@RazorbackSB Drops Finale to Ole Miss, 4-2
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas softball team lost its third straight game of the weekend to visiting Ole Miss, falling by a final of 4-2 Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park. Ole Miss (21-13, 5-7 SEC) scored two runs in the top half of the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and finish off the weekend sweep of the Razorbacks (14-20, 0-9 SEC).
Arkansas is back in action Tuesday when it hits the road to play Tulsa before returning home April 4-6 to face Mississippi State. Tuesday’s game at Tulsa will be televised on CST at 5 p.m. CT.
Ole Miss took the early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Starter Grace Moll didn’t give up any hits in the inning as a passed ball and an RBI groundout scored the two runs.
The Razorbacks answered the bell in the bottom half of the second, scoring two and tying the game. Loren Krzysko led off with a walk and Madison Yannetti reached on an error before Claire Clark drove a pitch right back up the middle to bring in one run and Tori Cooper followed with an RBI ground out to second. The Razorbacks nearly added another run in the second but Devon Wallace’s deep fly ball to center was caught at the wall.
Haley Meinen entered in relief of Moll in the second inning, and would go on to pitch the game’s final 5.2 innings. Meinen (1-2) ended up taking the loss, giving up just five hits and two runs.
Neither team was able to get their bats going in the third through fifth innings. Ole Miss was held hitless in that stretch while Arkansas only mustered two hits in the span.
Ole Miss threatened in the sixth, loading up the bases with one out on three consecutive singles. Meinen was up to the task, however, forcing consecutive flyouts to left to get out of the inning unscathed.
In the seventh, Ole Miss was able to break the 2-2 tie and push two runners home to take a 4-2 lead. A throwing error by the catcher contributed to one run scoring and a sacrifice fly brought in the second.
Arkansas surrendered four runs on the afternoon, but all four were unearned.
Looking for a rally in the home half of the seventh, Cooper started off the inning doubling down the left field line. Arkansas’ next three batters would all put the ball in play but were hit right to a Rebel defender and ended the Razorbacks’ rally.
Ole Miss Series Notes:
• Cooper finished the three-game series batting .333 and leading the team in hits (3) while also driving in a pair of runs.
• Nicole Schroeder, appearing in all three games and starting two, hit .400 to go along with a .600 slugging percentage.
• Kasey Fagan, making her return to the lineup after missing the previous eight games, started at shortstop in all three contests and recorded a pair of base hits in the series.
