Lady'Backs Tame Tigers Earn First Conference Win

BATON ROUGE, La.- The University of Arkansas softball team (14-29, 1-15) recorded its first Southeastern Conference victory of the season Wednesday, April 6, as the Lady Razorbacks defeated Louisiana State (19-14, 3-11) 5-3 at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La. The Lady’ Backs fell in the second game 8-3.

Arkansas head coach Jamie Pinkerton said he was happy with his team’s performance in the first game of the doubleheader.

“We utilized our speed in key situations,” Pinkerton said. “I was really pleased with how we hit the ball. In the first game, we had all three facets of the game working. We had good defense, Katy (Henry) pitched well and we hit the ball.”

The Tigers came out swinging in the first game as junior center fielder Camille Harris hit a leadoff home run over the left center field wall to give LSU a 1-0 lead.

After giving up the home run, starting pitcher freshman Katy Henry (6-10) retired the next eight Tiger batters before Harris hit a single to center field in the third inning.

The Tigers added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning to lead 2-0 on a freshman second baseman Vanessa Soto left center field triple that scored freshman pinch runner Dee Dee Henderson from second.

The Lady’Backs sparked their offense in the top of the fifth inning scoring three runs to take a 3-2 lead on three hits. Freshman shortstop Dayna Huckabee started the Arkansas charge as she leadoff the inning as she was hit by a pitch. Freshman first baseman Samantha Buckner followed with a single to left field. Senior left fielder Zenobia Davison loaded the bases for the Lady’Backs with an infield single.

Sophomore right fielder Rachel LeMaster recorded an RBI after reaching on a LSU error. Junior center fielder Mindy O’Malley then hit a two-RBI single up the middle.

LeMaster was the final score of the inning for Arkansas as sophomore second baseman Kallie Foglesong hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

LSU answered the Lady’Back charge with one run on one hit to cut into Arkansas 4-3 lead. Henry was solid in the circle as the Tigers stranded two base runners.

Davison gave Arkansas an insurance run in the seventh inning as she scored, after two stolen bases, on LeMaster’s right field single.

The Lady’Backs started the second game taking a 1-0 lead on two hits. LeMaster and junior catcher Shana Easley singled.

In the bottom of the first inning, LSU took advantage of Lady’Back errors as the Tigers scored three runs on one hit and three errors to lead 3-1.

LSU added three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning to lead 6-1. Junior starting pitcher Valanna Lyons (6-14) was replaced in the second inning by freshman pitcher Kelly Ninemire.

The Lady’Backs added one run in the top of the fifth inning with one hit and Arkansas used two LSU errors to cut into the Tigers 8-2 lead.

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