Box Score CONWAY, Ark. - Following a weekend of rain and several changes made to the tournament schedule, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Lady Lions softball team finally had a chance to compete in the 2018 University of Central Arkansas Softball Tournament. The team opened up things against the tourney host with a 10-2 loss to UCA in Conway, followed by a high-scoring affair against the University of Louisiana at Monroe that ended in a 17-11 barn burner in favor of ULM.

On the following day UAPB (3-7) struggled to get its bats going as it fell 0-9 to South Dakota State University. In its final game of the tournament, it took an 8-1 loss against Austin Peay University.


UCA 10, UAPB 2 (6 innings)

UCA took an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning before the Lady Lions answered back in the fourth inning with a Kayla Ross RBI-double to center field which scored Alexandria Taylor, cutting UCA's lead to one run. However, UCA scored four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to pull away. UAPB answered in the final inning as Taylor crossed the plate once again, this time off of a Cameron Graham sacrifice fly-RBI. Pitcher Juliana Dominguez was credited with the loss as she fell to 1-1 on the season. 


ULM 17, UAPB 11

ULM took an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning before storming back with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI-ground out from Kayla Ross that scored speedster Tonnay Hawkins. Kameron Graham then singled up the middle and produced two RBI, scoring Monique Nikolao and and Alexandria Taylor which gave UAPB a 3-2 lead.

However, ULM answered back with a total of 12 runs scored in the fourth and fifth innings,taking a 14-3 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning before the Lady Lions answered back with five runs of its own, cutting the deficit to 14-8. Ann Jones got things started with an RBI-single to right field that brought in Taylor, then Graham picked up an RBI-single up the middle that brought in Nikolao for another run. Toni Martinez then doubled to left center, picking up two RBI which brought in Graham and Jones. Before the inning was over, Shanice Atkins laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought in Martinez.

After ULM scored a run in the top of the sixth, UAPB answered back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning as Graham picked up two RBI with a triple to right field that scored both Nikolao and Ross.

Pitcher Angelique Ramos picked up her second loss of the season as she fell to 2-2 on the year.


South Dakota State 9, UAPB 0 (5 innings)

South Dakota State jumped out on top 9-0 in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back as it allowed only three hits to UAPB. Karia Hall (0-3) picked up the loss for the Lady Lions.


Austin-Peay 8, UAPB 1

Austin-Peay took control early with a total of seven runs scored in the first two innings. UAPB scored its lone run in the fifth inning with a Tonnay Hawkins RBI-triple that brought in Monique Nikolao. Pitcher Juliana Dominguez earned her second loss of the season as she fell to 1-2.


Wednesday's home game scheduled against UCA at Torii Hunter Softball Complex has been canceled.

UAPB returns to action on Friday, March 2 as it travels to Louisiana to face Northwestern State University in a three-game series in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. in Natchitoches.