The UCA softball team (13-5) began the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic strong on Friday with a win against the University of South Dakota (8-9) and the University of Nebraska Omaha (10-5).

The Bears fell flat Saturday against the University of Iowa (11-8) and in a rematch against South Dakota.

After ending the Michelle Short Memorial Classic with a total of 27 runs, the Bears only pulled together four runs in the Shamrock Classic.

Although UCA still won half the game in the classic, the sudden drop in total runs was noticeable.

The Bears began the classic with a 2-0 win over the University of South Dakota on Friday, March 3.

The first inning was fruitless for both teams, as the bad luck continued on for South Dakota into the top of the second.

UCA broke the stalemate at the bottom of the second when redshirt junior infielder Morgan Nelson ran to first base after cracking the ball down center field.

Redshirt senior infielder/pitcher Jaylee Engelkes landed a home run, scoring the Bears two runs from Engelkes and Nelson.

The Coyotes’ fifth-year outfielder, Courtney Wilson, bunted the ball to secure a spot on first base but wasn’t able to make it any further after freshman infielder Delaney White fouled out to second base.

UCA was unsuccessful at the bottom of the third without any hits or runs.

South Dakota left the top of the fourth with a single hit, with UCA nearly scoring a third run with freshman outfielder Regan Riemersma until freshman infielder McKayla Betts grounded out to third base.

Neither team proved successful in the fifth.

Although the Coyotes looked to be taking home a last-minute win when all bases were loaded at the top of the seventh, Wilson popped the ball to shortstop, giving the Bears the win with a score of 2-0.

UCA’s game against Omaha later that day proved to be rather slow, with an exciting final inning from the Bears.

Both teams found themselves empty-handed at the bottom of the first, the game finally gaining momentum when the Mavericks’ graduate outfielder Rachel Weber singled down the right field line. Weber only made it to second base when the Mavericks took three strikes.

The Bears responded with redshirt junior infielder Mary Kate Brown landing on first base after driving the ball down left field. Brown was able to make it all the way to third base before Betts struck out.

After Omaha landed one hit at the top of the third, the game became stagnant until the bottom of the fifth when the Bears locked all three bases, Engelkes whipping away UCA’s potential with a strikeout.

UCA took the victory with a score of 1-0 in the final inning when Betts was able to make it through the diamond, hitting home plate at the bottom of the seventh.

The Bears found themselves in a rematch with South Dakota Saturday morning, taking their first loss of the classic in a game similar to the one before.

UCA showed promise as they lined up players to second and third base fairly often, but poor batting skills kept them from scoring any runs.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the seventh when the Coyotes’ junior catcher Bela Goerke slammed a home run through left center.

The Bears grounded out three times in the bottom of the seventh, giving South Dakota the win with a score of 1-0.

The Iowa Hawkeyes began their Saturday afternoon game against The Bears with a run-to single from senior outfielder Nia Carter.

Carter doubled at the top of the third, when launching the ball to left center.

Junior infielder/right-handed pitcher Denali Loecker struck out, leaving Carter at third.

The Bears finally showed progress at the bottom of the fourth when Nelson made it to third with Brown hitting first base then advancing to second on a throw.

Engelkes dashed UCA’s chances for more than one run for the second time in the classic, grounding out at second base.

Adding salt to the wound, the Hawkeyes scored the first run of the game at the top of the fifth when Carter slid to home plate, finally making it around the diamond.

With the game seemingly wrapped up, the Bears pulled a last-minute run with Betts, pushing the game past the seventh inning for the first time in the classic.

Although neither team scored in the eighth inning, Iowa came into the ninth swinging, freshman right-handed pitcher Jalen Adams swiftly making her way to home plate.

Even with sophomore catcher Bella Barnes starting on second, the Bears were unable to make any progress, Iowa taking home the win 2-1.

The UCA softball team’s next series of games will be in the Jayhawk Classic on March 10 through March 11 in Lawrence, Kansas.