Razorbacks split on Day Two
FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas softball team split a pair of games Saturday night in the Razorback Invitational at Bogle Park.
A complete game shutout by freshman pitcher Hope McLemore led Arkansas to a 4-0 victory over Drake while the offense struggled with timely hitting in a 2-1 loss to Iowa State in the first game of the doubleheader.
Against Drake, Arkansas (10-8) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by senior Sandra Smith. Center fielder Jessica Bachkora scored after leading off the game with a double.
The Razorbacks tallied a run in the second to make the score 2-0. Bachkora hammered her second of the double of the game to center field, sending home pinch runner Amanda Summerford.
Arkansas extended its advantage to 4-0 in the top of the fifth on back-to-back RBI singles by first baseman Stephanie Brewer and catcher Jessica Waddle.
Brewer drove in her second run of the game on a fielder’s choice in the sixth to extend the Razorbacks lead to 5-0. Brewer finished the game 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Bachkora, Smith and freshman second baseman Courtney Breault each recorded multi-hit games for Arkansas.
McLemore (5-3) earned her third shutout of the season, blanking the Bulldogs on six hits while walking two and striking out 10.
Drake starterJenna Delong (4-3) took the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. DeLong walked five and struck out four. Drake falls to 8-5 on the season and is 2-2 thus far in the tournament.
In the first game of the night, Iowa State (10-10) edged the Razorbacks despite Miranda Dixon’s sixth home run of the season which put Arkansas within a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Cyclones starting pitcher Rachel Zabriskie (10-5) limited the Arkansas offense to three hits while striking out 11. The junior retired the first nine batters she faced before allowing a hit to lead off the fourth.
Arkansas junior Layne McGuirt (3-2) took the loss despite allowing only one earned run on seven hits in seven innings. McGuirt did not walk a batter and struck out two.
Iowa State tallied the first run of the game in the top of the second. Designated player Erica Miller drove in first baseman Sydni Jones with a sacrifice bunt.
The Cyclones added another run in the top of the fifth to make the score 2-0. Left fielder Carleigh Berry reached on a single and scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
Arkansas wraps up the Razorback Invitational on Sunday with a 1 p.m. matchup against Southern Mississippi.
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