Clark, Hiers Home Runs Not Enough at Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Claire Clark and Shelby Hiers hit home runs Friday evening against No. 12/11 Texas A&M but the Aggies came away with the 11-3 win to take game one of the weekend series. Madison Yannetti got on base twice and also scored a run for the Razorbacks. Arkansas return to the Aggie Softball Complex Saturday evening for game two of the conference series with first pitch set for 5 p.m. (CT).

Games two and three of the Arkansas-Texas A&M series will be televised on the SEC Network with Pam Ward and Cheri Kempf handling the play-by-play and color commentary duties, respectively. Both games will also be streamed live on SEC Network+ and through the WatchESPN app.

Hiers finished Friday’s game with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate, good for her seventh multi-hit performance of the season and the 10th of her career. She opened the third inning with a base hit which extended her streak of reaching base safely to 11-consecutive games. That ties a career-high stretch that she established earlier this season. Hiers’ solo shot in the sixth was her eighth home run of the year.

After Texas A&M (28-6, 3-4 SEC) scored four in the bottom of the first inning, Clark got one of those runs back with a solo home run off Aggie starter Samantha Show in the second. It was her third big fly of the year. Getting the start in center field, Clark also logged four innings of relief work in the circle. She worked out of jams in the third and fourth, limiting Texas A&M to just one run in each of those innings to keep the Razorbacks close.

Arkansas (13-21, 0-7 SEC) put together scoring threats by loading the bases in back-to-back innings but managed just one run in the fourth. Madison Yannetti led off the frame with her first of two walks. Parker Pocklington was plunked and pinch hitter Tori Cooper singled to right to load the bases. With two outs, freshman Ashley Diaz registered her team-leading 33rd RBI by drawing a walk; Yannetti scored on the play.

Overall, the Razorbacks left nine runners on base in Friday’s game. The home team broke through with five runs over the fifth and sixth innings to post the run-rule victory. The Aggies were on the verge of ending things in the fifth but Clark got a pair of bases-loaded outs to extend the game. Arkansas starter Peyton Carter took the loss Friday while fellow freshman Danielle Brochu made her debut in the pitching circle.

For information about purchasing tickets for home games this season, call 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151, email raztk@uark.edu or visit the Razorback Ticket Center located next to Baum Stadium. The ticket window at Bogle Park opens one hour before first pitch of each game. Follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter for more information about Arkansas Softball.