Central Arkansas' first trip to the NCAA softball tournament ended after two games with a 3-0 loss to Lehigh on Saturday in the losers' bracket of the Norman, Okla., regional.
The Bears finished the season 35-21 and won the Southland Conference Tournament. UCA opened the regional being no-hit in an 8-0 loss to host Oklahoma, a game that went only five innings because of a run rule.
After UCA went down in order in the first Saturday, Nicole Yazzo worked Kylee Studiosa for a four-pitch walk. She moved to second on a passed ball, then to third on a groundout by Alexis Watanabe.
One out later, Vicky Lattanzio singled to the right side to score Yazzo.
UCA held Lehigh in check in the second and third innings, but with one out in the fourth the Mountain Hawks' Jessica Calvini tripled to center and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Hayley Parker.
Watanabe opened the sixth with a bunt single, and Morgan Decker followed with a double to left-center to score the run.
The Bears tried to come back in the top of the seventh. With one out, Parker walked and Ashley Boswell singled through the left side. Bailey Reynolds pinch-hit for Amy Gunnells and grounded into a fielder's choice, getting pinch-runner Lindsay Elliott at second. Sam Forrest grounded out to reliever Emily Bausher for the final out.
Studioso, who finished the season 26-14, pitched 6 innings, giving up 5 hits, 3 runs and striking out 2. The victory went to Christine Campbell (17-2), who allowed 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 2 in 6 2/3 innings. Bausher picked up the last out for her second save.
Sports on 05/17/2015