No. 24 Razorbacks Face Road Test in Starkville
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Down to three weekends remaining in the regular season, the No. 24 University of Arkansas softball hits the road for a series at Mississippi State. Play begins Saturday at 7 p.m. (UPDATED START TIME) at Nusz Park in Starkville, Miss. All three games of the weekend set will be televised on the SEC Network with additional coverage streamed online through the WatchESPN app. Mark Neely and Jenny Dalton-Hill will handle the play-by-play and color commentary duties, respectively.
#24 Arkansas (27-16, 5-13 SEC) at RV Mississippi State (32-14, 6-9 SEC)
Nusz Park (Starkville, Miss.)
Game 1 – Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. – SEC Network | Live Stats
Game 2 – Sunday, April 23 at 6 p.m. – SEC Network | Live Stats
Game 3 – Monday, April 24 at 6 p.m. – SEC Network | Live Stats
Last Time Out
Tied with ULM through three innings, Arkansas scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to pull away for the 9-3 midweek win. Tori Cooper and Madison Yannetti each homered—pushing the team’s season total to 44—and freshman Autumn Storms picked up her 13th win in the circle. With the victory, the Razorbacks notched their 27th win which marks a 10-win improvement from last season.
Production From 7-8-9
Occupying the bottom third of the order against ULM, Shelby Hiers, Madison Yannetti and Parker Pocklington combined for three hits, five RBI and five runs scored in the 9-3 triumph. Pocklington was making her third start at the designated player spot and responded with a two-run single in the decisive fourth-inning surge. Over the last eight games, Yannettii is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with two home runs, five RBI and four runs scored.
Series vs Mississippi State
Arkansas and Mississippi State have played 61 times prior to this weekend’s series. Ten of the Razorbacks’ 25 wins against MSU have come in games played in Starkville. Mississippi State is one of four SEC opponents the program has played 60 or more times, along with Alabama, Auburn and LSU. Mississippi State leads the series, 36-25, and has won the last five.
RPI Check
Behind two top-30 wins last week (Tulsa and Texas A&M), the Razorbacks moved up to a season-high 24th in the April 17 release of the NCAA Softball RPI. All 13 SEC teams are ranked inside the top 40 including Mississippi State at 34.
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