Razorbacks fall short in Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Razorbacks softball team fell 11-1 to the No.6/5 Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Friday evening at the Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Razorbacks took a slow start in the Friday night game in Tennessee. Two hits on the day brought in one run for the Hogs with the lone first run of the game in the fourth inning.

It was the Lady Vols to plate the first run of the game with a single RBI in the bottom of the third. The Razorbacks answered back with a run of their own in the top of the fourth to tie the game at one apiece. A single through the left line by freshman catcher Jayme Gee scored senior Becca Carden who picked up her 10th stolen bag of the season.

"It is disappointing because we stayed in the game for first few innings," head coach Mike Larabee. "Tennessee’s pitching just overpowered us. She’s (Ivy Renfroe) a good pitcher, but that’s the kind of game where if our defense and pitching stayed solid, we could have stayed in it. There was an inning or two where the wheels fell off."

Three runs scores for the Lady Vols in the fourth and the fifth to bring the score to 7-1. Freshman Chloe Oprzedek came up with a double play in the fifth with the help of sophomore Stephanie Brewer. Oprzedek caught a line drive and got the runner out at second to close out the fifth inning.

A three-run home run by the Lady Vols sealed the win for sixth-ranked Tennessee and wrapped the game with a final score of 11-1.

"If we come back tomorrow and don’t let this affect us, we can compete with them," Larabee said.

Arkansas continues at Lee Stadium on Saturday, April 30, for game two of the weekend series. The first pitch is set for 12 p.m.

Download: AR0429.pdf