Razorbacks split at Tulsa
TULSA, Okla. – The University of Arkansas softball team split a pair of non-conference games with Tulsa on Wednesday at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex on the University of Tulsa campus.
Razorback freshman pitcher Chelsea Cohen pitched seven strong innings in the nightcap to lead Arkansas to a 3-1 win in the finale after the offense struggled in the opener, falling 13-2 in a five-inning game.
Arkansas (21-12) has now won 13 of its last 16 games and has a record of 4-4 away from Bogle Park.
Tulsa (19-13) splits the regular-season series with the Razorbacks for the second season in a row.
In the second game, Tulsa took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a solo home run by right fielder Lauren Lindsey, her 15th of the year.
Arkansas matched the Golden Hurricane with a solo home run of its own by first baseman Stephanie Brewer, her first of the season, to tie the game at 1-1.
The Razorbacks took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on center fielder Jessica Bachkora’s 13th home run of the year, a solo shot to center field.
Arkansas tallied an insurance run in the top of the seventh to make the score 3-1 on an RBI infield single by third baseman Sandra Smith. Bachkora scored on the play after reaching base on a double.
Cohen allowed one run on two hits in the first complete game of her career. The freshman allowed only four runners to reach base and retired nine batters straight in the fourth through sixth innings.
Tulsa starting pitcher Jordan Kinard allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings. The junior walked two and struck out three. Left-hander Kalynn Schrock recorded the final out of the seventh frame.
In the first game of the day, the Arkansas offense mustered only four hits while Tulsa scored 10 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to run rule the Razorbacks in five innings.
Tulsa took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a three-run home run to left-center field by shortstop Samantha Cobb.
Arkansas cut the Golden Hurricane lead to 3-1 on a solo home run from pitcher Layne McGuirt to lead off the top of the second inning.
A four-run bottom of the third inning extended Tulsa’s advantage to 7-1. Three straight RBI hits by first baseman Vanessa Vice, catcher Christian Timmons and left fielder Jessica Stoelke accounted for the scoring.
The Golden Hurricane added six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 13-1 lead. Four different Tulsa batters drove in runs on five hits, including four doubles.
Arkansas shortstop Brittany Griffiths launched a solo home run to left field in the top of the fifth to make the final score 13-2.
McGuirt (6-5) allowed three runs on four hits and issued one walk in two innings of work. Senior Miranda Dixon pitched the final two innings, surrendering 10 runs (eight earned) on nine hits while walking one and striking out one.
Tulsa starter Jackie Lawrence (7-6) limited the Arkansas offense to two runs on four hits in five innings. Lawrence walked two and struck out five.
The Razorbacks continue their five-game road trip when they travel to Athens, Ga., for a three-game weekend series with the Bulldogs. First pitch for Friday night’s doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT.
Download: AR331B.pdf
