Huckabee Records Three Hits Lady'Backs Fall

FAYETTEVILLE – Sophomore infielder Dayna Huckabee paced the University of Arkansas softball team with three hits in a doubleheader with No. 23 Oklahoma, May 1. The Lady Razorbacks (26-31) fell to the Sooners (34-18-1), 5-4 and 5-0.

In game one, the Lady’Backs jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning when senior outfielder Mindy O’Malley scored on junior designated player Meagan Harney’s single. Arkansas loaded the bases with an O’Malley double and a pair of walks.

Freshman catcher Whitney Cloer gave the Lady’Backs a 2-0 lead when she leadoff the second inning with a solo home run, which was her third of the season.

Oklahoma cut into the Lady’Backs lead, 2-1, with two hits in the fourth inning. The Sooners then scored three runs on five hits in the fifth inning to take a 4-2 advantage.

Arkansas softball head coach Jamie Pinkerton said the team had a challenge with the Sooners, who he considers one of the best offensive teams in the country.

“They are on a little bit of a hot streak,” he said. “Oklahoma is Oklahoma they are going to hit the ball and score runs. In the first game, we did a good job, set the tone and got out to a lead and we couldn’t sustain that.”

The Lady’Backs answered in the sixth inning when they tied the game, 4-4, with two runs on two hits. Cloer and Huckabee tallied RBIs on a sacrifice fly and single, respectively.

In the top of the seventh, the Sooners took a 5-4 lead when freshman designated player Samantha Ricketts hit a solo home run.

Sophomore Katy Henry started the game but junior Kayce Odle replaced her in the fifth inning. Odle (4-7) took the loss while only giving up two hits in two and one-third innings of work. At the plate, Huckabee led the team with a 2-for-3 performance.

In the second game, Oklahoma went ahead, 2-0, in the second inning on sophomore infielder Savannah Long’s two-run home run.

In the circle, Odle (4-8) started the game and threw three innings before Henry relieved her in the fourth inning. Offensively, Arkansas scattered three hits and freshman infielder Kayla Johnson led the way with a 1-for-2 performance.

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