Arkansas falls to No. 3 Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – The University of Arkansas softball team fell to third-ranked Texas A&M 11-0 in five innings Saturday at the Texas A&M Aggie Classic in College Station, Texas.

The Aggies, who are 9-0 so far this season, tallied 14 hits on the night in front of a crowd of over 500.

“We had a young team come in and get caught up in the atmosphere,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton.

The Lady Razorbacks trailed Texas A&M 0-2 after the first inning. Sharonda McDonald led off the game with a base hit just into the grass in left field, was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and reached home on a sacrifice fly by USA Softball National Player of the Week, Amanda Scarborough. Pitcher Megan Gibson knocked in another run with an RBI single to center field.

“We dug ourselves a hole tonight,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “You can’t spot teams like Texas A&M runs. In the second inning the wheels fell off and I was looking for the team to answer with a little grittiness, but they didn’t. This is a great team that we faced tonight, but we have to be ready for teams like this. It comes down to pride and playing hard.”

In the second inning the Aggies exploded for eight runs off of nine hits and a 10-0 lead.

Freshman Miranda Dixon, who held the Aggies to just three hits yesterday, started on the mound and pitched just 1.1 innings before she was relieved in the second inning by freshman Teighynne Hulsey. Dixon allowed six runs on five hits. Hulsey was unable to hold off a powerful Aggie offense, permitting four runs on five hits before she was relieved by junior Katy Henry. Henry got the Lady’Backs out of the eight-run second inning and was the most effective pitcher for Arkansas allowing one run on four hits and striking out four.

The Aggie’s 11th run came in the fourth inning behind an RBI double by Joy Davis.

Gibson earned her fourth win on the mound for Texas A&M, striking out six.

The Lady’Backs collected two hits against Gibson. Sophomore Kayla Johnson hit a line drive to center field in the first inning and freshman Jessica Bachkora singled down the third-base line.

Arkansas plays its final game of the tournament tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Rutgers. Rutgers is 0-4.

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