Lady'Backs fall to No. 15 Georgia

ATHENS, GA. – The University of Arkansas softball team dropped a doubleheader to No. 15 Georgia at the UGA Softball Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Razorbacks (23-16, 2-10 SEC) lost the opener to the Bulldogs (33-8, 6-3 SEC) in a close contest, 3-1 and fell in the second game in five innings, 13-1.

Sophomore Jessica Bachkora led the Lady’Backs going 4-for-6 with one run and one RBI.

“Game one I think we were solid,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “Katy pitched a good game and we played well defensively. We made good contact, but we just didn’t come through in key situations.”

Georgia got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning as Megan Wiggins led off with a solo home run to center field.

With one out in the top of the third, Bachkora was hit by the pitch putting the second base runner on for the Lady’Backs. Junior Kayla Johnson then reached on an error moving Bachkora to second. Sophomore Miranda Dixon hit an infield ground ball and Johnson was thrown out at second on the play. An overthrow to first by the Bulldogs attempting to get Dixon out for a double play allowed Bachkora to score and make the score 1-1.

Arkansas loaded the bases with one out after three straight singles in the top of the fifth, but two quick fly outs ended the inning with three stranded.

In the bottom of the fifth, a walk, a single and an infield error loaded the bases for the Bulldogs with one out. Sojourner Moody singled up the middle plating one run and a sacrifice fly by Alisa Goler to left field scored a second to put Georgia up 3-1.

Katy Henry fell to 12-7 in the circle while Sarah McCloud improved to 11-2. Henry held the Bulldogs to three runs on six hits.

In the second game Georgia jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first behind four hits, two walks and an Arkansas error. The Bulldogs added two in the second to take an 8-0 lead.

Sophomore Teighynne Hulsey led off the top of the third with a single and junior Jocelyne Moncrief followed with a walk putting two runners on with no outs. Bachkora doubled to center and plated Hulsey from second making the score 8-1.

Five runs by Georgia in the bottom of the third put the Bulldogs up 13-1.

McCloud got her second win of the day on the mound, while sophomore Miranda Dixon earned the loss for the Lady’Backs.

“We didn’t get off on the right foot and it was really disappointing to play well in the first game and then come back with a lackluster performance in game two,” said Pinkerton. “Tomorrow we have to salvage a game. We’re in a position now where we have to take at least one game on the road.”

The Lady’Backs face Georgia in the final game of the series tomorrow at 11 a.m.

For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.