Mar 13th, 2007 04:51AM
by:

By CODY USHER
UCA ASSISTANT SID

SAN MARCOS, Texas — The University of Central Arkansas softball team lost both games of a Southland Conference double-header against Texas State on Saturday afternoon (March 10). The Bears (8-15, 0-5) fell to the Bobcats (13-12, 4-4) 2-0 and 7-1.

Texas State scored the first run of the day in the bottom of the second inning when shorstop Alex Newton scored on an error by Bear junior catcher Brittany Bearden. The Bobcats added a second run in the third inning when first baseman Leah Boatright knocked in center fielder Kristina Tello on a single to center field.

TSU hurler Ragan Blake (10-6) held the Bears to two hits and a walk while striking out 11 batters. UCA junior starter Lyndsey Harris (3-6) also gave up two hits, a walk and an unearned run while striking out three in the loss.

Bearden recorded both hits for UCA, while Boatright and Tello had one each for the Bobcats.

In game two, UCA struck in the top of the first when senior left fielder Amy Sperle led the inning off with an infield single  and was driven in by freshman pitcher Tiffany Swanson on a single to center.

Texas State tied the game in the third inning on a solo home run by designated player Karen Taylor.

A costly UCA error in the bottom of the fourth led to a grand slam by right fielder Amy Kruger to give the Bobcats a 5-1 advantage. They added two more runs in the sixth on a homer by second baseman Ryan Kos.

The Bears threatened in the seventh frame when freshman third baseman Mindy Chancey and freshman first baseman Keatha Tollett led the inning off with back-to-back singles. Texas State's Sarah Lancour got freshman pinch hitter Kati Beth Billingsley to strike out and induced Sperle to ground out. Blake came in to face freshman Sarah Garcia and recorded the strikeout to end the game.

Lancour (3-6) gave up five hits, one run, two walks and fanned nine batters. Swanson (2-5) surrendered three hits, three earned runs, five walks and struck out one.

Sperle, Swanson, Chancey, Tollett and junior shortstop Janae Owens each recorded hits for the Bears.

The Bears and Bobcats will wrap the series up on Sunday afternoon.