Arkansas softball falls to No. 23 Florida

GAINESVILLE, FLA. – The University of Arkansas softball team fell twice to Southeastern Conference opponent Florida, Friday at the Florida Softball Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. The Lady Razorbacks dropped to 16-33 overall and 3-12 in the SEC after losing the series, while the Gators improved to 32-16 and 8-8 in league play. “I wasn’t real happy with the intensity the team came out with today,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “We didn’t play with a sense of urgency. We’re in the back stretch of the season and we need to come out fighting. We didn’t do that today and it was disappointing.” The Lady’Backs managed six hits on the day and committed no errors, but only had runners in scoring position three times as the Florida defense made outstanding plays to keep Arkansas scoreless through two games, 4-0 and 5-0. “We had opportunities to put runs on the board, but didn’t come through in key situations,” said Pinkerton. “Defensively we were pretty clean, but we weren’t sharp pitching or offensively.” In a pitcher’s duel through four innings in game one, the Gators put the first runs on the scoreboard in the fourth. Francesca Enea led off with a solo home run to left field followed by a single by Ali Gardiner and a two-out RBI double by Mary Ratliff giving Florida the 2-0 lead. Florida added two more runs for the 4-0 lead in the fifth inning. Kim Waleszonia and Lauren Roussel singled back-to-back before Gardiner hit a two-out, two-RBI single to left center. Stacey Nelson earned her 19th win and seventh shutout of the year in the complete game. She had eight strikeouts and allowed just one hit. Arkansas’ hit came from senior Rachel LeMaster, and was a single that dropped into left field. Henry picked up the loss, also pitching a complete game. She struck out four and allowed four runs on eight hits. The Gators jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game two. Waleszonia led off with a single to the right side, then Roussell was hit by the pitch before Gardiner smacked a double into right center scoring both runners. After two scoreless innings the Gators added a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the fourth, Brooke Johnson hit an RBI double. Melissa Zick homered to left field in the fifth, and Enea singled up the middle, scoring Waleszonia in the sixth. Stacey Stevens took the win on the mound, allowing five hits, two walks and striking out three. Freshman Teighynne Hulsey got the start and the loss for the Lady’Backs giving up three runs on seven hits in three innings of work. LeMaster, sophomore Whitney Cloer, and freshmen Jessica Bachkora, Miranda Dixon and Hulsey all had hits in game two. The Lady’Backs return to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. for the final game of the series against Florida. For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.