Category: Hogs Softball

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas posted two first inning runs, but ultimately fell 10-2 in six innings to Alabama on Saturday afternoon.

The Crimson Tide out-hit the Razorbacks, 12-4, as junior Braxton Burnside was able to extend her hitting streak to a career-best nine games.

Junior Hannah McEwen setup the Arkansas run scoring first inning by drawing a leadoff walk and was immediately followed by a Burnside single down the third base line.

After a deep flyout, junior Danielle Gibson drove a double off the base of the right field wall to plate McEwen from second.

Junior Kayla Green followed by punching a two strike sacrifice fly down the right field line to grab a 2-0 edge.

In the bottom half of the frame the Alabama offense responded to tie the game. The Tide scored their first run on a rundown after a bunt and sent a second runner across the plate via a base hit to left.

Alabama capitalized in the bottom of the third on a bases loaded walk to give the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. Junior Mary Haff entered the game and inherited a bases loaded nobody out jam.

She struck out the first batter she faced, but a sacrifice fly and a single scored two more. The Razorback defense cut a run down at the plate to end the side on an 8-3-2 relay and trailed, 5-2.

The Tide swelled the lead to eight in the bottom of the sixth to shorten the game. Only one of the five runs were earned as two errors led to four tallies.

Freshman pitcher Jenna Bloom (3-2) was tagged for five hits and five earned runs in her first career Southeastern Conference start over two innings.

Haff tossed three innings of relief and surrendered four hits with two earned runs. Errors hurt freshman pitcher Rylin Hedgecock as she allowed three unearned runs in 0.2 innings.

Alabama’s Lexi Kilfoyl (5-4) racked up the complete game win and struck out six.

Arkansas and Alabama will square off in the rubber match of the series Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas got some clutch pitching from Autumn Storms and a key seventh inning RBI hit by Danielle Gibson in a 1-0 SEC opening victory at Alabama on Friday afternoon.

The Razorbacks won their first game in Tuscaloosa since 2000 and defeated their first ranked opponent this season.

The Hogs threated to score throughout the game and finally broke through in the top of the seventh.

Junior Hannah McEwen walked and took second base on a passed ball. Junior Braxton Burnside singled to center to advance McEwen to third.

Gibson followed and bounced her fourth hit of the game through the right side to score the only run Arkansas needed.

Storms (10-2) was sensational inside the circle and kept the Crimson Tide bats off balance all night. She went the distance and allowed five hits, all singles, while striking out three.

The righthander also induced two important double play balls in the first and seventh innings to keep Alabama off the scoreboard.

A pivotal 6-4-3 twin killing ended the bottom of the first inning and took away any potential momentum from the home team.

The Tide put the potential game tying run on base with a base knock down the left field line in the bottom of the seven inning, Storms again induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

The Hogs outhit Alabama, 8-5 and Gibson tied her career-high of four hits. Junior catcher Kayla Green made a return to the lineup and went 1-for-2 with two walks, while Burnside extended her hitting streak to eight games.

The Razorbacks and Crimson Tide will play the middle game of a three game series tomorrow, March 7 at 2 p.m. and it will air on SEC Network+.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas earned a split during day three of the Wooo Pig Classic hosted at Bogle Park with a loss to Florida State and a win over Villanova.

Game 1: Florida State 2, Arkansas 1

Florida State utilized a leadoff walk in the second inning to score a single tally. The FSU runner took second on a groundout and then was doubled home with two outs.

The Seminoles took advantage of a leadoff error in the top of the sixth inning to score an important insurance run. Another double plated a run as three of FSU’s five total hits went for extra bases.

Junior Braxton Burnside and senior Ryan Jackson both singled to begin the sixth. Burnside registered the only Razorback run of the game on a wild pitch which sent her to third and then an overthrow by the catcher scored the run.

In the seventh inning senior Keely Huffine singled to try and spark a rally but was left on base to end the game.

Senior pitcher Autumn Storms (8-2) went the distance and only allowed one earned run. She struck out six, walked three and allowed five hits. FSU’s Caitlyn Arnold (3-2) pitched for five innings and did not allow an earned run with one walk and seven strikeouts. Kathryn Sandercock (1) earned her first save of the season by throwing the last two innings and only allowing two hits.

Sophomore catcher Taylor Greene came in as a defensive replacement early in the game and recorded a base hit in the fourth, her first of the season. Arkansas outhit FSU, 6-5, but had only one extra base hit.

Game 2: Arkansas 12, Villanova 4 (5 innings)

The Wildcats scored first with a two run homer in the top of the first inning, but the Razorbacks sliced the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame to make the score, 2-1. Junior Danielle Gibson lifted a deep sacrifice fly to left which plated junior Hannah McEwen.

Burnside followed up in the bottom of the second and tattooed a towering two run homer to claim a 3-2 Razorback lead.

The offense kept attacking and scored two more in the third. Redshirt freshman Valerie Ventura skied a double to right field which scored the first run and Arkansas capitalized on an error to score a second tally.

