Razorbacks split games at Arkansas Fall Festival

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas softball team went 1-1 in its first fall tournament at its new home, Bogle Park. The Razorbacks were defeated by the Lady Norse of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, 10-7, in the first game, but turned around to defeat the Trojans of Seminole St.,8-0, in their second game of the day.

In the first game, Arkansas was hurt by four errors and a NEO A&M offense that scored runs in five of the seven innings, including a two-run home run by Lauren Iverson in the top of the fourth.

In the loss, junior Miranda Dixon led the Razorbacks with two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Whitney Cloer and Brittany Griffiths also added on to the Razorbacks run total with two RBIs each. On the mound Dixon, Arkansas starter in game one, gave up six runs, four of which were earned.

“I was disappointed in the outcome of the first game,” head coach Jamie Pinkerton said. “It seemed like we were distracted, possibly by playing our first game at Bogle Park, but we never seemed to get focused.”

Arkansas took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning, and held a 4-2 lead heading into the fourth. The Lady Norse quickly bounced back with four runs in the next half inning, highlighted by Iverson’s home run. That made the score 6-4 in favor of NEO A&M before the Razorbacks responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score.

Kayla Johnson reached base on an error, and eventually came around to score on a double by Cloer. Sandra Smith also scored on the senior catcher’s two bagger.

NEO A&M iced the game, however, with three runs in the top of the sixth, to take the final lead. They added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to give the game its final tally of 10-7.

In their second game of the day, the Razorback bats came to life against the pitchers of Seminole St. Arkansas had 10 hits, and platedeight runs in the shutout win over the Trojans.

“We hit the ball very well,” Pinkerton said. “We played the offense that we are capable of playing.”

The Razorbacks jumped off to a four-run lead after three innings of play, with two runs scored in the first and third innings. The Razorbacks then added on to their lead in the fourth with three runs, two of them brought home by senior Kayla Johnson’s triple. The Razorbacks bats padded their lead with four more runs off four combined hits in the fifth and sixth innings. The game was called due to the run rule.

The Razorbacks return next weekend to Bogle Park to host the Razorback Fall Festival. They welcome teams from Pittsburgh St. and Tulsa with play scheduled to begin at 11:30. Visit Arkansasrazorbacks.com for more details and continued coverage of Arkansas Razorback Softball.

Download: FALL_ARK2.pdf