The softball Sugar Bears crushed the struggling Bellarmine Knights from April 11 to 12, outscoring their opponent 37-4 across the three-game series sweep.
UCA improved to 28-16 on the season, while Bellarmine dropped to 10-30. The wins also put the Bear’s ASUN record at 10-4.
April 11’s double header saw UCA’s bats come alive.
The Bears drew walks early in game one of the doubleheader, getting three straight in the first inning alone. But were ultimately unable to bring any runners home.
After both teams exchanged stranded runners across the first three innings, Central Arkansas struck in the fourth with a series of hits to score their first run.
Junior infielder Lily Hood hit a single and was then able to reach third off of another hit by sophomore infielder Grace Molitor.
Hood was able to score on a groundout to put UCA 1-0.
Bellarmine tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, but the game would not stay tied for long.
Freshman outfielder Addie Graham hit a homer on the first pitch of the fifth inning to put UCA up 2-1. And the Bears wouldn’t look back.
In the sixth, freshman infielder L.J. Smith led off the inning with a triple and then scored two batters later.
Sophomore outfielder Renee Christian tripled, scoring another run.
The dagger came from senior catcher Emma Robertson, who hit a three-run homer to put the game out of reach.
UCA pitching held strong as the Bears won 8-1.
After game one’s offensive explosion, Central Arkansas followed up with a high-scoring performance.
Despite recording just one hit in the first, UCA scored four runs and put a stranglehold on the Knights early.
Bellarmine did respond with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first, but Smith recorded a two RBI-hit which put UCA up 6-2.
Another RBI in the third put the Bears up 7-2.
In the fourth, Central Arkansas continued its offensive output to officially make the game a blowout.
Bellarmine added another inconsequential run, while UCA scored another two in the fifth to make it an 13-3 final score.
After winning both games of the doubleheader, UCA followed up with another dominant performance – this time with a special pitching flair.
Senior pitcher Emory Bowlin tossed a no-hitter, the first freshman to throw one for the Bears since 2020.
Bowlin struck out two and walked just one batter – her record improving to 6-5 on the year.
The pitcher’s job was made easier by the Central Arkansas offense, which stopped Bellarmine with 16 runs.
After scoring two in the first, senior infielder Trinity Brandon hit a three-run homer which put UCA up six.
Brandon secured a two-RBI in the third and after a series of more hits, UCA was up 11-0 after three.
Freshman infielder Kaitlyn Graham knocked a double to right center to score another run and back to back hits by Smith and Hood put UCA up 16-0.
The game ended up five innings as Central Arkansas mercy ruled Bellarmine.
Completing the series sweep, UCA will continue its road trip as they head to the Bluegrass State to take on Eastern Kentucky on April 18.
