Senior Weekend for Bears’ seniors generates sweep against North Alabama

CONWAY, Ark. — Senior Weekend ended with a sweep for Central Arkansas as the Bears won both halves of the Saturday doubleheader against North Alabama.

The two victories marked the 64th and 65th home wins in the last four years, adding to an already incredible legacy for the senior class.

Two wins over North Alabama improved the Bears to 28-25 on the season and 16-7 in ASUN games, almost guaranteeing the No. 3 seed in the ASUN Championship next week.

UCA 5, North Alabama 2

The Lions opened up the scoring in the first game of the day, taking advantage of some sloppy defensive play and a home run to score two early runs.

But the Bears bit back in the home half of the frame, as Lilly Hood bunted to get on base and Mya January took a one-out walk to get a runner into scoring position.

Autumn Vessier and LJ Smith followed that up with back-to-back singles to the outfield, moving runners from first to second and second to home, knotting the score.

Back to the top of the order, Kylie Griffin punched a ball to the wall in centerfield, sending both Vessier and Smith home to take a 4-2 lead.

Both sides continued to put runners on throughout the game, but defenses and pitching were key in holding off runners from scoring.

Each lineup left the bases loaded at some point during the game, combining to leave 14 runners on base.

The Bears scraped one more run across on a sacrifice fly by Aeryn Shuman in the fifth inning, after the freshman put a ball deep into centerfield to allow a pinch-running Carmen Uribe to tag up from third.

The Lions put down three ground balls in the top of the seventh, going down in order after a leadoff single, and the Bears clinched the series.

Paityn Engemann tossed the complete outing, scattering nine hits while only walking one. She threw just 76 pitches in the win, compared to 135 pitches by the UNA pitching staff.

UCA 4, North Alabama 1

Just like the previous game, the Lions scored the first run of the game in the first inning, pairing a walk with a double to score what would end up being the only run North Alabama would score.

But unlike the first game of the day, it took the Bears a few innings to get the offense to respond.

Kylie Griffin hit a double to left with one out in the third, and Addie Graham only needed to see one pitch before driving a single through the 3-4 hole to score Griffin.

Back-to-back walks by Madi Young and Kaitlyn Graham loaded the bases, and Lilly Hood drove Graham home with a bloop single to right field, a ball that the second baseman just couldn’t get control of on a diving attempt.

Two batters later, Mya January took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch with bases loaded to add to the lead.

After the Lions only mustered a single baserunner in each of the next two innings, the Bears looked to add insurance in the fifth.

Aeryn Shuman opened the inning with a walk, and Renee Christian came in to pinch run, adding speed to the basepaths.

She stole second and a double by Autumn Vessier allowed the speedy Christian to make it all the way home before the Lions could get the ball back in. The defense continued to come through for the Bears, holding off one last push in the sixth by the Lions, who put runners on first and second in the frame.

With it, the Bears sweep the season series against the Lions, winning all six games this year. Bailie Runner captured the game three win, spreading eight hits across seven innings, but striking out three and only walking one for her 11th win of the season.

The Bears now turn to the ASUN Championship next week. With a conference record of 16-7, Central Arkansas finished second in the ASUN Gold Division, and have a legitimate chance to be a top-three seed, and can finish potentially as low as fourth.

This allows the Bears to bypass the single-elimination games on Tuesday, and the Bears will be in double-elimination games starting on Wednesday.

Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.