Lady'Backs Finish Day Two with Another Split

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.,-The University of Arkansas split two games on the second day of the Mustang Roundup. The Lady Razorbacks defeated Colorado State 2-1 and lost to tournament host, Cal Poly 8-0.

In first game, the Lady’Backs defeated Colorado State behind junior pitcher Valanna Lyons. Lyons recorded her first win of the season as threw a complete game with five strikeouts.

Head coach Jamie Pinkerton said he was pleased with the complete game that the Lady’Backs played against Colorado State.

“I was real proud of the way they came out with our offense, defense and pitching,” Pinkerton said. “Speed was key. We were aggressive on the base paths.”

Offensively, junior center fielder Mindy O’Malley and freshman first baseman Samantha Buckner both led the Lady’Backs with two hits.

Arkansas scored first in the bottom of the first inning when Buckner singled to leftfield scoring O’Malley.

The Lady’Backs went up 2-0 in the second inning as sophomore right fielder Rachel LeMaster opened the inning with a walk. After LeMaster stole base second and advanced to third on a groundout, freshman left fielder Heather Rankin hit a deep fly ball to right field that scored LeMaster.

Colorado State answered with one run in the top of the third inning but could not rally a comeback.

In the second game, Cal Poly was too much for the Lady’Backs as freshman Katy Henry took the loss in her first career start.

Arkansas gave up thirteen hits in its second loss of the season (2-2). Senior third baseman Ashley Carter and junior designed hitter Barbara-Jean Southmayd led the Lady’Backs with a hit a piece.

Pinkerton said Arkansas’ youth played a factor in the Lady’Backs fourth game of the year.

“The difference in this game was we didn’t make the adjustments and it showed,” Pinkerton said. “Katy was a little nervous as a freshman should be. I think our freshmen grew up.”

Cal Poly scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning on one hit and one error. After Arkansas fell behind 3-0 in the third inning and sophomore pitcher Sarah Topham replaced Henry.

The Mustangs continued to pull away from the Lady’Backs as Cal Poly scored three runs in the fifth inning and two runs in the sixth to run rule the Lady’Backs.

Arkansas returns to the field for its final game of the tournament, Sunday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m., when the Lady’Backs face Colorado State for a second time.

For more information on Arkansas softball, log on to www.ladybacks.com.