Diaz Hits 11th Home Run in Sunday Loss at A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas –Ashley Diaz continued her strong freshman campaign at the plate with her 11th home run of the year but the University of Arkansas softball team lost to No. 12/11 Texas A&M Sunday afternoon, 9-1. Claire Clark had a single and finished the weekend with a hit in each game of the series.

Following the weekend set in College Station, Arkansas (13-23, 0-9 SEC) takes a break from conference play for a midweek doubleheader at Southeast Missouri. Wednesday’s twin bill is slated for a 2:30 p.m. start in Cape Girardeau. The team is back at Bogle Park next weekend for an SEC series against South Carolina which begins Friday.

With her team down four after a big first inning for the home team, Diaz lifted a towering solo shot over the field in left center which also served as her first hit of the weekend. Four of her 11 home runs have come during SEC play. Diaz moves into a tie for eighth place on the program’s single-season list, and now sits just four home runs behind the single-season record of 15 held by Jessica Bachkora (2010) and Devon Wallace (2012).

The Razorbacks threatened to score more runs in the second after Clark drew a walk to follow the homer by Diaz. Madison Yannetti singled through the left side, and after a sacrifice bunt by Parker Pocklington, Arkansas had runners on second and third with one out. However, Texas A&M starter Samantha Show got a strikeout and fly out to end the rally. Pocklington has an SEC-leading 10 sacrifice bunts this season.

Texas A&M (30-6, 5-4 SEC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind a bases-clearing double by Ashley Walters in the first inning. The Aggie catcher finished the day with three hits and six RBI while Cali Lanphear scored three runs to help lead their team to the win.

Wednesday’s doubleheader against Southeast Missouri will mark the fifth and sixth meetings between the two teams. The Razorbacks have won three of the previous four games in the series. The teams met three times last season with Arkansas taking two, including a doubleheader split at Bogle Park.

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.