Lady'Backs Split Border War

FAYETTEVILLE-The University of Arkansas softball team (13-26) split in the 2005 edition of the Border War as the Lady Razorbacks defeated Tulsa (19-21) 7-2 but fell to Oklahoma State (26-10) 4-3.

In the Lady’Backs second game, Arkansas came out strong as it took a 1-0 lead against Tulsa on three hits in the bottom of the first inning.

The Arkansas bats opened up the game with a six-run second inning on six hits to lead the Golden Hurricane 7-0. Freshman shortstop Dayna Huckabee capped off the Lady’Back rally with a double to left center field.

Arkansas softball head coach Jamie Pinkerton said he was proud of his team for the way they rebounded after a one run loss to Oklahoma State.

“We sent the tone,” Pinkerton said. “I felt we had to do that. For the first or second time this year, I thought the offense was clicking.”

Freshman pitcher Katy Henry threw a no-hitter through three and two-thirds innings. Henry had four strikeouts while giving up two runs on five hits.

Tulsa didn’t allow Henry to collect a shutout as junior first baseman Katie Torres hit a two-run home run to cut into the Lady’Backs lead 7-2.

Sophomore pitcher Sarah Topham made her first appearance in the circle for the Lady’Backs since Feb. 13, as she closed the game in the seventh inning.

In the first game of Border War for the Lady’Backs, Arkansas led Oklahoma State until the seventh inning when the Cowgirls took their first lead of the game.

Pinkerton said the Oklahoma State game slipped through the Lady’Backs fingers as Arkansas had a 3-0 lead going into the sixth inning.

“I thought Valanna (Lyons) had a good game and we put the ball in play,” Pinkerton said. “I thought we got better in that game. It’s a game that got away.”

The Lady’Backs scored first with two runs on two Oklahoma Sate errors in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead.

Freshman shortstop Dayna Huckabee started the inning as she reached after she took a pitch to the thigh. Freshman first baseman Samantha Buckner hit a ball to right field that was dropped to give Arkansas two base runners.

With runners on in scoring position, sophomore right fielder Rachel LeMaster took first base after an Oklahoma State error. The play allowed both Huckabee and Buckner to score.

Arkansas added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning on two hits to lead 3-0. Sophomore second baseman Kallie Foglesong hit a RBI-single to right center field to score LeMaster. LeMaster recorded the Lady’Backs first hit of the game.

Lyons (6-12) had a shutout until the sixth inning when the Cowgirls stormed back with three runs on four hits to tie the game at 3-3.

Oklahoma State took a 4-3 lead when senior shortstop Stephanie Nicholson hit a solo home run over the right field wall in the top of the seventh inning.

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