Easley O'Malley Perry Lead Lady'Backs on Senior Day

FAYETTEVILLE – Seniors Shana Easley, Mindy O’Malley and Blaire Perry played their final game at Lady’Back Yard for the University of Arkansas softball team, Saturday, May 6. The Lady Razorbacks (26-34, 10-19) fell to No. 4 Alabama (48-8, 25-4), 9-2.

Despite the loss to the Crimson Tide, the Lady’Backs are in the Southeastern Conference Tournament for the first time since 2002.

Arkansas softball head coach Jamie Pinkerton said he is going miss the 2006 seniors. Perry is the only Lady’Back that has played in a SEC tournament game.

“I’m really proud of the kids,” he said. “Blaire, Mindy and Shana believed in our system and what we wanted to do. I thought we played well but the wheels just fell off in the seventh.”

The Lady’Backs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when O’Malley scored on freshman designated player Kayla Johnson’s sacrifice bunt. O’Malley hit a leadoff triple, which is her second of the season.

In the third inning, Alabama went ahead, 2-1, on three hits including a two-run home run by senior infielder Staci Ramsey. The Tide increased its lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning.

The Lady’Backs answered in the bottom of the inning and cut into the Tide lead, 3-2, when Easley leadoff with a double. Perry then drove in freshman pinch runner Carrie Egnor on a double that bounced off the center field wall.

Sophomore Katy Henry (15-15) threw six and two-thirds inning and she recorded six strikeouts. Junior Kayce Odle and Perry both pitched in relief. Offensively, Perry led the team with a 2-for-3 performance.

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