This article originally appeared on February 20, 2014 on The Arkansas Traveler website, uatrav.com.
The rout was on from the start.
Arkansas’ softball team used a stiff wind blowing out to left field to power a six-run first inning on its way to a 9-1 five-inning mercy rule win over Northwestern State at Bogle Park Wednesday night.
Junior Devon Wallace led off the home half of the first with a triple off the left field wall. It was the first three-bagger of her career at Arkansas.
Northwestern State retired the next two batters, but one was a sacrifice fly by freshman Parker Pocklington to put the Razorbacks on the board.
After that, the next seven batters reached base via three singles, two doubles and a pair of walks. Five eventually scored, as the Razorbacks took a commanding 6-0 lead.
One of the doubles was hit by junior Kasey Fagan, who finished the game 2-for-2 with two doubles, an RBI, a walk and two runs scored. The performance raised her batting average to .464 and slugging percentage to an impressive 1.071 on the season.
“(Fagan) has unbelievable discipline at the plate,” head coach Mike Larabee said. “If they don’t pitch to her, she’s going to take the walk instead of expanding the strike zone. She’s just crushing the ball right now.”
The Razorbacks added a couple runs in the fourth on Fagan’s second double and a sacrifice fly by senior Jayme Gee. Junior Sierra Bronkey’s RBI-single in the bottom of the fifth gave Arkansas the eight-run margin necessary for a mercy rule.
It was the sixth mercy-rule victory of the season for the Razorbacks.
In the pitcher’s circle, freshman Grace Moll was solid, only wavering in the second inning, when she gave up three hits and walked two. Only one run scored.
“(Moll) got the ball up a little bit, which is a little uncharacteristic of her,” Larabee said. “It definitely wasn’t her A-game, but it shows you how dominant she can be, that she kept her composure and got out of the jam.”
In the other four innings, Moll allowed a walk, but that was the only other base runner. She gave up three hits and three walks, while striking out five in five innings of work, improving to 3-1 on the year. The one earned run dropped her season ERA to 1.88.
Arkansas returns to action Friday at the FGCU Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. The Razorbacks first game of the tournament is against Eastern Michigan. First pitch is set for 10:15 a.m.
No comments:
Post a Comment