Arkansas finishes 3-0 at Lady'Back Fall Festival

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The University of Arkansas softball team continued its winning ways going 3-0 in Saturday’s Lady’Back Fall Festival.

Arkansas defeated Connors State College 3-1, Northeastern Oklahoma 13-0 and Neosho County Community College 21-0.

“Overall I was impressed with our offense,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “We weren’t very patient until the sixth inning of the first game and from there on out, we hit the ball well.”

Three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning clinched a win for Arkansas in its first game Saturday against Connors State College.

Despite freshman outfielder Jessica Bachkora leading off the game with a line shot to right field, Arkansas only managed two more hits through five innings of play.

In the sixth inning with one out, Whitney Cloer and Brittany Robison both singled to the left side. With two down, Jocelyne Moncrief stepped up and drove in Arkansas’ first run of the day with a base hit up the middle. Lead-off batter, Jessica Bachkora followed suit with another single up the middle that drove in Robison and Moncrief for a 3-0 Arkansas lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Connors threatened with a bases loaded RBI single that dropped over third base and cut the Arkansas lead to two runs. Connors was then stopped by the Arkansas defense for the 3-1 win.

Freshman pitcher Miranda Dixon, struck out 11 batters in 6 and 1/3 innings, while junior pitcher Katy Henry collected her first save of the fall season.

“The first game I thought Miranda did a good job today,” said Pinkerton. “We need to continue to work with her on hitting her spots, but for her second time out she played very well.”

In game two, the Lady Razorbacks came out on fire against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M behind three consecutive singles by Jessica Bachkora, Rachel LeMaster and Sandra Smith. Dayna Huckabee kindled the fire with a triple that drove in two runs. Huckabee then scored on a single by Carrie Egnor. Dara Clark and Bachkora added RBIs in the inning as well.

After one half-inning of play, the Lady’Backs led NEO A&M by a score of 6-0.

“We talked about setting the tone after our first game and I think we accomplished that against a very good team in game two,” said Pinkerton.

Arkansas added to its lead in each inning, with one run in the second and two more in the third.

With an 8-0 lead going into the fourth inning Bachkora laced an in-the-park grand slam homerun to right-center field. Jess Reed, Jessica Waddle and Dara Clark scored on the play.

Arkansas’s defense played errorless behind veteran pitcher Katy Henry. Henry fanned 11 batters in just five innings of play.

Bachkora, LeMaster, Smith, Egnor, Waddle, and Clark all collected two hits apiece in the 13-0, five-inningwin.

Spectators saw another offensive explosion by the Lady Razorbacks in game three.

Arkansas tallied four runs in the first inning and six in the second for a 10-0 lead after two innings against the Neosho Lady Panthers.

Arkansas would only add to that lead scoring six in the third inning and five in the fourth for a 21-0 final score.

Bachkora was 3-for-3 adding a triple, a stolen base and three runs. Freshman Teighynne Hulsey went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs.

Nine Lady’Backs collected hits in night cap. Arkansas scored 21 runs on 12 hits and added 13 RBIs.

The Lady Razorbacks improved to 6-0 for the fall season.

“I was really impressed with our hitting this afternoon,” said Pinkerton. “We had eight girls hit over .500 and any time you do that you’re going to be successful.”

Arkansas hosts its final fall tournament Saturday, Sept. 30. The Lady’Backs welcome Carl Albert, Oklahoma Baptist and Rogers State.

For more information about Arkansas softball, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.