Hogs drop pair at Strikeout Cancer Tournament
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Razorback softball team totaled just two runs on day one of the FAU/FIU Strikeout Cancer Tournament in losses to event co-hosts FIU and Florida Atlantic. In the opener, Arkansas (6-5) gave up a season-high run total in a 10-1 loss to FIU in six innings. The Razorbacks ended the day’s action with a 2-1 loss against Florida Atlantic.“In the first game, we struggled with all three facets of the game,” head coaching Jamie Pinkerton said. “When you struggle with those three areas like we did today, this kind of game (10-1 loss to FIU) will happen.”In game one, FIU came out swinging and put two runs on the scoreboard in the first. Desiree Fink singled to start the game for the Panther. Back-to-back doubles by Kim Rodriguez and Jessica Landau pushed two runs across the plate for FIU and the early 2-0 lead.The Razorbacks got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first when Jessica Bachkora came around to score on a single by Miranda Dixon. Bachkora started the inning with a bunt single and stole second to get into scoring position. Dixon knocked a single back up the middle for the RBI.FIU tacked on two more runs its next time up. With runners on second and third, Katie Bell singled to right field. Both runs scored to give the Panthers the 4-1 advantage.Arkansas struggled all game keeping the Panthers of the bases, allowing at least two base runners in each inning. FIU put up identical three spots in the fifth and sixth innings to push its lead to nine, 10-1.In the fifth, Ashley McClain reached on a fielder’s choice and Rojas was safe at first after an error. With two outs, Iriseldis Soberon lifted a ball to center field but Bachkora couldn’t make the play allowing McClain and Rojas to score for the Panthers. Fink laid down a bunt single that scored Soberon, who had advanced to third on the previous play.After a walk to Rodriguez to start the sixth inning, Teighynne Hulsey came on in relief of Dixon. With runners on first and second, Jenny Welch doubled down the left field line to score Rodriguez. A wild pitch by Hulsey allowed Landau to score from third. Later in the inning, Lauren Spiers singled through the left side to plate Welch. Soberon grounded out to Brittany Griffiths at shortstop to end the sixth.After giving up a run and two hits in the first, FIU starter Kasey Barrett gave up just one more hit and finished the game with nine strikeouts. The Razorbacks had just six base runners during the game, two of those coming in the first.
The Razorbacks gave up a run in each of the first two innings against Florida Atlantic, but an RBI groudout by Griffiths scored Whitney Cloer in the top of the second to keep the score close. The Owls led, 2-1, after three innings of play.
“We got a good pitching performance from Kim Jones but failed to get the hitting going behind her,” Pinkerton said.
Arkansas threatened in the top of the fifth with Bachkora and Jocelyne Moncrief on second and third, respectively, but FAU starter Kat Stauffer got pinch hitter Jessica Robison to strike out to end the inning and preserve the Owls’ one-run advantage.FAU put a runner on second with one out in its half of the fifth, but Kim Jones got Caitlyn Bliss to line out to Tori Mort in left and Blair Bodenmiller to ground out to first base to end the inning without allowing the run to score and keeping the Razorbacks within one.Brittany Robison started the seventh with an infield single. Becca Carden came on to pinch run and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Stauffer. Leslie Dixon, on to pinch hit, moved the runner over to third with two outs, but Moncrief grounded out to first to end the game and give FAU the 2-1 victory.Arkansas returns to action for day two of the FAU/FIU Strikeout Cancer Tournament with games against No. 16/15 Missouri and Florida Atlantic. The first game is set for an 8 a.m. (CT) start with game two scheduled for a 5 p.m. start from the FAU Softball Stadium. Log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com for live stats and continued coverage.
Download: FIU 10, Arkansas 1.pdf
