The UCA Sugar Bears softball team dropped their midweek non conference matchup at Louisiana State University, falling 9-1 in 6 innings to the 21st ranked Tigers at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Tuesday, April 8. 

After the Sugar Bears offense (28-16, 10-4 ASUN) went down in order in the top of the first, LSU’s offense (28-14, 2-9 SEC) immediately put Central Arkansas in a hole with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Sophomore outfielder Alix Franklin drove in the first run of the game with a double to left center field, followed by a two-RBI double by Maci Bergeron to give the Tigers an early 3-0 lead.

Central Arkansas responded with its lone run of the contest in the top of the second, when sophomore infielder Kaitlyn Graham smashed a ball over the center field wall for a solo home run that cut the LSU advantage to 3-1.

A quiet third inning from both squads would be followed by another multi-run inning from the Tigers in the bottom of the fourth. 

Freshman outfielder Rylie Johnson hit a leadoff home run to center field before junior infielder Sierra Daniel hit an RBI double to left center field, capping off a two run inning to put LSU ahead 5-1.

Following a scoreless fifth inning, the Tiger offense erupted in the bottom of the sixth. 

Senior outfielder Jaila Lassiter led off the inning with a double followed by a two run bomb by Daniel to center field to give LSU a commanding 7-1 lead. 

After two more Tigers reached base, sophomore infielder Tori Edwards drove in another run via a double down the infield line. 

Needing one more run to invoke the run rule, Bergeron hit an RBI single to left center to give LSU a 9-1 run rule victory over the Sugar Bears in 6 innings. 

Graduate student pitcher Bailie Runner took the loss for UCA on the mound, giving up five earned runs on six hits and five walks in four innings. 

It was an equally frustrating day for the Central Arkansas offense, as the UCA bats generated just three hits and five walks, leaving seven runners on base. 

Looking ahead, Central Arkansas will make the trip north to Richmond, Kentucky, for a three game weekend in the Atlantic Sun series against Eastern Kentucky University April 18-19. The teams will play a double header on Saturday before concluding the series Sunday afternoon.