Arkansas shuts out Utah Valley University

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas softball team shutout the Utah Valley University Wolverines, 5-0, on Saturday at Bogle Park.

Arkansas (18-6) notched its second shutout in as many days as Hope McLemore got her third win of the year. She went 4.1 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out three. Kimmy Beasley came on in relief and went 2.2 innings of her own, not allowing a hit.

“Pitching again was outstanding,” head coach Mike Larabee said. “Hope was dominant today, as Chelsea was yesterday. Once again we brought Beasley in to give them a different look. I am very pleased, we are never going to lose with a shutout.”

At the plate it was a pair of solo-homeruns from Devon Wallace and Chloe Oprzedek that paced the Razorbacks. Oprzedek finished the day 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Arkansas was able to work UVU starter Josi Summers for 128 pitches as she gave up only two earned runs in 5.2 innings. She struck out seven and walked seven Razorbacks.

“We talk about being selectively aggressive,” Larabee said. “We want that pitcher to give us a good pitch to hit. We want the opposing pitcher to throw a lot of pitches. The pitchers are wearing down in the latter parts of the game.”

Wallace picked up where she left off yesterday, belting the third pitch she saw over the rightfield wall. Her ninth homerun of the season gave Arkansas a 1-0 lead in the first.

Oprzedek hit a solo-shot of her own in the second. This was the junior’s fifth homerun of the year, giving Arkansas a 2-0 lead.

McLemore continued to work through the third, striking out Amanda Robinson to end the inning. She received more run support in the bottom of the inning as Nicole Schroeder led it off with a walk. After Ashley Martindale pinch ran and stole second, she scored when Jaymee Gee reached on a two-out error. Amanda Summerford also scored on the play to make the score 4-0, Arkansas.

The top of the fourth started with a Wolverine single from Krystin Jachim. She was retired on a 5-4-3 double play as Dynasty Lauvai lined it at Oprzedek, she hurried the ball to Sierra Bronkey at second and then the double play was quickly turned as she fired to Wallace at first. McLemore struck out Debra Lovell to end the inning.

UVU started the fifth inning with a single from Kylee Brinkerhoff. She advanced to third on an error from the third-baseman, Oprzedek. This left runners on second and third with one out for Morgan Summers, and ended McLemore’s day in the circle. In came the sophomore, Beasley, and she walked Summers to load the bases for pinch-hitting Jazmyne Cortinas. Beasley got her to chase a 2-1 pitch and pop out to second. The sophomore pitcher then struck out Robinson to end the inning and work out of the jam.

Oprzedek added to the lead in the sixth as she hit a one-out single through the right side of the infield. She would eventually score on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from Lauren Montgomery. This was the freshman’s fourth pinch-hit RBI of the season.

Beasley notched her third save of the season as she worked a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh. This gave Arkansas its 18th win of the season and second shutout in as many days.

Next up for the Razorbacks will be the conclusion of the Utah Valley University series. The Razorbacks and Wolverines will square off at 11:00 a.m. CT at Bogle Park on Sunday.