Krzysko Home Run, Multi-Hit Efforts Not Enough
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Loren Krzysko hit her first career home run and three Razorbacks registered two-hit performances Saturday evening but No. 12/14 LSU rallied for a 5-4 win at Bogle Park. The SEC thriller was played in front of 1,262 fans, the second-largest home crowd in program history. In a resumption of Friday’s series opener, eight Arkansas hitters had at least one hit in a 10-6 setback to the Tigers.
The teams return to the field Sunday afternoon for the weekend finale and the Razorbacks’ last home game of the season. Before the game, the team will celebrate the career of Claire Clark as part of Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT) with the pre-game recognition set for 12:55 p.m. General admission is $5 for adults while students (valid UA ID) and fans 17 years and younger get in free.
Arkansas (17-35, 1-19 SEC) took the early lead with an RBI single by Ashley Diaz in the first inning. She added an infield single just out of the reach of the Tigers’ shortstop in the third inning for her second hit of the game. The Razorback freshman now has a team-leading 17 multi-hit games this season. Diaz also put her glove to work in the top of the inning, snagging a liner to first and stepping on the bag to register Arkansas’ 25th double play of the year.
With starter Grace Moll keeping LSU (39-13, 12-11 SEC) off the scoreboard early on, the Razorbacks pushed their lead to four thanks to the three-run shot off the bat of Krzysko. With Diaz at first and Nicole Schroeder at second, Krzysko deposited the first offering from LSU starter Carley Hoover over the fence in left center for the first home run of her career. Arkansas has 49 home runs this year, one shy of becoming the sixth team in program history to hit 50 in a single season.
Moll continued to deal in the circle including a 1-2-3 fourth inning in which she struck out the side. Posting her 23rd complete game of the season, she finished the night with nine strikeouts to establish a new high in an SEC game. It was her fourth outing of the year with nine or more strikeouts, and first against an SEC opponent. Moll now has 172 strikeouts this season.
The Razorbacks’ lead was cut in half after back-to-back RBI doubles for LSU in the sixth inning. After failing to pad its lead in the bottom of the sixth, Arkansas took a 4-2 lead into the final frame. With the bases loaded and one out, Moll struck out Savannah Jaquish to put the home team one out from victory. However, a wild pitch and subsequent two-run triple by Kellsi Kloss, LSU took the lead for the first time in the game.
Earlier in the day, Arkansas and LSU had to complete their suspended game from Friday night. Picked back up in the fourth inning, the Tigers led 9-4. On their way to six runs, Arkansas scored two runs on seven hits over the last four innings with RBI singles by Autumn Russell and Tori Cooper. Parker Pocklington tallied her first of two multi-hit games on the day while Russell finished the held-over contest with two hits of her own and three RBI.
Madison Yannetti posted her fourth multi-hit game of the year including a sixth-inning double to the wall in left center. Having entered the game to begin the fourth inning Friday night before the delay, freshman Peyton Carter was solid in holding LSU to two runs on five hits in four innings of relief work.
For more 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 opens one hour before first pitch of each home game. Follow @RazorbackSB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information about Arkansas Softball.
