The Central Arkansas softball team began its 2026 season with a split doubleheader in Huntsville, Texas. The Bears secured a 7-3 win over South Dakota before narrowly losing to Creighton, 5-4.
In the first game against South Dakota, both teams struggled offensively in the early innings. Central Arkansas created an opportunity in the first inning but could not score. The breakthrough came in the fourth inning when Emma Robertson walked and was replaced by pinch runner Renee Christian, who stole two bases. Grace Molitor drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, giving Central Arkansas its first lead. South Dakota responded in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to move ahead 2-1.
Central Arkansas rallied in the fifth inning, starting with LJ Smith drawing a walk and Addie Graham singling. After loading the bases, a wild pitch allowed Smith to score. A dropped fly ball and another sacrifice fly from Emma Veach brought home more runs, resulting in three Bears scoring during the inning. South Dakota added one run on a home run but trailed as Central Arkansas extended its lead.
Autumn Vessier hit a double to start the sixth inning and scored along with Smith after Smith homered. Additional walks and singles contributed to another run for Central Arkansas. Pitcher Bailie Runner earned her first win of the season by pitching all seven innings, allowing seven hits and striking out three batters. Graham led at the plate with three hits, two runs scored, and a walk.
This victory marked Kayla Lucas’s first win as head coach of Central Arkansas after serving five years as an assistant coach.
In their second game against Creighton, Central Arkansas fell behind early when Creighton scored four runs in the second inning—three on a home run—and added another run in the third. The Bears struggled offensively until the seventh inning when they mounted a comeback attempt.
Grace Molitor walked to begin the seventh and advanced to third on an LJ Smith single. Addie Graham’s contact brought Molitor home while moving Smith to second base. Trinity Brandon then doubled, scoring Smith and advancing Graham to third; a subsequent walk loaded the bases. Emma Robertson singled to left center field, allowing two more runners to score and narrowing Creighton’s lead to one run with only one out remaining. However, after reloading the bases on another walk by Emma Veach, Central Arkansas was unable to bring any more runners home.
Central Arkansas is scheduled to play again tomorrow against Creighton at 11 a.m., followed by another matchup with South Dakota at 4 p.m.
