Season-High Offense in Home Win Over Drake
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind a season-high offensive output, the University of Arkansas softball team posted a 13-4 win over Drake Saturday in its second of two games Saturday at Bogle Park. The Razorbacks also tallied a season-high 14 hits with the help of six multi-hit performances against the Bulldogs. Arkansas (6-6) opened the day with a 9-4 loss to UMKC to finish its home opener with a split.
The Razorbacks close out their home-opening weekend Sunday with another pair of games against Drake at 12:30 p.m. (CT) and UMKC at 3 p.m. The Razorback Invitational marks the beginning of an 11-game home stand that also features next weekend’s Wooo Pig Classic and midweek games against Oklahoma State (March 2) and Missouri State (March 9).
Game 1: UMKC 9, Arkansas 4 | Box Score
Despite a 10-hit showing from its lineup, Arkansas dropped the day’s first game with various opportunities throughout the game against the Kangaroos. Trailing by two in the bottom of the third inning, the Razorbacks had the bases loaded with no outs but managed just one run on an RBI groundout by Claire Clark. UMKC kept Arkansas off the board while scoring seven more runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
Arkansas extended the game with a three-run frame in the home half of the sixth. Autumn Russell got the scoring started with an RBI grounder and Ashley Diaz continued her hot start to the season with a two-out, two-run single. From that point, however, the offense stalled and the Razorbacks took the loss. Diaz, Stephanie Canfield and Loren Krzysko each had two hits in the game.
Game 2: Arkansas 13, Drake 4 | Box Score
Arkansas’ offense exploded for a season-high 13 runs and 14 hits in route to securing a split on the opening day of play at Bogle Park. Each player in the starting lineup scored at least one run while eight of the nine registered at least one hit and run scored. With their outburst, the Razorbacks reached double figures for the fifth-consecutive game and have now scored 12 or more runs in three of their last five outings.
With its early lead cut to one, Arkansas scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning to pull away from the Bulldogs. Nicole Schroder and Shelby Hiers each had two-run hits in the frame to go along with an RBI infield single from Russell that brought Canfield in from third. Diaz added a two-run line shot, her fourth home of the season, over the fence in left field to push the offense to double digits.
After three more runs in the fourth, the Razorbacks were in position for the run-rule victory but faced a threat in the top of the fifth when Drake loaded the bases with no outs. Grace Moll, who started the inning in relief of Clark, got out of the jam by inducing a comebacker to get a force out at the plate. She then struck out the next two Bulldog hitters to clinch the win in front of a home-opening crowd of 961 fans.
Season tickets are now on sale for $45 through the Razorback Ticket Center. For more information about purchasing season tickets, call 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151, email raztk@uark.edu or visit the Razorback Ticket Center located next to Baum Stadium. For more information about Arkansas softball, follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter.
