Bears Softball to Host No. 18 Tulsa, McNeese State

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

After two weeks on the road, the Central Arkansas softball team returns to the friendly confines of Farris Field for a slate of games that promise to be a challenge. On Wednesday evening, Central Arkansas will play host to nationally ranked Tulsa, before welcoming Southland Conference foe McNeese State for a trio of games this weekend.

The Bears (21-11, 5-4 SLC) started the season at a blistering pace, going 16-6 over their first 22 games while turning in a team batting average of .350. Central Arkansas averaged over seven and a half runs per game during the stretch and held its opponents to just over three runs per game.

In the 10 games the Bears have played since SLC play began though, results have been mixed. Central Arkansas is 5-5 during that period, sweeping Stephen F. Austin, dropping a midweek contest to Oklahoma State, and winning one of three games against both Sam Houston State and Houston Baptist. The Bears have hit a respectable .292 as a team, but have seen their offensive output drop to just under five runs per game. At the same time, Central Arkansas’ opponents have hit an astonishing .345 and scored six and half runs per game.

There have been some bright spots for Central Arkansas though, particularly in the outfield. Center fielder Amy Gunnells and left fielder Stephanie Lasley were both having effective season for the Bears before conference play started, hitting .256 and .267 respectively. The pair combined to score 27 runs and drove in 15 more over the first 22 games of the season. In the past 10 games though, the pair has ramped up those numbers considerably. Gunnells, who started 16 of the team’s first 22 games, has locked down the starting spot in center, starting all 10 of the Bears’ games after the start of SLC play. Over that span, she is hitting .304 and has an on-base percentage of .429, scoring four runs and driving in four. Lasley has been even more impressive, hitting .360 with six runs scored and three batted in. She has stolen six bases in six attempts.

Central Arkansas looks to pick up its first ever win over a ranked opponent when Tulsa comes to town on Wednesday. The Bears are 0-3 against ranked opponents, with all three losses coming at the hands of perennial national power Oklahoma. Tulsa (26-6-1) will provide a challenge for Central Arkansas both at the plate and on the mound. Offensively, the Golden Hurricane is led by junior infielder Jill Barrett, who is hitting .412 with ten extra-base hits and 20 RBI. Pitcher/designated player Lacey Middlebrooks and infielder Samantha Cobb provide power, with five home runs apiece, and outfielder Caitlin Everett is a danger on the base paths, stealing 18 bases in 19 attempts.

In the circle, Tulsa has a pair of aces. Aimee Creger has made 13 starts, going 13-1 in 17 appearances and turning in an ERA of 0.84. She has struck out 136 batters in 91.1 innings of work. Middlebrooks is the other pitcher that Tulsa depends on, going 11-2 in 14 starts over 16 appearances. She has an ERA of 1.45 and has completed eight games while holding opposing batters to an average of .191.

McNeese State (26-8, 7-1 SLC) comes to Conway with a two game lead over Northwestern State in the Southland Conference standings, and has won 10 of its past 11 games. The Cowgirls feature a trio of players hitting .345 or higher on the season. Pitcher/first baseman Emily Vincent leads the team with a .365 average, belting seven home runs and driving in an SLC-leading 33 runs. Outfielder Alanna DiVittorio turns in an average of .346 with 32 runs scored and 10 steals in 11 tries. Utility player Lauren Langner rounds out the trio, hitting .345. She has scored 17 runs and driven in 13 more, in addition to adding nine steals of her own.

Like Tulsa, McNeese State features a double-barrel attack on the mound. Jamie Allred has a record of 13-2 in 18 appearances, striking out 87 batters in 90 innings thrown while holding opposing batters to a batting average of .203. She has an ERA of 1.32. Megan Bond has been just as effective for the Cowgirls, going 11-3 over 19 appearances. She has recorded 112 strikeouts in 91 innings and has an ERA of 1.38.

Central Arkansas head coach David Kuhn knows that the quartet of games will provide a stiff challenge for the Bears, calling both Tulsa and McNeese State great teams. But his focus isn’t on how strong the opponent is. Instead he wants the Bears to focus on playing the game the way he knows that they can, saying, “we just want to focus on playing our game; we just want to play Central Arkansas softball.”

 

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