UAPB Softball Drops Pair at UCA Michelle Short Memorial Classic

Conway, Arkansas –The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff softball team dropped a pair of games on Thursday afternoon at the UCA Michelle Short Memorial Classic at the J. Farris Softball Complex.  The Lady Lions were defeated by Nebraska-Omaha 8-0 in their first game of the season and dropped a heartbreaker in extra innings to Western Illinois 6-5 in game two.

GAME 1: Nebraska-Omaha 8 UAPB 0

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff softball team dropped an 8-0 decision to Nebraska-Omaha in game one.

Nebraska-Omaha struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first.

The Mavericks would put up five more runs in the bottom of the second inning for the win in game one.

Sophomore infielder Jade Martinez led the Lady Lions at the plate, going 1-for-2.

GAME 2: Western Illinois 6 UAPB 5 (9)

In game two, Western Illinois raced out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning before the Lady Lions stormed back to tie the game, 3-3 in the top of the third inning, but it was not enough to hold off Western Illinois in extra innings.

Down 3-0, UAPB rallied with two straight singles from junior Alyssa Wesley and senior Shanice Akins, followed by a double to right field by freshman Remington Martinez to cut the deficit (3-2). Junior Felicia Drake came up big with a single up the middle, scoring Martinez to tie the game at 3-3.

UAPB would take its first lead of the game (4-3) in the top of the sixth inning when Drake reached on an error and eventually scored several batters later on a throwing error by Western Illinois.

After the Lady Bulldogs battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings, it was not enough for the Lady Lions to hold on for the win.

Akins led the Lady Lions at the plate going 2-for-4, followed by Martinez going 1-for-4 with one RBI.  Sophomore Sydney Green (0-1) went the distance pitching a good game for UAPB on the mound.

UAPB will return to action Friday, Feb. 27 against Nebraska-Omaha at 12:15 p.m. and Western Illinois at 4:45 p.m.