Smith leads Razorbacks to win
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Arkansas senior Sandra Smith drove in four runs on a 3-for-5 night to lead the Razorback softball team to an 11-3 victory over Missouri State in its final non-conference game of the regular season on Wednesday at Killian Softball Stadium.
Arkansas (26-24) matched their season high in hits with 14 including two each from Jessica Bachkora, Becca Carden and Courtney Breault. Senior Brittany Robison also had a good night at the plate as she drove in three runs with a single and a sacrifice fly.
Missouri State tallied runs in the first and the sixth but left six runners on base as the Bears fall to 14-28 on the season.
Razorback freshman Chelsea Cohen (3-2) earned the win after she did not allow a hit or a run with a strikeout through four innings in relief of starting pitcher Layne McGuirt. The junior worked the first inning and reentered to pitch the seventh, allowing two runs on four hits with one strikeout. Freshman Hope McLemore gave up a run on two hits with a strikeout in the sixth.
Arkansas took an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Breault started the scoring with an RBI single to the left field followed by a two-run double by Robison.
Missouri State cut the lead to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the home half of the first. RBI singles from right fielder Jenna Schwark and left fielder Alain Burkhart accounted for the scoring.
The Razorbacks got a run back in the top of the second when designated player Miranda Dixon doubled to left-center field to drive in Bachkora, making the score 4-2.
Arkansas sent nine runners to the plate and added four runs to increase their lead to 8-2. With the bases loaded, Smith doubled to right-center field to drive in her 47th and 48th runs of the season. Breault picked up her second RBI of the game with a single through the left side, which Robison followed with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Razorbacks tallied a single run in the top of the fifth to make the score 9-2 on an RBI double by Smith, her second double and third RBI of the game.
Missouri State cut the Arkansas lead to 9-3 in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double by third baseman Bubba Weiss.
Arkansas added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to push the final score to 11-3.
Missouri State senior Lauren Supak (6-9) surrendered three runs on three hits while issuing a walk through one inning in her 17th start of the season. Right-hander Natalie Rose gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts in three innings of work. Lauren McGinley allowed three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four in the final three innings.
Arkansas returns to action this weekend with a three-game series against Ole Miss at Bogle Park. The series begins Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CDT. The first game will be televised regionally on Cox Sports Television. Sunday is the final regular-season home game of the season and the Razorbacks will honor their five seniors.
