The UCA softball Bears welcomed in the #9 nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks, and a massive audience as a result, into Natalie Shock Stadium for a midweek clash Tuesday, March 24. 

Official numbers listed 1,455 fans in attendance to watch Central Arkansas take on the Hogs, surpassing the total from when the two teams played in Conway the previous season. 

After a quiet top of the first for the Razorbacks, UCA jumped ahead in the bottom half when Junior outfielder Renee Christian scored from third off of senior infielder Trinity Brandon’s fielder’s choice to second base.

The 1-0 advantage would be the only lead the Sugar Bears would hold in the game, as the Razorbacks would quickly even things up in the top of the second with a pair of doubles. 

In the top of the third, sophomore infielder Ella McDowell put the Hogs ahead for good with a solo homer to left field.

After Central Arkansas failed to generate any offense in the bottom of the third, Arkansas opened the floodgates in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on four hits, two walks, and an error to extend the Razorback lead to 7-1

UCA would respond in the bottom half of the inning, with senior outfielder Lilly Hood scoring freshman pinch runner Sydney Kildow from second on a single up the middle. 

The Sugar Bears would fail to generate a run for the reminder of the game after Hood’s single.

A quiet fifth inning would see both offenses generate only one baserunner each, before the Hogs delivered a fatal blow to UCA in the top of the sixth. 

After McDowell hit her second homer of the game to lead off the inning, Arkansas would total four runs on four hits and a walk in the inning to invoke the run-rule with a commanding 11-2 lead.

Needing two runs in the bottom of the sixth to keep the game alive, the Sugar Bears would go down in order, giving the Razorbacks an 11-2 victory in 6 innings. 

Graduate pitcher Bailie Runner got the start for the Bears, and gave up five earned runs on six hits and three walks over 3.1 innings in the loss.

In the circle for the Hogs, freshman pitcher Saylor Timmerman pitched four innings, giving up just two runs on five hits and a walk.

The loss drops Central Arkansas to 21-13 (3-3 Atlantic Sun) this season.