UCA softball falls 9-1 to No. 21 LSU in final midweek game

BATON ROUGE, La. — It was a tough Tuesday night in Tiger territory for Central Arkansas softball.

The Bears traveled to Baton Rouge looking to knock off a ranked opponent, but No. 21 LSU made things difficult from the opening pitch, pulling away for a 9-1 victory over UCA on Tuesday night.

The loss drops the Bears to 25-16 on the season, while LSU improved to 26-13.

It’s the kind of game that’ll sting a little, not because the Bears didn’t have chances, but because they did, and couldn’t cash in when it counted most.

LSU didn’t waste any time getting to work. The Tigers put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning, setting an early tone that UCA would spend the rest of the night trying to answer.

For a few innings, the Bears managed to hang around, but the offense couldn’t put enough together to make it a real contest.

Freshman infielder Kaitlyn Graham gave the Bears their lone bright spot in the top of the second inning, blasting a solo home run to center field, a straight shot that got Central Arkansas on the board and gave the crowd something to talk about.

It was Graham’s third homer of the season, making her the fourth Bear to reach that mark in 2026.

Graham’s blast also continued a notable power trend for this UCA squad. The Bears have now hit a home run in nine of their last 15 games.

That’s a team that’s got some pop in the lineup, even when the overall offensive production isn’t there.

The Bears kept the game within range through the first three innings, but the fourth inning is where this one really slipped away and not because LSU did anything.

UCA actually had a golden opportunity to change the scoreboard in a big way.

Trinity Brandon walked to open the fourth inning. Emma Robertson followed with a towering double to right field that carried down the line.

Then Graham walked to load the bases, giving UCA runners at every bag with nobody out.

It was the Bears’ best chance of the night to put multiple runs on the board and get back into the game. They couldn’t score a single one.

LSU answered the Bears’ missed chance with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, pushing the lead to 5-1 and taking control of the game for good.

The Pitching Picture

In the circle, Bailie Runner took the loss, dropping to 11-5 on the season. She worked four innings, allowing five earned runs while striking out one and walking three.

Lucy Crowder came on in relief, tossing one inning and allowing three earned runs on two walks. Emory Bowlin also entered in the late innings. LSU’s Tatum Clopton earned the win, improving to 7-1.

The Tigers closed things out in style, putting up four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 9-1 final.

UCA did get a pair of walks in the top of the sixth — another chance to chip away at the deficit — but once again, the Bears weren’t able to bring runners across.

When the dust settled, UCA had managed just three hits on the day. Robertson’s double and Graham’s home run accounted for two of them, with LJ Smith adding the third.

The Bears drew five walks but went 0-for-the-night when it came to turning baserunners into runs, outside of Graham’s solo shot.

LSU, meanwhile, put together 11 hits, including two home runs from Sierra Daniel and Rylie Johnson.

Maci Bergeron and Daniel each drove in three runs for the Tigers, and Jalia Lassiter scored three times.

The SEC squad was efficient, disciplined, and sharp — exactly what you’d expect from a ranked team playing at home.

What’s Next for the Bears

The Bears now shift their attention back to ASUN Conference play. UCA hits the road for the next two weekends, starting with a trip to face Bellarmine on Saturday at 1 p.m.

After that, the Bears head to Eastern Kentucky the following weekend.

Tuesday’s result is a reminder of how hard it is to go into a ranked SEC environment and come away with a win, especially when the offense can’t convert with runners in scoring position.

Still, the Bears have shown some power at the plate this season and they’ll look to build on that as conference play heats up.

At 25-16, UCA has plenty of season left to make its mark. The next two road weekends give the Bears a chance to get things back on track in the ASUN standings, and a healthy offensive performance could change the tone quickly heading into the stretch run.