FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas softball team defeated Crowder College 15-1 in a 10-inning game, Wednesday night at Bogle Park. The Razorbacks used a strong pitching effort from freshmen Allison Stewart and Haley Meinen.
Stewart, who earned the win, pitched five innings, scattering five hits and two walks, while striking out five. Entering the game in the sixth, Meinen threw five innings of shutout ball, allowing just three hits and striking out five.
On the offensive side, Arkansas was consistent, scoring at least one run in six of the 10 innings. After tallying two runs in the first, the Razorbacks plated five in the third. Shortstop Kasey Fagan had a two-run double during the rally. Fagan finished the evening 1-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. For good measure, Arkansas tacked on two and four runs in the ninth and 10th innings, respectively.
Loren Krzysko led the Razorbacks in runs scored with three, as she finished the night 1-2 with a double. Autumn Russell also had two hits in her three at-bats, including two RBIs. Jessie Mullen finished a perfect 2-2 with a run scoring double in the sixth.
After five innings, Arkansas used almost a complete lineup change as eight new players entered the ballgame.
Postgame with head coach Mike Larabee:
“I thought for our fifth fall game, I thought without a doubt that we played very well in all three phases of the game. I thought Allison Stewart came out and set that tone in the first inning. We had a clean first inning and we came in and we had three hits and scored two runs. Thought our pitchers did a great job of getting ahead. Haley Meinin came in and did an outstanding job in innings six thru 10. I thought we hit a lot of balls on the screws tonight. I just told the team that if we continue to work, we’ve got the potential to be a lot better offensively than we were last year. We’ve got quite a few people that can swing the bat and defensively, zero errors in 10 innings. I think Kasey Fagan is playing an outstanding shortstop right now, she’s making all the routine plays and that’s all we ever ask.”
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