Lady'Backs Successful in Fall Run
FAYETTEVILLE-The University of Arkansas softball team concluded the fall season, Sunday, Oct. 2, at Lady’Back Yard when the Lady Razorbacks defeated Eastern Oklahoma State College 2-0, Northeastern State 5-1and Connors State 11-3 in six innings.
Arkansas softball head coach Jamie Pinkerton said he was delighted with the outcome of the fall season as the Lady’Backs finished 11-0.
“Overall, we got accomplished what I anticipated us getting accomplished in the fall,” he said. “I think after this weekend we answered a lot of questions about how the pieces will fit together.”
Freshman infielder Kayla Johnson gave Arkansas a 1-0 advantage after her solo home run. Johnson’s leftfield drive was her first of the fall and the second team home run.
The Lady’Backs added an insurance run in the fifth inning when sophomore infielder Dayna Huckabee scored on a passed ball. Huckabee began the Arkansas rally with a double. The Lady’Backs benefited from three walks in the inning.
Sophomore pitcher Katy Henry controlled Eastern with 10 strikeouts in a complete game. In three starts, Henry was 3-0 without giving up a run. She also pitched in relief against NSU and Connors State.
Pinkerton said he was happy with the performance in the circle while the Lady’Back offense found a way to score despite being held to three hits.
“I was real impressed with Katy (Henry),” Pinkerton said. “She pitched even better than she did Saturday. Offensively, I thought we made good contact with the ball. I was real pleased with Kayla (Johnson) and we saw flashes of what she should do in the spring.”
Down 1-0 to NSU in the third inning, Arkansas answered with two runs on two hits. Freshman outfielder Brandy Foust began the rally with a walk while senior outfielder Blaire Perry followed with a single. Junior infielder Kallie Foglesong then cleared the bases with a double to give the Lady’Backs a 2-1 lead.
Arkansas scored again in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 advantage with one run on two hits. Senior outfielder Mindy O’Malley recorded a two-out single that scored Huckabee, who leadoff with a single.
The Lady’Back offense continued with two runs in the fifth inning. O’Malley, Foglesong and Easley each contributed two hits.
In the final game, Arkansas took a 4-0 lead on three hits in the second inning. Senior infielder Barbara-Jean Southmayd, freshman outfielder Jocelyne Moncrief and junior outfielder Rachel LeMaster highlighted the inning with singles.
After Connors State narrowed the gap to 4-3, Arkansas answered in the fourth inning with three runs on five hits including a triple by O’Malley.
With two runs in the fifth inning, Southmayd secured the run-rule in the sixth inning with a two-run home run over the leftfield wall.
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