CONWAY, Ark. – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team fell today to Central Arkansas in a Southland Conference doubleheader at Farris Field. The Islanders (4-15-1, 0-3 SLC) put together a late rally in the first game but fell short, 8-7, and the Bears (15-6, 3-0 SLC) tallied 18 hits in the second game to win 12-3 in six innings.
Junior Dani Tefft hit .571 in the two games combined and went 4-for-7 at the plate while senior Hayley Galloway registered three hits for the Islanders. Senior Lindsey Lyles and sophomore Brittney Morse helped spark a rally in the first game as Lyles cranked a two-run home run and Morse followed with a three-run shot over the left field wall.
The Islanders will continue Southland Conference action when they host McNeese State at Chapman Field on March 13-14.
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GAME 1: CENTRAL ARKANSAS 8, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 7
The Islanders started off strong with a run in the top of the first but the Bears scored in each of the first four frames to build a 7-1 lead. After a scoreless fifth, the Islanders rallied to plate three runs in the top of the sixth to pull within three. However, the Bears responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth, and a three-run surge in the top of the seventh by the Islanders wasn't enough as the Bears captured an 8-7 win.
In the top of the first, junior Cosette Hernandez led off with a walk and scored on a RBI double to left center by Tefft. It marked Tefft's first double of the season and her fourth career shot.
The Bears followed with two runs in the bottom of the first, after Briana Whisenhunt scored on a RBI double by Sarah Bigej after reaching on an Islanders' fielding error. Bigej then scored after swiping third on a passed ball and scoring on a RBI sacrifice fly out by Jessie Taylor.
UCA added a run in the bottom of the second after Audrey Pratt led off the frame with a home run down the left field line, and tacked on three more in the bottom of the third. With two outs, the Islanders' committed three errors that resulted in a trio of runs for the Bears. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bears loaded the bases and Amy Gunnells scored on a RBI walk by Hannah Stirton.
The Islanders however fought back in the top of the sixth with three runs on four hits. Liz Carter nailed a leadoff double to right center and scored after Mickayla Cochran ripped a RBI double down the left field line. With two outs, Lyles sent a two-run shot over the left center wall to score Galloway after she reached on a single through the left side.
The Bears then tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth after Bigej hit a two-out solo home run over the center field wall.
A&M-Corpus Christi continued to rally in the top of the seventh as they put up three runs on two hits to trim UCA's lead to one. Hernandez started things off with a walk and Tefft followed with a single to right center. With runners on first and second, Morse stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run shot over the left field wall to clear the bases. After Carter hit a groundout, Cochran reached on a fielding error but Studioso spoiled the Islanders' rally as she ended the game with a pair of strikeouts.
Tefft went 3-for-4 with a RBI to lead the Islanders' bats while Hernandez went 1-for-2. Morse, Carter, Cochran, Galloway and Lyles each chipped in one hit apiece.
Stephanie Flores (1-6) took the loss for the Islanders in the circle. The junior gave up five hits, eight runs, just three of them earned, while walking four and striking out three in six innings.
Studioso (12-2) picked up the win for the Bears. She allowed nine hits and seven runs, while walking four and striking out 10 in seven innings.
GAME 2: CENTRAL ARKANSAS 12, TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI 3 – 6 innings
The Bears outhit the Islanders 18-6 en route to their 15th win of the season. UCA scored early with a run in the first before plating two in the fourth and five in the fifth. The Bears then tacked on four runs in the sixth to end the game with a 12-3 win.
In the opening frame, Bigej hit a RBI single to left center to score Whisenhunt who reached on a walk. After a scoreless second and third frames, the Islanders got on the board and tied the game at 1-1 after Morse scored on a throwing error by the Bears. Morse reached with a two-out single through the left side and advanced to third after back-to-back singles by Lyles and Carter.
UCA then pushed ahead in the bottom of the fourth with two runs on four hits. After Pratt led off the frame with a double to right center, Carter settled in and struck out the next two Bears. With two outs, Pratt scored on a RBI single to center field by Gunnells, and Sam Forrest followed with a RBI single through the right side to plate Gunnells.
The Islanders kept clawing back as they put together a two-run top of the fifth to knot the game at 3-3. A&M - Corpus Christi loaded the bases after Galloway and Tefft ripped back-to-back singles and Savannah Sandoval reached on a walk. Hernandez then hit a RBI groundout to second to plate Galloway before Tefft scored on a wild pitch.
With the game tied at 3-3, the Bears' bats ignited for 11 hits in the final two frames to score nine runs and capture the game. Taylor hit a leadoff home run down the left field line, while Ashley Boswell and Whisenhunt added RBI singles and Gunnells and Forest chipped in RBI doubles. In the bottom of the sixth, Boswell hit a RBI double, and the Bears scored on an Islanders' error before a two-run home run by Lindsay Elliott ended the game.
Galloway went 2-for-3 to lead the Islanders' offense while Tefft, Morse, Lyles and Carter each added one hit apiece.
Carter (3-9) suffered the loss for the Islanders. She allowed 14 hits, eight runs and three walks while striking out four in 4.1 innings. Katie Blanar came in relief in the fifth and allowed four hits and four runs.
Shivaun Landeros (3-4) picked up the win for the Bears. She limited the Islanders to six hits and three runs, two of them earned, while walking one and striking out four in five innings.
