Softball Fact Sheet #2
This weekThe Lady Razorbacks host the second of three fall tournaments Sept. 26 at Lady’Back Yard. Arkansas takes a 3-0 record into Sunday as Northeastern A&M, Northeastern State and Texarkana College travel to Fayetteville.
Flexing musclesJunior Barbara-Jean Southmayd led the Lady’Backs in batting average with .667. Against Bacone and Connors State, Southmayd knocked four hits including one double. Senior Ashley Carter tallied six hits as she paced the Arkansas offense in three games. Sophomore Kallie Foglesong produced three RBIs on three hits with a right field triple.
To the TSophomore Sarah Topham set the standard on the mound in game one of the fall season. The lefthander recorded a no-hitter against Neosho County in five innings. Topham fanned eight while she walked two.
In the circleAs a squad, the Lady’Backs pitching staff combined for a 1.29 ERA. The six Arkansas pitchers, including two freshmen, recorded 26 strikeouts and allowed 13 hits. Junior Linzee Roby and freshman Kelly Ninemire earned wins in their first performance as Lady’Backs. Junior Valanna Lyons threw five, shutout innings against Bacone in the second game as she fanned four and allowed two hits in a no decision.
Relief In two appearances, freshman Katy Henry recorded a save against Connors State. Henry threw three and a two-thirds innings and had six strikeouts.
Around the diamondIn five stolen bases attempts, the Lady’Backs successfully advanced. Sophomore Rachel LeMaster and junior Mindy O’Malley stole two bases while Foglesong added one.
First yearsSix of the seven newcomers played in their first games as Lady’Backs. Freshman Lindsay Perry did not play because of an injury.
Almost perfectDefensively, the Lady’Backs were nearly perfect in three games. Arkansas recorded one error in the field compared to the opponents four.
The Next Chapter First-year head coach Jamie Pinkerton begins his tenure with the Lady Razorbacks after four successful seasons as the head coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane softball team. Pinkerton was a two-time Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Pinkerton’s staff includes former TU assistant coach Tiffany Redding-Pitts and former Lady’Back Aly Sartini. Redding-Pitts was a Golden Hurricane assistant from 2002-2004 with Pinkerton and she assists with the infielders and serves as first base coach. Redding-Pitts directs the administrative duties while serving as the recruitment coordinator and managing the team’s camps and clinics. Aly Sartini returns as an assistant coach to the program she helped to build. Sartini oversees pitching, outfield, scouting, academics and assists with administrative responsibilities. In her four seasons as a Lady’Back, Sartini helped lead Arkansas to three Southeastern Conference tournament appearances, an NCAA Regional berth and a member of the 1999 SEC All-Tournament team.
A Year AgoThe Lady’Backs ended the 2003-04 season with a 18-40 overall record and a 6-24 finish in the Southeastern Conference. Last season’s campaign included wins over No. 12 Tennessee and No. 17 Florida.
Older and WiserThe Lady’Backs return 11 players from the 2003-04 squad. Leading the way for the Lady’Backs are four seniors including Blaire Perry, who is third on the Arkansas career list for stolen bases and holds the school record for sacrifice hits in a season.
