NORMAN, Okla. – The most successful season in Central Arkansas softball history came to a close on Saturday, as the Bears fell to Lehigh 3-0 in the fourth game of the NCAA Championship Norman Regional.
Lehigh (40-8) got on the board first, plating one run in the bottom of the first inning. Left fielder Nicole Yozzo worked a walk to lead off the inning before moving to second base on a passed ball. She would advance to third on a ground out before designated player Vicky Lattanzio would squeeze a single through the hole on the right side of the infield to drive her in and give the Mountain Hawks the 1-0 lead.
The Mountain Hawks would add another unearned run in the bottom of the fourth to push their lead to 2-0. With one out, Lehigh right fielder Jessica Calvini would hit a fly ball to deep center field, where center fielder Amy Gunnells was unable to make the catch after crashing into the wall. The relay throw to third base would make its way into the Lehigh dugout, allowing Calvini to score from third.
The Bears (35-21) would scatter some hits over the next few innings, with first baseman Ashley Boswell collecting a one-out double in the fifth and right fielder Briana Whisenhunt leading off the sixth with a single, but were unable to sustain a rally.
Lehigh would tack on a run in the bottom of the sixth to extend the lead to 3-0, getting an RBI double from third baseman Morgan Decker.
Central Arkansas would threaten in the top of the seventh, when shortstop Hayley Parker worked a one-out walk to start the rally, and Boswell found the hole on the right side of the infield to single her over to second. A fielder's choice would give the Bears runners on the corners with two outs, but a groundout back to the pitcher would end the game.
Boswell led the Central Arkansas offense on the day, going 2-for-3 with a double, while Whisenhunt and left fielder Hannah Stirton each tallied one hit.
Kylee Studioso (26-14) went the distance for the Bears, allowing three runs, just one earned, on five hits and a walk while striking out two in six innings.