CONWAY, Ark. – The ULM softball team scored four runs in the final three innings to complete a comeback and defeat Central Arkansas in eight innings, 8-5. The matchup capped day two of the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic on Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Jeff Farris Softball Complex.
"The team did a really good job of turning the page and coming out and doing everything that we didn't do yesterday," head coach Molly Fichtner said. "They took pride in the jersey and everybody was locked in the entire time."
UCA (12-7) got on the board quickly with two runs in the bottom of the first. Kaylyn Shepherd and Cylia Hill singled on back-to-back line drives up the middle and Tylar Vernon doubled to center field to bring Shepherd and Hill home. The Bears took a 2-0 lead.
The Warhawks (9-10) responded in the top of the second and tied the game up. Sophomore Jessica Williams singled up the middle and advanced to third on a sac bunt by freshman Kelsey Giddens and a ground out by sophomore Kennedy Johnson. Junior Alysia Anderson singled on a bunt to put runners in the corners. Williams and Anderson executed a double steal to bring Williams home.
On the next batter, sophomore Kennedy Page reached on a throwing error and Anderson scored from second. ULM had the game tied up at two.
UCA retook the lead in the bottom of the third when Mary Kate Brown doubled to left field. The next three batters were walked to bring Brown home. The Bears left the inning with the bases loaded, but also held a 3-2 lead.
The Warhawks took the lead in the top of the fourth on the back of junior Rylee Lara's pinch hit single up the middle. Johnson re-entered the game and advanced to second when Anderson was walked. A double steal moved the runners up to second and third. Senior Jayden Mount doubled to right center to bring Johnson and Anderson home and ULM took a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Brown reached on a fielder's choice and Kayla Crutchmer stole third. Brown and Crutchmer executed a double steal and Crutchmer was able to cross home plate. Shepherd hit a double to center field to bring Brown home. UCA took the 5-4 lead.
"There were some calls that could have gone either way for both teams and I think the adversity you face when you're playing someone at home really tests you and we did a great job of not letting it get to us," Fichtner said.
The Warhawks tied things up in the top of the sixth. Kreps walked and then stole to second. Mount reached on a fielding error that allowed Kreps to come home from second and tie the game at five.
Neither team could end the game in regulation and went to extra innings. Page, Kreps and Mount loaded the bases as Hogan stepped up to the plate in the top of the eighth. Hogan crushed a double to center field to bring three runs home as ULM took an 8-5 win.
"Ana came in clutch and her hit was big," Fichtner said. "Those are the hits that we have to have to win these types of ball games."
Kreps ended the night 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs while Hogan went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Mount accounted for a hit, a run and two RBIs. Watts and Lara combined for two hits while Williams, Johnson and Anderson gained four runs. Page also had one run scored.
Junior pitcher Amber Coons (4-1) got the start and gave up five runs on seven hits over five innings pitched. She struck out four batters and walked another four. Sophomore Murphy Williams (4-1) took the win in three innings pitched and didn't allow a hit while striking out one batter and walking another.
"Amber did a great job tonight," Fichtner said. "She really settled down and found her rhythm after the first inning. Murphy came in and absolutely dominated when we needed her to."
Rio Sanchez (1-4) got the loss for the Bears in four innings pitched. She gave up four runs, two earned, on two hits while striking out five batters and walking four more.
The Warhawks will wrap up the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic on Sunday, March 1, with a 9 a.m. matchup against Northern Iowa. Links to live stats can be found on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
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