CONWAY, Ark. – Central Arkansas collected 12 hits en route to an 8-0 win over the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team today in the Southland Conference opener at Farris Field. The Islanders (4-13-1, 0-1 SLC) registered a hit in each of the five innings, including one from junior Cosette Hernandez, who now has tallied a hit in seven straight games.
The Bears (13-6, 1-0 SLC) who won their sixth straight game at home jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After loading the bases with back-to-back singles and a walk, Hannah Stirton hit a two-run single through the middle. The Islanders then escaped on a groundout and a punch out as hurler Liz Carter picked up her first strikeout of the game.
After Hernandez led off the top of the first with a single down the left field line, senior Hayley Galloway drilled her second double of the season and her 11th career double with a shot to right field with two outs, but the Islanders were unable to capitalize. Junior Dani Tefft and Carter each chipped in a hit in the third and fourth frames but the Bears managed to keep the Islanders off the board. Tefft hit an infield single before swiping her 26th career stolen base and her fifth this season. She then advanced to third on a fielder's choice by Hernandez but was called out at home to end the inning. In the fourth, Carter ripped a two-out single through the left side.
The Bears then put together a four-run bottom of the fourth on five hits to pad their lead to 6-0. Amy Gunnells hit a RBI double to left center to score Ashley Boswell who reached on a fielder's choice. After Forrest struck out swinging for the second out of the frame, Briana Whisenhunt nailed a RBI infield single to plate Boswell for the second run of the frame. Sarah Bigej followed with a RBI double through the left side and Whisenhunt and Gunnells came around to score on an Islanders' throwing error. Carter ended the frame with a strikeout.
The Islanders picked up their fifth hit of the game after senior Lindsey Lyles led off the inning with her 13th double of her career and her fourth one this season with a shot to right center.
UCA's bats tacked on three more hits to plate a pair of runs to end the game in the bottom of the fifth. Hayley Parker hit a RBI single to right center with one out to score Stirton who reached on a leadoff single to left center. With bases loaded, Forrest reached on an Islanders' throwing error as Parker came around to score for the Bears' eighth run of the game.
Hernandez, Galloway, Tefft, Carter and Lyles each chipped in one hit apiece for the Islanders' bats.
Carter (3-8) suffered the loss for the Islanders in the circle. The sophomore allowed 11 hits, eight runs, six of them earned, while walking one and striking out six in 4.1 innings. Sophomore Katie Blanar relieved Carter in the fourth and faced three Bears and allowed one hit.
Kylee Studioso (11-2) picked up the win for the Bears. She allowed five hits and one walk while striking out seven in five innings.
The two teams will face each other again tomorrow in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
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