UCA sweeps EKU doubleheader to claim third straight series win

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas made the most of a Friday afternoon doubleheader, sweeping Eastern Kentucky in both ends of the twin bill right at home.

UCA took game one 5-3 before holding on for a 3-2 win in game two, finishing the day with its third consecutive series victory and moving to 25-15 overall and 7-4 in ASUN conference play.

The sweep also pulled the Bears into a tie for second place in the ASUN Gold Division with the Colonels, who fell to 18-18 on the year.

It’s the kind of day that builds momentum heading into the back half of the conference schedule, and UCA’s pitching staff and lineup both did their part to make it happen.

Bailie Runner earned the win in the circle in game one, finishing with 11 victories on the season. Emory Bowlin picked up the win in game two — and it wasn’t just any win.

It marked Bowlin’s first ASUN victory as a Bear, a milestone in what’s shaping up to be a strong freshman campaign.

Game One: UCA 5, Eastern Kentucky 3

From the very first pitch, game one belonged to the Bears. Runner opened the game by striking out the first two batters she faced, setting the tone for both the defense and the offense that followed.

Renee Christian got things going in the bottom of the first with a walk, then wasted no time swiping a stolen base to get into scoring position.

Addie Graham came through with a single to move Christian to third, and UCA grabbed an early lead on a double steal. What came next put the game in a different gear entirely.

Trinity Brandon stepped in and launched her seventh home run of the season. The ball exploded off the bat and gave the Bears a 3-0 advantage, forcing EKU into a pitching change just 13 pitches into the contest.

The inning wasn’t done yet, either. Kaitlyn Graham reached on a fielder’s choice, and Lilly Hood followed with a double to put Graham on third. LJ Smith put a ball in play that moved the runners, and Graham scored to make it a four-run lead.

The Bears added a fifth run in the second inning. Christian walked and stole second again, advanced on a wild pitch to reach third, and then scored when Brandon hit her 15th double of the season.

EKU went scoreless through six innings before the Colonels’ top of the order finally broke through in the seventh, plating three runs to cut the deficit to two. With a runner on base and nobody out, UCA needed Runner to close things down. She got a pop-up, a fielder’s choice, and then a strikeout to end the game and preserve the Bears’ first win of the day.

Game Two: UCA 3, Eastern Kentucky 2

The nightcap started slowly for the Bears, though Addie Graham kept her remarkable streak alive by drawing a walk to reach base for the 33rd consecutive game. Outside of that,

the first couple of innings were quiet for UCA’s offense.

Eastern Kentucky broke through in the third, combining a few plate appearances to score the first run and take a 1-0 lead.

The Bears had a chance to answer in the bottom of the inning and moved a runner to third base, but couldn’t push the tying run across the plate.

EKU stretched its lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly. It seemed like the Colonels might be in good shape with just two innings remaining, but UCA had other ideas.

Autumn Vessier got the Bears’ comeback started with a single through the 5-6 hole to lead off the bottom of the fifth.

Christian followed with a back-to-back single, and a wild pitch moved both runners up 60 feet.

Addie Graham drew a walk to load the bases, and with two outs, Kaitlyn Graham came through with a single up the middle to score two runs and even the game at two.

UCA kept the energy going into the sixth. LJ Smith led off with a single to center, and Grace Molitor put down a bunt to reach base and move Smith to second.

Vessier added a sacrifice bunt to push both runners forward. With the bases loaded, EKU intentionally walked Christian to set up a potential double play. But the Bears’ team speed on the basepaths made that strategy backfire.

An infield ball allowed the Colonels to get just one out, and Jade Carnahan’s spikes hit the rubber with the go-ahead run.

Bowlin, who’d entered the game in relief, shut the Colonels down in order in the seventh to close it out.

The series win over EKU is also UCA’s first over Eastern Kentucky since 2022, adding a bit of extra meaning to an already productive afternoon.

The Bears and Colonels are scheduled to meet one more time, with game three set for 12 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

After that, UCA heads to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Tuesday at 5 p.m.