Arkansas wins Fall Festival

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FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas softball team opened up the fall season in style with three wins in the Arkansas Fall Festival, Saturday, Sept. 10 at Lady’Back Yard. The Lady Razorbacks defeated Crowder College 7-2, Seminole State College 4-0 and Bacone College 8-0 in five innings. The Lady’Backs had 29 hits in the tournament and were led offensively by freshmen Jess Reed and Miranda Dixon. Reed, a Fayetteville native, went 5-for-6, hitting .833 on the day. She added a double, a triple, three runs and two RBIs. Dixon, a product of Edmond, Okla., was 4-for-7, scoring two runs. “Overall we hit extremely well today,” said head softball coach Jamie Pinkerton. “I was really impressed by all of our newcomers, especially (Jess) Reed and (Miranda) Dixon.” Arkansas hit well on the day, but got off to a bumpy start defensively. In game one, Arkansas committed two errors in the top of the first inning, allowing two unearned runs by the Crowder Lady’Riders. “Defensively, in the first game we were a little shaky.” said Pinkerton. The Lady Razorbacks tied the score in the fourth inning and went on to score four more runs in the fifth behind consecutive hits by Whitney Cloer, Brittany Robison, Jess Reed and Teighynne Hulsey. Reed ripped the first Lady’Back triple of the fall which drove in two runs. Senior Rachel LeMaster scored Arkansas’ final run in the sixth inning of the 7-2 victory. In game two, the Lady Razorbacks burst open offensively in the third inning with a two-out RBI single to right center from Hulsey which drove in sophomore Brandy Baze. Hulsey added another run in the third on a Seminole error. With two down in the fourth, Reed doubled to center field and scored when freshman centerfielder Jessica Bachkora was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Arkansas tallied another run that inning on a Seminole error. In the 4-0 win, junior pitcher Katy Henry fanned eight and held the Seminole Lady Trojans to just three hits and no runs. In the final game of the Arkansas Fall Festival, freshman pitcher Miranda Dixon fanned eight in tossing a one-hit, five-inning shutout of the Bacone Warriors. “Even when Miranda got behind in the count, she was able to work back and be successful,” said Pinkerton The Lady Razorbacks jumped out with one run in the first inning. Four runs in the third added to Arkansas’ 1-0 lead. The Lady’Backs tacked on two runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth to run-rule the Bacone Warriors. Dixon went 3-for-3, scoring two of the Lady’Backs eight runs. Brandy Baze and Sandra Smith were 2-for-3 and each scored a run. Robison and Hulsey added two RBIs apiece. The Lady’Backs were errorless in the Bacone win. “Our defense smoothed out as the day went on,” said Pinkerton. “It will only get better as the season goes on.” Arkansas pitching was near errorless on the day as well. Hulsey, Henry and Dixon earned a combined 0.00 ERA and held their opponents to a .121 batting average. They allowed only eight hits, walked just four batters and struck out 22. Arkansas hosts its second fall tournament Saturday, Sept. 16 at Lady’Back Yard. The Lady Razorbacks welcome Connors State College, Neosho County Community College and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. For more information about Arkansas softball, log on to LADYBACKS.COM