The UCA softball team completed its first conference series of the 2026 season, dropping two of three games to the University of North Alabama, March, 14-15. 

Although losing the first two games, the Bears had a bounce back to win in game three of the series, 8-6. 

Before the series against the Lions, Central Arkansas was coming off a 6-game winning streak while putting up big offensive numbers. 

The Bears lost the first game of the series 6-5, as well as game two, 7-5. 

Sophomore infielder Grace Molitor had a home run in the first two games in the series, and graduate student catcher Emma Robertson hit her sixth home run of the season in the third and final game of the series. 

Graduate student pitcher Bailee Runner pitched in games one and three, and after a 4.2 inning, two earned run performance on March 15, Runner’s earned run average now sits at 3.02. 

Junior outfielder Renee Christian had a stellar day at the plate in game three, going 3-3 with two RBIs in the 8-6 win. 

Senior pitcher Sarah Currie started game three in the circle for the Bears, and only pitched 2.1 innings and surrendered three earned runs to the Lions before Runner replaced her. 

North Alabama pitcher Kaylee Snyder was in the circle for the Lions in game three, and the Bears got to her early, scoring four runs in the first three innings. 

Infielder Trinity Brandon and designated player Robertson were the three and four hitters in the Bears’ lineup in game three, and combined, they went 4-8 with six RBIs in the win. 

Although the Bears lost the first two games of the series, its offense still stood out, putting up five runs in both games one and two. 

All five of the Bears’ runs in game one came in the first inning on a double to left-center field by sophomore infielder Addie Graham, shortly after that, Molitor hit a grand slam, making it 5-0. The Bears would not score any more runs in the entire game, leading to a UNA comeback victory. 

In game two, UCA scored first on a Graham steal of home in the second inning. 

Then in the third inning, Robertson doubled to left field, bringing home the Bears’ second run of the game. 

The Lions started to crawl its way back in the first half of the third inning after an RBI single by senior outfielder Gyvan Hammons. 

Soon after, junior infielder Bayleigh Rouse homered to deep center field, making it a 3-2 UNA lead. 

The Bears responded with a sacrifice fly by Brandon tied it up at 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning. 

Robertson singled in the go-ahead-run in the top of the seventh inning, putting UCA up 4-3. 

The Lions tied it in the bottom of the 7th, and won it in extra innings after a walk-off homerun by senior utility player Laura Leigh Wheeler. 

In game three of the series, the Bears once again scored first, this time on a double to right center by Brandon in the opening frame. 

The Lions would tie it up in the second inning, but that would quickly not matter as Robertson emptied the bases on a three-run-home-run in the third inning, making the score 4-1 Bears. 

UNA responded with two home runs in the third inning, tying the game. 

After Christian’s RBI singles in both the fourth and the sixth innings, and Brandon’s two-run single in the sixth inning, the Bears took an 8-4 lead. 

The Lions tried to make a comeback, but ultimately failed, leading to an 8-6 victory for the Bears. 

UCA will go on the road to face the Arkansas Razorbacks March 17.