Arkansas swept by top-ranked Lady Vols
KNOXVILLE, TENN. – The University of Arkansas softball team lost the last game of its Southeastern Conference series with No. 1 Tennessee, 5-0, Sunday at Tyson Park in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee hurler Monica Abbott had a perfect game going into the top of the seventh inning, but an error by the right fielder allowed freshman Jessica Bachkora on base, breaking up the perfect game. Senior Rachel LeMaster followed with a single, putting an end to Abbott’s no hitter. Abbott did record her 16th shutout of the season, with 14 K’s, and her 26th win. The Lady Vols improved to 33-2 overall and 11-2 in the SEC with the victory, while the Lady Razorbacks fell to 12-28 and 0-8 in conference play. Tennessee took the early 2-0 lead in the first inning after India Chiles led off the game with a single to left center and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nicole Kajitani. On two outs Tonya Callahan singled through the left side scoring Chiles from third. Callahan also scored on an Arkansas error. The Lady Vols added two more runs in the third behind back-to-back singles by Kajitani and Lindsay Schutzler and back-to-back errors by Arkansas. In the fourth inning, a lead-off single by Liane Horiuchi would end up in another run and a 5-0 lead for Tennessee. Horiuchi singled and advanced to second on an Arkansas error. She was then scored on an RBI single up the middle by Chiles. Only three of the five runs the Lady Vols scored were earned as Arkansas committed five errors on the day, tying their season-high count. Junior Katy Henry pitched a complete game for the Lady’Backs giving up five runs on nine hits and striking out four. The Lady’Backs fell to No. 1 Tennessee yesterday in the first to games of the series, 4-0 and 1-0. Arkansas returns to Lady’Back Yard Tuesday for an SEC doubleheader against Auburn. The games begin at 4 p.m. Tickets for Tuesday’s doubleheader are still available. Fans can get tickets at the door the day of the game or on-line at LADYBACKS.COM. For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.
