The University of Central Arkansas softball Sugar Bears (21-13, 3-3 ASUN) went on the road for their second conference series against the Lipscomb Bison (9-22, 2-3 ASUN) in Nashville, Tenn., March 21-22. The Sugar Bears took the series 2-1.

On Saturday, March 21, the teams played a doubleheader with games at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Sugar Bears took down the Bison in both of those games with a strong offense. Eight batters recorded hits over the course of the two games.

During the 1 p.m. game the Sugar Bears came out swinging, scoring eight unanswered runs in the first two innings of the game.

The first inning saw two of these runs scored when junior outfielder Renee Christian was walked and then stole second base and senior infielder Trinity Brandon hit a home run – her fifth of the season – to score herself and Christian.

The second inning was even more successful for the Sugar Bears, seeing six runs scored.

Senior infielder/outfielder Lilly Hood reached first base on an error by the Bison, then senior catcher Autumn Vessier hit a single to advance Hood to second. Christian then hit a single to right field and tallied Hood as an RBI.

Christian then stole second and while the Bison attempted to throw her out Vessier stole home. Christian stole third on a passed ball. Sophomore infielder Addie Graham was walked, putting runners on first and third and the Sugar Bears pulled the same maneuver that they did with Christian and Vessier, except this time it was Christian that slid into home.

Brandon singled, graduate student catcher Emma Robertson singled – scoring Graham – a groundout sent yet another run to home plate and sophomore infielder LJ Smith drove in another run.

These six runs put the Sugar Bears in the lead 8-0.

Lipscomb was able to get on the board in the third inning, getting themselves back below the eight-run deficit for a run-rule.

After a scoreless fourth inning on both sides, Central Arkansas scored a run in the fifth inning. Vessier was walked and then brought home by a few batters from the top of the lineup.

In the sixth inning the Sugar Bears were able to bring their lead back to eight runs when sophomore infielder Kaitlyn Graham hit a single and was moved to third on a ground out. Two walks later, Central Arkansas had the bases loaded and Vessier hit a sacrifice fly and Central Arkansas finally got its eight-run lead.

Graduate student pitcher Bailie Runner got her ninth win of the season on the mound, having pitched the entire game and giving up only four hits.

The final score of the game was 10-2.

During the 3 p.m. game the Sugar Bears jumped to an early lead once again.

After a dry first inning the Sugar Bears came out swinging in the second. Smith singled and back-to-back errors on what were meant to be sacrifice bunts loaded the bases.

The Sugar Bears scored their first run of the game following a fielder’s choice. Christian hit a double, A. Graham hit a sacrifice fly, Brandon singled and Robertson doubled to score a total of five runs during the second inning.

Although the Bison were able to get some base runners they were unsuccessful in bringing any of them home, which was evident in their runs to hits ratio which was 0:8.

On the other hand, the Sugar Bears did not struggle to bring their runners home, which was made more evident in the fourth inning when they scored four runs.

Graham and Brandon were walked back-to-back, and were both able to steal the next bases on a wild pitch. However, this movement meant nothing as Robertson hit a ball over the left field wall and scored a three-run home-run.

According to ucasports.com this home run was labeled the “furthest ball hit at a visiting team’s park.”

Following Robertson’s home run, Graham singled, freshman utility player Sydney Kildow was put in to pinch run and stole second. Smith doubled to bring Kildow home and the Sugar Bears were now up 9-0.

Sophomore pitcher Lucy Crowder took the win on the mound after pitching all five innings, having walked zero runners and striking out three batters, allowing only eight hits for her second win of the season.

The third game of the series was on Sunday, March 22. The Sugar Bears were unable to sweep the series and fell 7-12 in the last game.

The Bison jumped out to an early lead for the first time in the series, scoring two runs in the first inning after the Sugar Bears were unable to get on the board.

In the second inning Central Arkansas was able to get the bats going and scored three runs, but Lipscomb struck back and scored four additional runs.

Sophomore infielder Grace Molitor was walked in four pitches and then stole second base. Hood then doubled and Molitor moved over to third.

Vessier came up to the plate and hit a triple to left center and cleared the bases. Christian then singled up the middle, scoring Vessier, and the Sugar Bears took a 3-2 lead.

The lead did not last long, as the Bison had a grand slam to get the lead back.

The score going into the third inning was 3-6 and remained that way going into the fourth after a scoreless third inning.

The Sugar Bears were able to pick the momentum back up in the fourth inning, scoring three runs.

Brandon led the inning off with yet another double and Robertson sent her home with a ball to right center. Kildow came in to pinch run for Robertson again, and she made her way to third. Molitor then hit a sacrifice fly and Hood doubled to tie the game at 6-6.

Despite the burst of momentum Lipscomb scored three times in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Hood was able to score one more run for the Sugar Bears, but they were unable to keep it up.

Despite this loss the Sugar Bears still took their first conference series win of the year.

The Sugar Bears gear up to face Ole Miss at home on Wednesday, April 1 at 5 p.m. This game is Central Arkansas’s First Responders Night.