Missed Opportunities in Season-Opening Loss at Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – Nicole Schroeder collected two hits and Loren Krzysko had an RBI in the Razorbacks’ 4-1 loss Thursday night at Texas. The game was the season opener for both teams competing at the Texas Classic at McCombs Field in Austin. Arkansas returns to the field Friday to face North Dakota State on day two of the Texas Classic. The game starts at 12 p.m. (CT) and will be aired on the Longhorn Network.

Arkansas had several chances in the program’s first game under head coach Courtney Deifel. The Razorbacks got their lead runner on base in five of seven innings but left nine runners on base including seven in scoring position.

Down to its final three outs of the game and down by three, Arkansas (0-1) got a leadoff walk from pinch hitter Carley Haizlip to start a would-be rally in the seventh. Stephanie Canfield followed with a liner to center field to give the Razorbacks two on with nobody out. The Longhorns’ defense responded with a force out at third and strikeout before getting the final out with a fly ball in foul territory.

Texas (1-0) had two on with no outs for the first threat in the game for either team after two bouncing singles through the infield in the bottom of the second inning. Moll responded by inducing three ground balls including the final out handled by Parker Pocklington at second base.

The Razorback put together a threat of their own in the next half inning. Lauren Archuleta led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Canfield. With two down, Autumn Russell registered Arkansas’ first hit of the season with an infield single to shortstop. She followed with a stolen base to put two in scoring position but Texas starter Tiarra Davis got a ground ball to first to get out of the inning.

Arkansas had another opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Schroeder led things off with a base hit down the line and moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Diaz. A one-out single to right field by Krzysko gave the Razorbacks runners on the corners but Davis got out of trouble with a ground ball and strikeout to keep the game scoreless.

The Longhorns broke the tie with a run in the bottom half of the same inning with an RBI single by Stephanie Ceo. Facing a spot with two on and one out, Moll recovered to limit the damage to that lone run in the fourth. Texas picked up three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, capping scoring spurt with another RBI hit by Ceo. Moll took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in 5.1 innings of work.

Trailing by one in the sixth, Krzysko picked up the team’s first RBI of the year with a fielder’s choice that plated Shelby Hiers from third on the play. Hiers was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and stood on third after a wild pitch and base hit off the bat of Nicole Schroeder, her second of the game. Krzysko followed with the one-out grounder to first to bring Hiers home.

Following the season-opening Texas Classic, the Razorbacks play in the first weekend of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (Feb. 19-21) in Palm Springs, Calif. Arkansas’ home opener is Feb. 27-28 when it hosts Drake and UMKC for the Razorback Invitational at Bogle Park.

Season tickets are now on sale for $45 through the Razorback Ticket Center. For more information about purchasing season tickets, call 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151, email raztk@uark.edu or visit the Razorback Ticket Center located next to Baum Stadium. For more information about Arkansas softball, follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter.

For more information about Arkansas softball, follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter.