Three Hits For Box In Loss To Grand Canyon

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. – Despite an early lead, the University of Arkansas softball team lost a 6-2 decision to Grand Canyon in Sunday’s finale of the Easton Tournament in Fullerton, Calif. Redshirt sophomore Rachel Box paced the Razorbacks with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, her sixth multi-hit showing of the season. With the loss, Arkansas drops to 13-16 on the year as it turns its attention back to conference play.

For the 10th time this season, the Razorbacks scored in the first inning with a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead after one. Shelby Hiers got things started with a base hit up the middle, and moved into scoring position with a walk to Ashley Diaz. Box came through with her first hit of the day, an RBI double to right field that plated Hiers for the game’s first score. On to pinch run at third, Morgan Felts scored her fifth run of the season on a wild pitch for the Razorbacks’ second tally.

Grand Canyon (23-10) broke through and took the lead with four runs—three unearned—in the third inning with the benefit of two Razorback fielding errors. Starter Grace Moll got out of the inning with one of her seven strikeouts on the day. After the big inning for the Lopes, Moll settled in to retire 11 of the next 13 hitters she faced into the seventh inning. Grand Canyon tacked on two more runs with a home run in the top of the seventh.

The Razorbacks left nine runners on base in Sunday’s game against Grand Canyon. Arkansas had a runner in scoring position in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings but couldn’t come up with the big hit. In the seventh, Nicole Schroeder drew her second walk of the day but Lopes starter Taylor Nowlin got a strikeout and ground ball as the final two outs to end the game.

Following this weekend’s Easton Tournament, the Razorbacks return to Fayetteville for their conference home opener March 25-27 against No. 15 Kentucky at Bogle Park. Saturday’s game of the Arkansas-Kentucky series will be televised on the SEC Network. All games of the SEC matchup will be streamed on SEC Network+ and through the WatchESPN app.

Season tickets are now on sale for $45 through the Razorback Ticket Center. For more information about purchasing season tickets, call 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151, email raztk@uark.edu or visit the Razorback Ticket Center located next to Baum Stadium. For more information about Arkansas Softball, follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter.