@RazorbackSB, Wright Picks up Wins in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Arkansas softball team tallied a pair of wins Friday on day one of the Citrus Classic at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex. Sophomore Sydney Wright picked up both wins in the circle, including a four-hit shutout of Jacksonville State, 4-0. The Razorbacks opened the day with a 7-6 win over George Washington. With Friday’s results, Arkansas improves to 5-7 on the year.
The Razorbacks return to the field for two more games Saturday with matchups against Marist at 11:15 a.m. (CT) and Virginia at 2:30 p.m. Arkansas will be playing Marist for the first time in program history and facing Virginia for the first time since the 2007 season; the all-time series with the Cavs is tied at 2-2.
Game 1 | Arkansas 7, George Washington 6 | Box Score
With one down in the bottom of the seventh and Arkansas facing a two-run deficit, Kasey Fagan was intentionally walked to load the bases for Stephanie Canfield who responded with a single to right to plate the tying run in Parker Pocklington. The bases were still loaded for Tori Cooper who entered the game in the fourth inning as a pinch hitter. Cooper knocked the full-count offering up the middle for a base hit which scored Autumn Russell from third for the game-winning tally.
Arkansas led 4-0 after the first three innings, thanks in part to a three-run shot to left field off the bat of Kate James who was making her first start of the season. However, George Washington posted consecutive three-run innings in the fourth and fifth to lead 6-5. Wright entered the game and held the Colonials scoreless over the final 2.2 innings to keep Arkansas close. Fagan paced the offense with a 3-for-3 effort with two walks, an RBI and a run scored.
Game 2 | Arkansas 4, Jacksonville State 0 | Box Score
In their second game of the day, the Razorbacks jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly by Wright in the first inning. Arkansas added to its lead with a two-run single up the middle by Devon Wallace (3-for-4, three RBI) in the second frame. The offense was then held without a hit for the next four innings but the three-run lead was more than enough for Wright who tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native finished the game with five strikeouts and no walks. The four hits against Wright were all singles and only two JSU hitters advanced to second base during the game. Wallace added another RBI hit in the seventh to give Arkansas its final winning margin of four. Wright put the Gamecocks away in order in the bottom of the inning with two ground balls and a fly out to center.
#RazorFacts
• All-time series vs. George Washington: Lead 1-0 (first meeting)
• All-time series vs. Jacksonville State: Lead 6-1
• Tori Cooper’s RBI single vs. GW was first hit, RBI of her career
• Kasey Fagan came to the plate in the seventh vs. GW with a chance for a cycle
o Singled in the second, doubled in the fourth, tripled in the sixth
o Leads the team with five multi-hit games
• Fagan and Devon Wallace have reached base safely in seven-consecutive games
• Kate James’ home run vs. GW was the first by a Razorback this season not named Nicole Schroeder
o Schroeder had the team’s first four HRs
• Jessica Harrison drew a career-high four walks vs. GW
• Sydney Wright > two appearances, two wins
o Combined line: 9.2 innings, six hits (all singles), no runs, no walks, seven strikeouts
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