Razorbacks fall 8-0
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- The Arkansas Razorbacks battled tough in Knoxville as they took on the No. 6/5 Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Saturday afternoon with an8-0 loss in five innings at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The Razorbacks gave up seven runs to the Lady Vols in the first inning with back-to-back home runs in the middle of the lineup. SeniorLayne McGuirt got the start in the circle for Arkansas, and closed the inning with a strikeout and had two in her solo inning as Arkansas’ pitcher.
Senior center fielder Becca Carden hit a single through to left field in the top of the first to start the day for the Razorbacks in the top of the first, and sophomore Stephanie Brewer hit a single up the middle to reach base in Arkansas’ half of the third inning. Freshman slap hitter Ashley Martindale followed with a short single to third, but was quick enough to beat out the throw to first.
"I liked the way that Hope McLemore came out and finished the game for us today," head coach Mike Larabee said. "It’s tough when you give up seven runs in the first inning, but she worked hard for us and did a good job."
McLemore worked three complete innings for Arkansas with two strikeouts and allowed just one hit. The sophomore went two innings with only six batters faced and struck out two in the third inning for the Razorbacks.
A sacrifice fly brought in the eighth run of the day for Tennessee in the fourth after a double up the left line put Raven Chavanne in scoring position for the Lady Vols.
"Our defense was better today and I think we made better contact with the ball," Larabee said. "Tennessee’s pitcher (Ellen Renfroe) had just four strikeouts on us and we put the ball in play a lot more today. We need to have a short memory and come out ready to play tomorrow."
The Razorbacks close out Southeastern Conference play for the 2011 season on Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn. The first pitch is set for a noon start time. Sunday marks the SEC series finale for Arkansas with the final regular season game of the season set for Thursday, May 5, at Bogle Park against UMKC.
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