@RazorbackSB Sweeps Saturday's Doubleheader in Lousiana
HAMMOND, La. – The University of Arkansas softball team won a pair of games Saturday at the Lion Classic Scramble in Hammond, La., to extend its winning streak to eight games. Playing at North Oak Park, the Razorbacks took down Saint Louis in the first game, 6-3, and rallied in the seventh inning to upend host Southeastern Louisiana, 6-5, in the second game. Overall, Arkansas’ record stands at 11-7.
The Razorbacks conclude play from the Lion Classic Sunday morning at 9 a.m., facing Southeast Missouri State.
Game 1: Arkansas 6, Saint Louis 3
Behind the bat of senior Devon Wallace, the Razorbacks defeated the Billikens for the second time in as many days, winning 6-3. Wallace accounted for all six of Arkansas’ RBIs. Saint Louis, designated the home team, struck first on a solo home run to right by Mackenzie Peter in the bottom of the first. Arkansas countered in the top of the second, plating two. Jessica Harrison walked and Nicole Schroeder reached via a fielder’s choice. After a sacrifice bunt from Sydney Wright, Wallace smacked a double off the left field wall to bring the two runners home. Saint Louis tied up the score in the bottom of the third, behind a leadoff double and a pair of sacrifice hits. The Billikens would take a one-run lead in the fifth as Alex Nickel homered to left. Again, Arkansas was able to answer, scoring four in the sixth to take the lead for good. Consecutive walks by Harrison, Schroeder and Sierra Bronkey loaded the bases as Wallace stepped to the plate with one out. On a 2-1 count, Wallace went opposite field for a grand slam, giving Arkansas a 6-3 advantage. It was Wallace’s first homer of the season. Allison Stewart earned her third win of the season, pitching two innings in relief of Sydney Wright who pitched the game’s first three innings. Haley Meinen took over in the sixth and shut the door, earning her first save of the season.
Game 2: Arkansas 6, Southeastern Louisiana 5
Trailing by as many as three runs in the fifth, Arkansas rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to knock off the tournament host. The Razorbacks earned the game’s first two runs in the third inning. Parker Pocklington and Autumn Russell both reached with one out and Kasey Fagan’s sacrifice fly to right scored Pocklington, while a double to the wall in left center from Stephanie Canfield brought Russell home. Southeastern Louisiana responded with four runs in the bottom half of the fourth. Aided by a leadoff double and a walk, the Lions strung together three consecutive singles with one out to score their runs and grab a 4-2 lead. SELA would tack on another run in the fifth on a solo shot to center from Amber Sather. Shelby Hiers answered for Arkansas in the top of the sixth, bulleting the fourth pitch of the inning over the left field fence and cutting the lead to 5-3. Hiers’ solo blast was her second of the tournament and her third home run of the season. Allison Stewart held the deficit to two runs as she struck out two and left two stranded in SELA’s sixth inning at bat. Leading off the seventh, Russell hit a sharp liner to right for a base hit. Devon Wallace walked in the next plate appearance for the Razorbacks, bringing up Fagan. On the first pitch of the at bat, Fagan stroked a double to right center scoring both Russell and Wallace to tie the game. Canfield singled in the Razorbacks’ next plate appearance, setting up runners at the corners. With one out, Rachel Box laced a single to center, driving in the go-ahead run. In the home half of the seventh, Sydney Wright entered in a save situation. She allowed a leadoff single but nothing else, setting the next three Lions down in order to preserve Arkansas’ 11th win of the season. Stewart collected her fourth win of the season, pitching 2.2 innings in relief of Grace Moll who pitched 3.1 innings to open the game.
