The No. 14 Arkansas softball team made short work on Texas-Arlington Friday, needing just six innings to dismantle the Maverick, 9-0. But the late game didn’t have quite the same luster, falling to Wichita State, 3-1, on the second day of the Razorback Invitation at Bogle Park.
The Razorbacks (10-3) got stout pitching performances from sophomore left-hander Hannah Camenzind (2-0) and sophomore righty Nikki McGaffin, who combined on the six-hit shutout. Camenzind scattered four hits and struck out a career-high five Mavericks, keeping her record unblemished this season.
McGaffin tossed the final inning, allowing just one hit and effectively working around a runner at third base.
The Arkansas bats were cool early, as the Hogs led by just one run after three innings. After making some adjustments at the plate, the bats lit up and led to eight more runs in the final three frames.
Senior Cylie Halvorson smashed a pair of solo home runs – tying her career-high – to lead the hit parade. Rylin Hedgecock continued her torrid start to the season, going 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored, while freshman catcher Kennedy Miller slugged one of her nine hits this season, an RBI-triple in the fifth. Even Camenzind showed her versatility on the field as a two-way player, going 2-for-2 and knocking in two runs.
Hedgecock put the Hogs up, 1-0, in the second, scoring on Miller’s sacrifice fly to left. A two-out rally in the fourth led to two more Razorback runs, including Camenzind’s RBI single up the middle.
Halvorson led off the fifth with a homer to center field, followed by Miller’s triple that boosted the lead to 6-0. Halverson then delivered another deep shot to right-center in the sixth.
In the nightcap, senior left-hander Robyn Herron took her third tough loss of the season, going 3.2 innings and giving up just two runs on four hits, and striking out three Shockers. Senior righty Morgan Leinstock finished off the final 3.1 innings, holding Wichita State to a single run on five hits, while fanning five.
Sophomore leadoff hitter Reagan Johnson extended her hitting streak to seven games and also notched her seventh multi-hit game of the season, with two more hits, while scoring the Hogs’ lone run. Miller also stayed hot in Game 2 with a pair of hits.
Arkansas looks to bounce back on Saturday, taking on Illinois State at 3 p.m., followed by a rematch with Wichita State at 5:30 p.m.