FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas softball team continued its fall schedule Wednesday afternoon with a 27-0 win over Butler CC at Bogle Park. The Razorbacks scored in six of seven plate appearances including a 13-run sixth frame and limited their opponents to just two hits over eight innings.
“I thought we came out and did what we are supposed to do against a junior college team,” head coach Mike Larabee said. “Once again, Allison Stewart really spun the ball well and didn’t give up any hits in five innings. She got into a little bit of a pickle in the first inning but got herself out with a couple of strikeouts on the rise ball. She showed a lot of poise. Haley Meinen came in to keep the shutout. Anytime you’re not giving up runs, you’re doing some good things. We had a couple of errors defensively but we swung the bats very well from top to bottom.”
Offensively, five different Razorbacks—Stephanie Canfield, Jessica Harrison, Jessie Mullen, Autumn Russell and Devon Wallace—had two hits against Butler CC. Harrison got the scoring started with a two-run shot to left center in the first inning that scored Wallace ahead of her. Overall, sixteen players scored including seven who scored at least twice. Loren Krzysko had a team-high four RBI in the win. She was one of seven Razorbacks to drive in two or more runs.
In the circle, Allison Stewart and Haley Meinen combined for the shutout win. Collectively, the two Razorback freshmen combined for nine strikeouts and allowed just two walks over eight innings. Stewart faced a two-on, one-out jam in the first but got out of trouble with her first two strikeouts of the game. She went on to retire the final 14 hitters she faced. Meinen closed out the game with three innings of work in which she retired the final five hitters of the game.
“We have to keep working but potentially, I think we’re better than we’ve ever been," Larabee said. "We’ve got great depth and I think we will be better offensively than we were last year. We’ve been swinging the bats really well this fall. Our pitching staff is a lot deeper, too. I’ve been really impressed with our two freshman pitchers.”
In their fall ball finale, the Razorbacks will play host to the Oklahoma Sooners in a Nov. 1 doubleheader. First pitch of the regional matchup is set for 2 p.m. (CT) at Bogle Park in Fayetteville. The game is open and free to attend for the public.
“I’m really excited about this team and now we have the showdown with Oklahoma on Nov. 1," Larabee said. "We’ll go into SEC mode this next week and a half of practice to get geared up for that game. That will be a great way to end the fall season against a great opponent. We’ll really be able to see where we are as a team.”
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