Huckabee hits grand slam Arkansas goes 1-1

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas junior Dayna Huckabee hit a grand slam home run to lift the Lady Razorback softball team over Northern Iowa 9-1. The Lady’Backs dropped their second game of the day to Louisiana-Monroe 1-4. Huckabee’s grand slam came against Northern Iowa on two outs in the top of the sixth inning after freshman Jessica Bachkora singled through the 3-4 hole and senior Rachel LeMaster and sophomore Kayla Johnson drew walks to load the bases. The home run marks the second of the year for Huckabee. “Dayna’s home run put that game away,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “We also came out and hit the ball like we’re capable.” Arkansas jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in game one. On two outs in the top of the first inning sophomore Johnson reached first base on an error by the Panther shortstop. Huckabee then ripped a triple to right center scoring Johnson from first. The hit was Huckabee’s second triple of the year. The Lady’Backs kept the bats going in the second inning adding three more runs on three hits. Sophomore Whitney Cloer led off with a walk and stole second base. Then on two outs sophomore Jocelyne Moncrief drew another walk putting runners on first and second. Bachkora singled in the infield to load the bases before LeMaster hit an RBI single driving in Cloer. Another single through the left side by Johnson scored Moncrief from third and Bachkora from second for the 5-0 Arkansas lead. Northern Iowa got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning with a lead-off home run to right center by Stephanie Aguero. The Panthers then loaded the bases with no outs, but junior Katy Henry struck out two batters and Huckabee caught a pop up ending the inning with three Panthers left on base and a 5-1 Arkansas lead. Huckabee’s homer in the sixth inning put Arkansas up 9-1, good enough for a six-inning run rule victory. Henry got the win on the mound for Arkansas allowing one run on three hits and striking out 10. In game two it was Louisiana-Monroe who got out to the early 2-0 lead after three walks and two RBI singles in the second inning. In the bottom of the third inning freshman Jess Reed hit her first home run of the year, a lead-off home run to left field, to put the Lady’Backs within one run of the Warhawks, 2-1. Louisiana-Monroe padded its lead with two runs in the top of the seventh inning for the 4-1 advantage. Both runs were unearned as two Arkansas errors occurred in addition to three Warhawk hits. Freshman Teighynne Hulsey got her first collegiate start in the circle while sophomore Brandy Baze picked up her first hit of the year. Hulsey pitched five innings allowing two runs on four hits and striking out six before Henry was brought in from the bullpen. Henry pitched two innings giving up two unearned runs and three hits. Hulsey got the loss. “I thought Teighynne did a decent job,” said Pinkerton. “I have to commend her for coming back after the second inning and making adjustments to pitch well from there on out. Right now we need to have quality starts from Teighynne and Miranda.” The Holiday Inn Express-Arkansas Invitational continues tomorrow with action beginning at 11:30 a.m. This pushes back the original start time on account of the cold weather. Arkansas faces Northern Iowa at approximately 1:30 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe at 3:30 pm. For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.