Lady'Back softball shuts out No. 23 Florida

GAINESVILLE, FLA. – University of Arkansas junior pitcher Katy Henry and the Lady Razorback softball team shut out No. 23 Florida in a 1-0 victory Saturday at the Florida Softball Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Henry pitched a three-hit, complete-game shutout earning her eleventh win of the season. The Arkansas defense was errorless through the series, and the Lady’Backs came up with a timely hit to take the third game of the series. “Katy came out and kept us in the ball game,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “Just like the Kansas game, she was masterful. What I really like about it was that she didn’t have a high strikeout game today and she pitched. She did a good job of mixing pitches and working ahead in the count.” The Lady’Backs picked up their fourth Southeastern Conference win with the shutout, improving to 17-33, while the Gators dropped to 32-17 and 8-9 in the SEC. “This win keeps us in the hunt, but we have to find some way to steal a series on the road,” said Pinkerton. Saturday’s game was scoreless through five innings as Henry and Gator pitcher, Stacey Nelson, battled it out on the mound. In the top of the sixth, Nelson gave up her only walk of the series to lead-off pinch hitter Teighynne Hulsey. Hulsey was replaced on the base path by sophomore Hillary Freeman. Freeman advanced to second on a ground out to Nelson by freshman Jessica Bachkora. Sophomore Whitney Cloer then stepped to the plate, hitting an RBI single to center that scored Freeman on a head-first slide into home, and put the Lady’Backs up 1-0. The Gators’ offense fired up in the bottom of the inning as Kristina Hilberth picked up her first hit of the day, leading off with a single up the middle. Kim Waleszonia then came to the plate; ripping a line drive to the right side that sophomore Kayla Johnson snagged and fired over to Buckner at first, getting Hilberth out on the double play. The next at bat Lauren Roussell bounced a ball to the left field fence for a stand-up double before LeMaster caught a long fly ball at the warning track, hit by Fracesca Enea. “I was really please with our defense in the series and Cloer came through with the big hit when we needed it,” Pinkerton said. “This was a big win for us.” Cloer was 1-for-2 with the lone RBI of the game. Junior Dayna Huckabee and sophomore Kayla Johnson had the other two hits for the Lady’Backs. Nelson got the loss in the circle for the Gators, allowing one run on three hits, striking out four and walking just one batter. The Lady’Backs return to action next weekend, traveling to Ole Miss for another SEC series. For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.