Villanova clubbed another two run homer in the fourth inning to make it a 5-4 ballgame. Arkansas plated three in the bottom of the stanza on a Gibson double, Malkin single and Huffine double as both teams scored back-and-forth to make it an 8-4 lead.

Arkansas scored four more in the bottom of the fifth inning and run-rule victory as Huffine’s RBI single to center closed the game.

Freshman Jenna Bloom (3-1) was the winning pitcher out of the bullpen. She went four innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits. She also struck out three.

Arkansas closes out its 12-game homestand tomorrow, March 1, with a 12:15 p.m. first pitch against Kent State.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

FAYETTEVILLE — Senior Keely Huffine turned in a career day at the plate by smashing two home runs and driving in six runs as Arkansas swept a pair of games at Bogle Park on Friday evening.

The Razorbacks recorded an 11-1 (5 innings) run-rule victory over Villanova and topped Kent State, 9-5.

Game 1: Arkansas 11, Villanova 1 (5 innings)

The Razorbacks outhit the Wildcats 11-3 and used a six run third inning and four run fourth to do most of its damage. VU held a 1-0 lead for an inning on a solo homer, but the Razorbacks scored the final 11 runs of the game.

Huffine put the Razorbacks on the board with a run scoring triple in the second. She clubbed the first of her two homers on the day and blasted a three-run shot over the left field wall in the third.

The Harrisburg product set a new career-high of four RBIs. Senior Sydney Parr and redshirt freshman Valerie Ventura also delivered RBI knocks in the frame.

Junior Linnie Malkin hit a grand slam over the center field wall in the bottom of the fourth to shorten the game to five innings.

Huffine (2-for-3), Ventura (2-for-3) and junior Braxton Burnside (2-for-3) all collected multi-hit games.

Senior pitcher Autumn Storms (8-1) coasted in her five innings and allowed just one run with four strikeouts.

Game 2: Arkansas 9, Kent State 4

Arkansas led the entirety of the game as Ryan Jackson put the Hogs in front on a two run homer in the third frame.

Malkin hit a solo bomb to begin a six run Razorback fourth. Two batters later, Huffine crushed her second homer of the day, a two run shot to left.

Jackson picked up another RBI later in the frame on a single and junior Kayla Green got in on the act with a two RBI single.

The Golden Flashes would not go away however, and with Kent State down to its final pitch, hit a two RBI base hit to right field. Another Flash crossed the plate in the inning on an error to make the Razorback lead, 8-3.

Arkansas sent another run across the home on junior Hannah McEwen’s sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Kent State plated two more in the top of the seventh on a single and wild pitch.

Freshman hurler Jenna Bloom (2-1) completed 6.1 innings, allowed five runs, two earned runs, four hits and struck out a career-best eight. Storms was called upon to record the final two outs after Kent State led off the seventh with a single and a double.

Arkansas plays another doubleheader tomorrow, Feb. 29. The Razorbacks take on No. 9 Florida State at 4:45 p.m. and have a rematch against the Wildcats at 7 p.m.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas battled back from a one0run deficit in the fourth inning, but delivered clutch hits in the top of the seventh to earn a 3-2 road victory over the Razorbacks at Bogle Park on Thursday evening.

The Razorbacks collected two of their four total hits to begin the fourth inning. Junior Hannah McEwen sent a single up the middle which put a runner on base for junior Braxton Burnside’s two run home run to left field.

Burnside’s third homer of the season produced all the Razorbacks’ offense.

Senior pitcher Autumn Storms (7-1) was tagged with her first loss of the season and allowed all three earned runs in six innings of work. She struck out three but stayed out of trouble most of the game by inducing 14 ground outs.

The Lady Bears, who have won their last 13 games, continued their season-long trend of scoring late. Down to its final three outs, Baylor put two runners in scoring position on a single and double to table set the rally.

Arkansas went to its bullpen, but Baylor kept attacking and hit an RBI single and double to claim a 3-2 lead. Freshman Jenna Bloom inherited runners on second and third with nobody out and escaped the jam with a pop out and two strikeouts.

Arkansas attempted to start a two out rally in the bottom of the seventh as junior Kayla Green singled for the second time.

Junior pinch runner Nicole Duncan was the game’s tying run and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch but was left there on a strikeout.

Baylor’s Aliyah Pritchett moved from shortstop to the rubber in the fifth inning and earned the win (5-0). The freshman worked the final two innings and allowed just one hit.

Gia Rodoni completed the first five innings inside the circle for the Lady Bears and allowed both Arkansas runs but struck out seven.

Alyssa Avalos put Baylor on the scoreboard first in the third frame with a solo homer. The Lady Bears have won each of their last five games by one run.

Arkansas plays a twinbill as part of the second day of Wooo Pig Classic action on Friday. The Razorbacks face Villanova at 4:45 p.m. and Kent State at 7 p.m.