Feb 19th, 2007 06:29AM
by:

UCA SID OFFICE

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas softball team placed second at the 2007 UCA Spring Clash by splitting their games on Sunday. The Bears (5-5) defeated Eastern Illinois 9-7 before falling to Creighton 5-0 in the championship.

In the day's first game, UCA outhit EIU (3-2) 14-13. Panther right fielder Katy Steele drove in a run in the first and two more in the third inning to put Eastern Illinois up 3-0. Freshman center fielder Sarah Garcia cut the lead to 3-2 with two-run blast over the center field fence in the bottom of the third.

The Bears exploded for seven runs on seven singles in the bottom of the fourth inning. EIU answered with three runs in the fifth inning on a run-scoring double from Steele and a two-run single by center fielder Megan Nelson. EIU scored the final run of the game in the sixth on a solo homer from first baseman Sandyn Short.

UCA senior left fielder Amy Sperle went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Junior shortstop Janae Owens went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in and Garcia went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three runs batted in.

Steele went 3-for-4 with four RBI for EIU.

Junior Lyndsey Harris (2-2) gave up 13 hits, five earned runs, one walk and five strikeouts in the winning effort.

In the championship, the Blue Jays (5-0) pitching held the Bears to two hits in the shutout win. starter Tara Oltman struck out five and walked two in four innings to pick up the win, while Amanda Hess struck out four and walked one in the three frames to earn a save.

UCA freshman hurler Tiffany Swanson (1-2) surrendered nine hits, four earned runs, three walks and struck out five in the loss.

CU's Jessica Wakasugi went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. First baseman Jessica German hit a solo home run in the third inning.

Sperle and Garcia came up with a hit each for the Bears.

Sperle, who hit .571 for the tournament, and freshman Kati Beth Billingsley made the all-tournament team.

UCA will be back in action on Friday when they play in the Memphis Blues City Classic.

UCA Spring Clash All-Tournament Team
P - Tara Oltman - CU
P- Kathleen Jacoby - EIU
C- TJ Eadus- CU
1B- Jessica German - CU
2B - Michelle Koch- CU
3B - Jamie Reiss - CU
SS- Bailey Dawson - CU
IF - Sandyn Short- EIU
OF - Amy Sperle - UCA
OF - Jessica Wakasugi- CU
OF- Lau Emmsley- Chang - CU
OF - Ne'Chell Bowens- AAMU
UT- Kati Beth Billingsley- UCA
DP - Robyn Mackey - EIU