Arkansas Softball Fact Sheet #21
In the News
Arkansas ends the season at No. 9 Alabama when the Lady’Backs meet the Crimson Tide Friday, May 6, at 5 p.m. and Saturday, May 7, at 1 p.m.
In Review
The Lady’Backs concluded the home season with three heartbreaking losses 2-1, 4-1 and 1-0 (9) to Mississippi May 3-4.
Last Week
Arkansas fell to Kansas, April 26, in a non-conference doubleheader 7-2 and 6-5 in Lawrence, Kan.
History
Alabama leads the all-time series 7-24 with the Crimson Tide winning the series in Fayetteville last year. The Lady’Backs are looking for their first win in Tuscaloosa, Ala., since 2000.
Senior Send-off
Senior infielder Ashley Carter led the Lady’Backs in her final games at Lady’Back Yard when she hit .400 against Mississippi.
Circled
Freshman pitcher Katy Henry was solid on the mound for the Lady’Backs as she recorded a 0.88 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 16 innings.
No Softie
Sophomore outfielder Rachel LeMaster continues to be a stead force at the plate for the Lady’Backs as she has a team-high .373 batting average, 72 hits and 27 stolen bases.
In the Books
The Lady’Backs made history in the Kentucky series when Arkansas opened up the series with a 10-2 run-rule April 24. The run-rule was the first over a Southeastern Conference opponent in school history. Arkansas swept the series with a 4-0 and 10-2 win. The Lady’Backs hadn’t swept a team since 2002.
Hot Plate
In the Kansas doubleheader, three Lady’Backs hit over .400. Freshman infielder Dayna Huckabee led the squad with a .667 mark, while sophomore infielder Kallie Foglesong and freshman infielder Samantha Buckner contributed .429 and .400 averages, respectively.
Third Time’s a Charm
At Kansas, Huckabee recorded her first career triple as she was 4-for-6 at the plate with three hits in the first game.
Chalk It Up
Not only did Foglesong finish with three hits versus Kansas but she also led the team with three RBIs.
Honors
Junior outfielder Mindy O’Malley was named SEC Player of Week after her 10-for-17 performance against Kentucky and Oklahoma City. This is the first conference award for a Lady’Back this season.
Wild Ride
O’Malley led the Arkansas offense in the Kentucky series as she hit .600 with six hits, five runs and two RBIs. Carter also hit .600 against Kentucky.
In the Circle
Henry and sophomore Sarah Topham combined for a 0.78 ERA in the Kentucky sweep.
Memories
Freshman outfielder Lindsay Perry recorded her first career hit versus Kentucky when she singled.
The Mighty Bats
In the Oklahoma City doubleheader, O’Malley and Topham hit over .500. O’Malley led the team as she went 4-for-7 with a triple, while Topham was 2-for-4.
Something Extra
The Lady’Backs were perfect in stolen bases 7-for-7 versus Oklahoma City as senior outfielder Zenobia Davison led the way with three.
In the Books
LeMaster rewrote the record books as she recorded her 21st stolen base of the season, which ranks second on the school list for stolen bases in a single season.
Good Numbers
The 2005 Lady’Back squad has already surpassed some of the 2004 season statistics. The 2005 crew set the school record for home runs in a season with 19.
The Dish
In the Mississippi State series, three Lady’Backs hit over .400 with senior infielder Ashley Carter leading the way. Carter went 4-for-9 with her second home run of the week and two RBIs. Topham hit .429 and LeMaster finished .400.
Z Power
Davison led the Lady’Back offense against SMS as she had a .600 batting average with three hits.
Cubed
Buckner and O’Malley each had four hits in a game versus SMS. The pair also recorded doubles with .571 batting averages.
Timing
Carter hit her first home run of the year in the first game of the SMS doubleheader. Carter’s two-run monster led the squad with two RBIs.
We Have a Winner
Henry recorded her first SEC win of her career as she threw six innings while only allowing LSU five hits and two earned runs in the first game of the LSU series.
Add it up
Junior catcher Shana Easley and Huckabee each recorded two RBIs in the Border War. Huckabee hit a two-RBI double against Tulsa, which was her fifth double of the season.
Records
When the Lady’Backs scored six runs in the second inning of the Tulsa game, it tied a season-high mark for runs in a single inning.
Out of Here
For the first time since the South Carolina series, the Lady’Backs hit a home run in a conference game. Junior infielder Barbara-Jean Southmayd hit her fourth home run of the season against Georgia to lead the squad with four.
Make a Note
Huckabee tied the school record for home runs in a game when she hit two home runs in the second game of the doubleheader against Centenary. The pair of home runs marked the first ones of Huckabee’s career.
Fond Farewell
Davison recorded her first career home run against Centenary. Davison hit an inside the park home run to give the Lady’Backs an insurance run in the first game of the doubleheader.
To the Nines
Freshman pitcher Kelly Ninemire picked up her first career win versus Centenary as she threw two and two-thirds shutout innings. Ninemire had five strikeouts while only giving up two hits.
Free Ball
In the first Lady’Backs extra inning game of the season, Henry held Florida to four hits and she had six strikeouts.
One-Two Punch
O’Malley and LeMaster led the way for the Lady’Backs against Stephen F. Austin. The pair went 4-for-8 to pace Arkansas at the plate. O’Malley also recorded her first career triple.
Double Trouble
Buckner recorded a pair of doubles against Western Division foe, Auburn. Buckner led the team in doubles and batting average with .333 mark in the Auburn series.
Impact
In her first appearance of the season, sophomore pitcher Cassy Long derailed the Tigers as she threw three and two-thirds innings. Long shutout Auburn and only allowed one hit.
Home Run Derby
For the first time in the 2005 season, the Lady’Backs hit multiple home runs in a game. In the March 9 game, Buckner and Easley recorded home runs.
Easy Does It
Easley led the Lady’Backs at the plate in the conference opener versus South Carolina. She was 5-for-9 with a double and a home run, her first of the year.
Record Books
Henry not only earned her first career win but she also wrote her name in the Arkansas record books. Against Louisiana-Monroe at the Lady’Backs Invitational, Henry finished with 15 strikeouts, which ties Heather Schlichtman for the second most strikeouts in a game.
Going, Going, Gone
Southmayd and Foglesong hit home runs in the Lady’Backs home debut, Feb. 26. Foglesong hit her first home run of the season against UMKC. Southmayd hit a three-run home run versus Louisiana-Monroe. The Feb. 26 home run performances marked the second time Arkansas has hit home runs in consecutive games.
Out of the Park
Southmayd and Buckner recorded two-run, home runs in consecutive games. Southmayd’s home run was her first of the season in the 7-6 victory over Purdue. Buckner’s home run against New Mexico State was the first career of her career.
The Next Chapter
First-year head coach Jamie Pinkerton begins his tenure with the Lady Razorbacks after four successful seasons as the head coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane softball team. Pinkerton was a two-time Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Pinkerton’s staff includes former TU assistant coach Tiffany Redding-Pitts and former Lady’Back Aly Sartini.
