Mar 13th, 2007 04:33AM
by:

By CODY USHER
UCA ASSISTANT SID

JACKSON, Miss. — The University of Central Arkansas softball team swept Jackson State in a double-header at JSU Field on Tuesday (March 6). The Bears (8-13) downed the Lady Tigers (5-6) 8-7 in a come-from-behind win in the first game and used a record-setting performance to win the second game 7-0.

In game one, JSU struck in the bottom of the first when first baseman Ebony Stevenson and designated player Alexzandria Adversalo hit back-to-back doubles off of UCA junior starter Lyndsey Harris. Lady Tiger pitcher Alicia Bonner knocked in Adversalo with a single to take a 2-0 lead. Bonner scored later in the inning after an error by the Bears.

UCA cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth when freshman right fielder Hannah Ambrose drove in freshman Ashley Ray with a single to center.

The Lady Tigers expanded the lead to 5-1 after two errors led to a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.

The Bears sent 10 batters to the plate on their way to a six-run fifth inning. Senior left fielder Amy Sperle led the frame off by reaching on an error. Freshman center fielder Sarah Garcia and junior catcher Brittany Bearden hit back-to-back homers to cut the lead to 5-4. Junior shorstop Janae Owens then reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ray and Ambrose recorded back-to-back hits to push UCA ahead 6-5.  Freshman third baseman Mindy Chancey reached on a hit by pitch and freshman pinch hitter Kati Beth Billingsley walked. Freshman second baseman Catherine Jones then lined out to third base that resulted in a double play. Sperle singled to left center, knocking in Ambrose to make the score 7-5, but freshman pinch runner Audra Finley was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Breonne Spikes.

JSU scored again in the bottom of the fifth when catcher Shannon Tillar tripled with two outs and was plated by Brandi Farmer. Two errors in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed the Lady Tigers to knot the game at 7-7.

Tollett drove in Ray as the winning run on a ground ball error in the top of the seventh.

Ray went 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored, one walk and three stolen bases. Sperle was 3-for-5 and Ambrose went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in.

Farmer was 2-for-4 for JSU.

Harris (3-5), picked up the win by allowing six hits, three earned runs, three walks and five strikeouts. Bonner allowed nine hits, four earned runs, four walks and three strikeouts in five innings. Reliever Jessica Villegas received the loss by allowing two hits, an unearned run and two strikeouts in two innings.