Softball takes Tulsa in first postseason win

NORMAN, Okla. – Sophomore Brittany Robison and junior Kayla Johnson led the University of Arkansas softball team to its first postseason win at the NCAA Regional in Norman, Okla., on Friday evening. The Lady Razorbacks (37-27) rallied for a four-run sixth inning to defeat Tulsa (34-24) 7-5 and will face the winner of the Oklahoma/Oregon game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. “I was real pleased with the way we came out, with the intensity and the enthusiasm,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “We knew we were going to be in for a battle and we were able to overcome two-run and three-run homers. We came back and answered.” Down 5-3 in the sixth inning, junior Whitney Cloer led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to left field. Senior Dayna Huckabee followed with a single through the left side that chased starting pitcher Jordan Kinard out of the circle. Senior Samantha Buckner drew a walk against relief pitcher Jackie Lawrence before Robison collected her fourth RBI of the game on a one-run single through the left side that plated Huckabee. Another walk, this time by Bachkora, loaded the bases for Johnson. The Bartlesville, Okla., native came through with a single that dropped into left center and scored pinch runner Hillary Freeman and Robison for the 7-5 Arkansas lead. “Whitney came up with a big shot to start off the sixth,” said Pinkerton. “We’re the type of ball club that when we have an opportunity and get on a roll, we score in bunches.” Robison launched a three-run home run to left field that got Arkansas out to a 3-0 lead in the second. Huckabee drew a walk and Buckner hit the first single of the game to get on base. In the top of the fourth, Sara Dyer hit a two-run shot to left center to bring Tulsa within one, 3-2. Lauren Lindsay smashed a three-run home run to left center in the fifth to put TU ahead of the Lady’Backs 5-3. Senior Katy Henry earned her 20th win in the circle. She threw a complete game and gave up five runs on five hits, walked none and struck out five. Lawrence fell to 13-10 with the loss. Robison led the Lady’Backs going 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI. Johnson had the game-winning two-RBI single. “We’ll come back tomorrow and our pitching staff’s going to be fresh because Katie gave us a complete game,” Pinkerton said. “We just have to take it one game at a time. The more you can stay in the winners bracket the better off you are.” For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.