This article originally appeared in the April 1, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.
The Arkansas softball team picked up their first series sweep
over a ranked opponent since 2000 by beating No. 22 Georgia three times this
weekend.
No. 19 South Carolina in 2000 was the last team to be swept by
the Razorbacks, when they lost both games of a two-game series.
The Razorbacks took game one Friday 5-2. Three different
Arkansas players hit home runs.
Sophomore Devon Wallace hit a home run as part of a 3-for-3,
two-RBI day. Juniors Chloe Oprzedek and Jayme Gee added the other home runs.
The Bulldogs got their only runs of the game from a two-run home
run in the first inning by freshman Geri Ann Glasco. It was her 13th of the
season.
“I love the way our team came out and competed,” head coach Mike
Larabee said. “A lot of teams in the past would have got down after giving up
two in the first inning, but not this team. They battled back and won.”
In the pitcher’s circle, senior Chelsea Cohen tossed a complete
game five-hitter, giving up only two earned runs and striking out four.
Glasco also took the loss for Georgia, giving up five earned
runs on 10 hits in six innings of work.
Game two of the series ended in dramatic fashion. Wallace hit a
walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Arkansas a 5-3
victory.
After starting the game 0-for-2, Wallace crushed a 2-2 pitch
over the right field fence.
Cohen pitched another complete game five-hitter, this time
allowing two earned runs and striking out two. The win brought her season
record to 12-6.
Junior Morgan Montemayor took the loss for the Bulldogs, giving
up three earned runs on six hits and three walks in six innings of work.
Arkansas completed the sweep in the second game of the
doubleheader Saturday, winning 8-1.
Leading off the game just 30 minutes after hitting the
game-winner in the first game of the doubleheader, Wallace hit her third home
run of the series and 12th home run of the season.
“Devon was amazing again,” Larabee said. “She is an elite
hitter. I love the way she came back this week and worked hard. She was at the
indoor facility on her own all week. She worked some things out and had a
phenomenal weekend.”
Junior Amanda Geile also hit a home run for the Razorbacks,
going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while freshman Stephanie Canfield went 2-for-4
with a double and two RBIs.
Sophomore Sierra Bronkey had a solid game as well, going
1-for-3, which brought her weekend total up to 5-for-9.
The Razorbacks had a joint effort in the pitcher’s circle. Cohen
started the game and threw two innings, giving up an unearned run on three
hits.
Senior Hope McLemore relieved Cohen and finished the game,
tossing five shutout innings and giving up two hits while collecting five
strikeouts.
“Chelsea and Hope were excellent,” Larabee said. “They were
phenomenal this weekend.”
Glasco continued to struggle for the Bulldogs. She started the
game in the pitcher’s circle, but only lasted 1.2 innings. She gave up five
earned runs on five hits, taking her third loss of the season.
Her weekend line was 10 earned runs on 15 hits in 7.2 innings,
which were well below her season averages. She came into the game with a 16-1
record and a 2.08 ERA.
At the plate, she went 1-for-7 during the series. Before playing
Arkansas, she led Georgia with a .443 batting average, and her batting average
was tied for second in the Southeastern Conference entering last week.
The
Razorbacks return to action Tuesday with a doubleheader against Mississippi
Valley State starting at 3 p.m.
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