After dropping a Tuesday slugfest, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff turned to its softball ace Wednesday to split a midweek road series.
UAPB lost 14-6 in five innings Tuesday at Texas A&M-Commerce but bounced back to win 4-0 Wednesday.
UAPB freshman pitcher Kayla Adams (8-4) pitched a one-hit shutout in Wednesday's victory. She struck out eight hitters with three walks.
Neither team scored in the first four innings, but UAPB (12-12) broke through in the fifth. Pinch hitter Jada Crusterson delivered an RBI single in her lone at-bat, scoring Jasmine Carlson and giving UAPB a 1-0 lead, its first of the series. Crusterson later scored on a passed ball.
Third baseman Amari Broughton made it 3-0 later in the inning with a two-out single that scored leftfielder Malani Francis. A&M-Commerce then pulled starter Destiny Martinez (0-5) for reliever Julia Sanchez. She got A&M-Commerce out of the inning, though she gave up a run in the seventh when shortstop Jazlyn Gomez's RBI sacrifice fly brought Justice Walton home, making it 4-0.
A&M-Commerce (6-30) had a much better offensive showing the day prior, pounding UAPB with 16 hits and scoring multiple runs each inning. Third baseman Charli Anger hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the first. Commerce added 3 in the second, 4 in the third, 2 in the fourth and 2 in the fifth. The fifth-inning runs came via a 2-run homer by leftfielder Ashley Diaz which triggered the run-rule.
All 6 of UAPB's runs came in the fourth inning. Adams, who was pinch hitting for Carlson, cut the deficit to 10-2 with a 2-RBI double before Broughton hit a grand slam to make it 10-6.
The Lady Lions return home for a three-game SWAC series against Grambling State on Friday and Saturday.