NATCHITOCHES, La. – Arkansas will not be without a team in the NCAA softball tournament this year.
Third-seeded Central Arkansas scored three runs in the first inning after a 2-0 hole, and Kayla Gomness threw a solid five innings to lead the Bears to a 4-2 win over Northwestern State on Friday in the Southland Conference championship. The win earned the Bears (36-18) their first berth in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Northwestern State (35-19), the No. 1 seed, would have had to beat UCA twice to win the automatic bid, and things looked right for the Demons through the top of the first inning. UCA pitcher Kylee Studioso walked four straight to open the game, resulting in a run, and gave up a sacrifice fly for the second run.
Then the Bears went to work. Two errors allowed Briana Whisenhunt to put UCA on the board, Samantha Bigej doubled down the right-field line for the tying run and Audrey Pratt flied out to left field for the go-ahead run.
Studioso only allowed one hit but faced 11 batters in two innings. Gomness (4-1) held the Demons scoreless, scattering five hits over the last five innings while facing 18 batters. She only struck out one.
Amy Gunnells gave the Bears a little insurance in the fifth inning, scoring on a bases-loaded walk.
UCA will host an NCAA softball tournament selection watch party at 9 p.m. Sunday at Bear Hall Suites in Conway.