Razorbacks drop series finale to No. 5 Aggies

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Arkansas softball team fell to the Texas A&M Aggies, 9-1, in five innings on Sunday in College Station, Texas.

Arkansas (19-10) scored its only run in the first inning as Chloe Oprzededek shot a double into the rightfield wall, scoring Devon Wallace from first. This was Wallace’s 36th run scored of the year. She is tied for first in the SEC in runs scored.

“Once again, A&M landed that knockout punch,” head coach Mike Larabee said. “Chloe got a big double in the first inning, which was great. It was also good to see Lauren Montgomery come off the bench and get a big hit. We have an off day tomorrow to regroup and come back on Tuesday ready to play.”

The Hogs took the initiative and scored the first run of the day. Wallace was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and she came around to score two batters later as Oprzedek belted a double off of the leftfield wall. Wallace has now reached base in all 29 games this season.

Nicole Morgan answered for the Aggies in the bottom half of the inning as she shot a solo-homerun over the leftfield wall. Her SEC-leading 11th homerun tied the game at one apiece. Mel Dumezich followed the bomb with a walk and then was hit home by Cali Lanphear. The freshman gave A&M a 3-1 lead after shooting a two-run homer over the leftfield wall.

The runs continued to come for Texas A&M in the second as Megan May hit a two-run double off of the rightfield wall. Cassie Tysarczyk and Brittany Clopton both crossed the plate on the play to give the Aggies a 5-1 lead. Morgan added to the lead three pitches later and hit her second homerun of the day, improving the Aggie lead to 7-1. This ended starter Chelsea Cohen’s day in the circle. Kelly Young came in and eventually retired Amber Garza to end the inning.

The Aggies added two more in the third as Dumezich knotted a two-run single. Tysarczyk and Emily Albus crossed the plate to give A&M a 9-1 lead. All nine runs on the day came with two outs.

Lauren Montgomery extended the game when she lined a single into leftfield with two outs. The pinch hitting freshman is now batting .500 on the season, going 5-for-10. However, Sierra Bronkey grounded out three pitches later to clinch the game for Texas A&M in five innings. This was Arkansas’ tenth loss of the season. Dumezich picked up the win for Aggies, her 18th of the season.

Next up, the Razorbacks will continue their eight-game road trip and head to Savannah, Georgia. Arkansas will square off with Savannah State at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19.