears. Kaitlyn Graham opened things with a single and Sydney Kildow came in to pinch run.

LJ Smith drew a walk and EKU made a pitching change. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Grace Molitor then came through with a two-run double to trim the deficit to one run at 6-5.

Gracie St. Hilaire entered as a pinch hitter, battled to a full count and drew a walk. A wild pitch moved Molitor to third.

After another pitching change and Autumn Vessier reentering at first base, the senior catcher stole second to put herself in scoring position. Christian walked to load the bases and another wild pitch scored Molitor from third, tying it at 6-6.

Addie Graham then tapped an infield single, keeping the bases loaded. Brandon grounded one to the pitcher, who threw home for a force out.

The catcher fired to first to try for the double play, but Christian — who’d been running hard from second — never stopped and crossed the plate before the ball could get back, giving the Bears a 7-6 lead.

Emma Robertson capped the frame with an RBI single to score Addie Graham and push it to 8-6.

Rain and a tough finish

The Bears were three outs away. Then the weather showed up. When EKU came to bat in the bottom of the seventh, rain started falling fast.

The field cleared briefly, but no delay was called and play resumed. The Colonels took advantage of the conditions and a difficult call on what would’ve been the final out at first base, eventually pushing through a game-winning run to win 9-8.

Brandon finished as UCA’s top run producer with three RBI on one hit — her home run — while Molitor drove in two and Robertson added one.

Addie Graham went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Christian crossed home plate twice and collected a triple, a walk and a stolen base.

Autumn Vessier recorded six putouts behind the plate and swiped a base in the sixth-inning rally.

The Bears and Colonels are set to play a doubleheader Sunday with the series still up for grabs.