FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas softball team opened its fall schedule Sunday afternoon by splitting a doubleheader at Oklahoma State. The Razorbacks dropped the opener but responded with a 14-5 win over OSU in game two of the twin bill. Arkansas will play out the remainder of its fall at Bogle Park, beginning Wednesday against Evangel.
“Overall, I’m pretty pleased with our first fall performance,” head coach Mike Larabee said. “Offensively, we swung the bats very well especially in the second game against a pitcher in Brandi Needham that shut out Missouri last year and beat Michigan. I thought we made some great adjustments. We also had outstanding energy and enthusiasm from the bench. All in all, a good opening weekend.”
In the opener, the Razorbacks fell behind early but rallied to even the score at 3-3 with three runs in the top of the fourth. However, Oklahoma State scored four in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead and held on for a 7-3 win. Stephanie Canfield had two of her four hits in game one with one hit each for Wallace and Autumn Russell. The pitching duo of Sydney Wright and Hayley Meinen combined for four strikeouts and no walks.
Arkansas pounded out 18 hits in game two of Sunday’s doubleheader on its way to a 14-5 win over the Cowgirls. At the plate, Loren Krzysko drove in four runs and had four hits including the Razorbacks’ first home run of the fall. She was one of five players—Krysko, Canfield, Kasey Fagan, Devon Wallace and Madison Yannetti—with at least two hits in the game. Overall, nine Razorbacks recorded a hit in game two.
Outside of a four-run third inning, the Razorback duo of Allison Stewart and Grace Moll kept OSU in check to keep and held the home team to one run over the final four innings. At the end of two games, the four Arkansas pitchers walked just three hitters over 13 innings and of the hits allowed, just two went for extra bases.
“All four pitchers got a chance to throw,” Larabee said. “The freshmen got a chance to get their feet wet a little bit and both had some success. As a staff, we set a goal of no more than two walks per game so we were far improved over last spring. We’re going to do really well if we can limit our walks and hold teams to singles.”
Up next, the Razorbacks will host Evangel in a Wednesday doubleheader at Bogle Park. First pitch of the midweek date is scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT). The team will also have games Oct. 15 vs. Crowder, Oct 22 vs. Butler CC and Nov. 1 against Oklahoma. Arkansas will also hold an open inter-squad game Oct. 25. All home games will be played at Bogle Park and be open to fans.
For more information about Arkansas softball, follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter.