Cooper Stays Hot in Series Finale vs. No. 12 LSU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sophomore Tori Cooper tallied two hits and extended her on-base streak to 10 straight but the University of Arkansas softball team dropped a 9-1 decision to No. 12/14 LSU in six innings Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park. Cooper also scored a run while Loren Krzysko and Autumn Russell each tallied hits to continue their recent hot streaks at the plate. Prior to the game, the Razorbacks honored Claire Clark as part of Senior Day.

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Cooper finished the game 2-for-3 with a bunt single and a double, good for her sixth multi-hit performance of the year, and second in the past five games. She now has a hit in eight of the past 10 games including five in a row. Cooper is the fifth Razorback this season with an on-base streak of 10 or more games, joining Stephanie Canfield, Ashley Diaz, Shelby Hiers and Nicole Schroeder.

LSU (40-13, 13-11 SEC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings behind the bat of Sahvanna Jaquish who drove in all three runs with a two-run single in the first and an RBI double in the third. Arkansas (17-36, 1-20 SEC) kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth with starter Grace Moll retiring nine of 10 including seven in a row entering the sixth frame.

The Razorbacks got on the board in the fourth inning which Cooper got going with a one-out double to left center, her sixth two-base hit of the season. She advanced to third on an infield single up the middle by Krzysko who now has a hit in seven of Arkansas’ past nine games. On an errant throw to first trying to catch Krzysko leaning, Cooper was able to race home to score her 12th run of the year.

Holding on to a two-run advantage, the visitors broke it open with a six-run sixth inning highlighted by a three-run home run by Bianka Bell. In extending their lead, the Tigers sent 12 hitters to the plate in the process of pushing their lead to eight and putting a run-rule victory in place. In the home half of the inning, Arkansas was retired in order to end the game.

With their home schedule in the books, the Razorbacks next travel to Gainesville, Fla., to close out the 2016 regular season against the top-ranked Gators. The three-game set begins Friday at Pressly Stadium with first pitch at 5 p.m. (CT). All three games will be streamed on SEC Network+ with additional television appearances as part of Sunday’s SEC Network Bases Loaded coverage.

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