Tag: Audrey LaValley

Late score pushes Arkansas over Auburn, Razorbacks clinch fourth straight series

The Razorbacks got a late push by Rylin Hedgecock in the 6th inning to give them the 4-3 win over Auburn on Saturday.

In what was a pitcher’s duel, the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks (28-7, 9-3 SEC) grabbed a late run in the 6th inning to defeat the No. 17 Auburn Tigers (29-8, 7-7 SEC), 4-3 on Saturday at Bogle Park. The win was the ninth straight for Arkansas softball over Auburn and gives the Razorbacks their fourth straight SEC series win to open the conference slate.

Tied 3-3 with one out in the inning, sophomore[autotag]Rylin Hedgecock[/autotag] was called to bat for [autotag]Valerie Ventura[/autotag], and did was she was called to. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Hedgecock hit a sacrifice fly to left field that was deep enough to score [autotag]Cally Kildow[/autotag], who pinch ran for [autotag]Linnie Malkin[/autotag] who reached base via the base on balls, from third base to put Arkansas in front, 4-3.

Following the sacrifice fly by Malkin, [autotag]Chenise Delce[/autotag] repeated her performance from Friday by slamming the door on the Tigers, striking out the final two batters to solidify the win.

Arkansas had to dig themselves out of trouble early. Following a wild pitch that allowed Auburn to score their first run of the game in the 1st inning, Danielle Gibson answered by hitting her 14th home run of the season, a two-run blast to center field to help the Razorbacks grab their first lead of the game, 2-1.

The Razorbacks extended their lead in the 3rd inning. After a walk to [autotag]Taylor Ellsworth[/autotag] and a base-hit by Gibson to open the inning, [autotag]Hannah Gammill[/autotag] would send Ellsworth home on a single to left field to give Arkansas the 3-1 lead.

In what would be Auburn’s last contribution to the score, Makayla Packer would hit a game-tying, two-run home run to even the score at 3-3.

Despite getting the win, Auburn outhit Arkansas 10-8, and stranded ten runners on base in the loss. The Tigers relied on Maddie Penta in the circle for the entire game, she allowed four earned runs and six hits while striking out seven batters in 6.0 innings of work.

Delce grabbed the win for Arkansas, striking out four batters in 2.1 innings of relief. Gibson was the only Razorback to have multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. [autotag]KB Sides[/autotag], Hannah Gammill, [autotag]Audrey LaValley[/autotag], and [autotag]Sam Torres[/autotag] each had one hit in the game.

The series finale between the Razorbacks and Tigers is set for 1 p.m. Sunday. The game can be seen on SEC Network+.

SOFTBALL: Late rally lifts LSU over Arkansas to even series

Arkansas could not respond to a late LSU rally, setting up a winner-take-all game on Monday in front of a national audience.

The story so far through the first two games of Arkansas’ series with LSU has been offense production. In Saturday’s opener, both teams combined to record 23 hits with just three strikeouts in Arkansas’ 8-7 win.

Sunday would be no different, as both teams combined to hit 17 times, with each pitching staff grabbing five strikeouts each.

The difference would be one swing of the bat by LSU’s Georgia Clark. Clark broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the 7th inning by hitting a bases-loaded to double to plate three runs, giving the Tigers the 7-4 win on Sunday, forcing a rubber match on Monday night.

Arkansas grabbed control of the game early, but could not fight off a furious LSU comeback, as the Tigers scored six of their seven runs over the final two innings. LSU grabbed their first lead of the game on a three-run blast by Ali Newland, giving the Tigers the 4-3 lead over the Razorbacks. Newland would end the day with four RBI, as she put her squad on the board in the top of the 4th inning on an RBI double to left center to cut into Arkansas’ 2-1 lead.

The Razorbacks grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning on a double by Kacie Hoffman. Hoffman took advantage of two earlier walks in the inning to Taylor Ellsworth and Danielle Gibson, scoring both runners on the double to right field.

Ellsworth would extend Arkansas’ lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the 5th inning on a solo home run, her sixth home run of the season. The Razorbacks responded to LSU’s three-run home run in the 6th on a single by Audrey LaValley to tie the game at 4-4 going into the final inning.

The Razorbacks would end the game on three straight groundouts following the three-run double by Newland in the 7th inning, ending the comeback effort.

Ellsworth, LaValley, and Hoffman had two hits each in the game, with Hoffman leading the team in RBI with two. Mary Haff took the loss in the circle for Arkansas, as she allowed three earned runs in 1.1 innings. Chenise Delce struck out five batters, and allowed seven hits and four earned runs in her start.

Arkansas looks to bounce back on Monday in game three of the series with LSU. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bogle Park, and can be seen on SEC Network.

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