Hogs battle past LMU in extra innings
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Arkansas Razorbacks closed out the USF Under Armour Invitational with a 5-2 win over Loyola Marymount in extra innings on Sunday morning, bringing their record to 9-11 on the season.
The Razorbacks did not waste any time in the opening inning when freshman Chloe Oprzedek and sophomore Stephanie Brewer each singled. Sophomore Courtney Breault got a short hit up to the pitcher to bring around Oprzedek and give the Hogs a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Oprzedek came around for another base hit to left field and was brought around by a single RBI by freshman Jennifer Rambo to plate the second run of the game. The RBI tallies seven on the season for Rambo.
The scoreboard remained silent the next three innings for the Razorbacks with three hits, including a double from Oprzedek. The freshman was 3-for-four on the day with two singles, a double and two runs.
It took until the bottom of the seventh for the Lions to answer with two runs of their own. A double to the fence at center brought in the runners sitting at second and third to tie up the game at two.
"Kim Jones threw really well. She pitched extremely well against a good hitting team and really just kept getting better as the game went on," Head coach Mike Larabee said. "I saw a spark today and I think that was in everybody and I think it’s going to carry over into next week against Missouri and Auburn."
Jones worked six innings in the circle for Arkansas with two strikeouts and allowing just two earned runs. After six, sophomore Hope McLemore took to the circle and picked up her third win of the season by allowing just one hit and no runs.
Senior Becca Carden was quick to answer back in the top of the eighth with a home run over the left field fence to bring in Jennifer Rambo who was on second due to the international tie breaker ruling.
"Chloe had a great day and I think Jenn Rambo did really well also. Becca Carden came up with the big hit for us in extra innings and it was a game changer," Larabee said.
Arkansas heads into its first mid-week game of the season when the Razorbacks travel to Missouri to face the Tigers on Wednesday March 10, in Columbia, Mo.
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