@RazorbackSB Loses in Extras to Texas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Playing a nine-inning affair, the University of Arkansas softball team fell to the visiting Texas Longhorns, 8-7, Saturday night at Bogle Park. Texas scored two runs in the top half of the seventh to tie the score and then plated the go-ahead run in the ninth.
During the bottom of the fourth inning, senior Devon Wallace broke the program record for most runs scored in a career (167).
Arkansas falls to 13-12 overall and game two of the three-game set between the old Southwest Conference foes continues Sunday at 6 p.m. at Bogle Park. Sunday’s matchup will be broadcasted on the SEC Network.
Stephanie Canfield put the Razorbacks on the board in the bottom of the first, launching a two-run home run to center field. For Canfield, it was her second home run of the season.
Texas countered in the top of the second, scoring a pair of runs on a fielder’s choice and a Lindsey Stephens single.
Arkansas came right back in its next at bat, scoring one in the bottom of the second to regain the lead. Madison Yannetti led off the inning doubling down the left-field line and was brought around on a two-out single from Wallace.
In the third, Texas had the chance to tie up the score again, but Autumn Russell’s on-the-money throw from right field gunned down the runner at home and ended the inning.
Following a scoreless third, Texas made a move in the fourth. A leadoff single followed by a double to left set up runners at second and third. Stephens delivered her second, third, and fourth RBIs of the night for the Longhorns, hitting a home run to left and giving Texas a brief 5-3 edge.
Arkansas countered in the bottom half of the inning, responding with four runs of its own. Yannetti and Parker Pocklington both reached to open the inning. Kylie Smith pinch ran for Yannetti and came around from second to score on Russell’s single to second. Pocklington touched home on a passed ball for the second run of the inning. With Razorbacks on second and third, Canfield punched in two more RBIs with a hard single through the right side. Arkansas scored four runs on two hits and sent eight batters to the plate in the inning, taking a 7-5 lead.
Devon Wallace was one of the Razorbacks who scored in the fourth inning. For Wallace it was the 167th run scored in her career, which sets a new Razorback softball record. Wallace is on pace to set another program record this season, as she is currently tied for first for most career home runs (43).
Sydney Wright entered in relief of starter Grace Moll, who pitched 3.1 innings, in the fourth inning and held the Longhorns off the board in the fifth and sixth innings. Arkansas had base runners reach in the fifth and sixth, but was unable to add any insurance runs.
To start off the seventh, Texas received a walk and a single and had both runners advance on a wild pitch. An RBI groundout to short brought in one run and a single up the middle brought home the tying run.
Tied at 7 in the bottom of the seventh, Kate James – the potential winning run – reached on a base hit to centerfield with one out but wound up stranded at second.
A quick 1-2-3 inning by Wright gave Arkansas another chance in the eighth. Hiers reached on a walk and with two outs, Harrison looped one down the line in right that was sure to receive extra bases, but a diving grab from Texas’ Marlee Gabaldon robbed Harrison of a hit and ended the inning.
A one-out double and a passed ball placed Texas’ go-ahead run on third in the ninth. The next batter grounded out to short but the runner advanced home on the throw, allowing Texas to take an 8-7 lead.
The Razorbacks went down in order in the ninth to end the game.
Sydney Wright (8-4) took the loss for Arkansas, throwing 5.2 innings, scattering five hits and giving up two earned.
Notes:
• With her run scored in the fourth inning, senior Devon Wallace set a new program record for runs scored in a career (167). Wallace is on pace to set another program record this season, as she is currently tied for first for most career home runs (43).
• Junior Stephanie Canfield hit her second home run of the season and fourth of her career in the first inning. Adding to her night, Canfield had a single which marked her seventh multi-hit game of the season and pushed her hit streak to four games. With her four RBIs, Canfield also recorded her fourth multi-RBI game of the season on Saturday.
• For the third straight game, Arkansas pounded out at least eight hits.
• The game time for Saturday was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. but was pushed back to 6 p.m. due to rainy weather in the northwest Arkansas area.
• Arkansas played in its longest game of the season in terms of innings on Saturday and its third extra innings game this season. The Razorbacks are 2-1 in free softball games this season.
