Arkansas softball opened the twin-bill with a win over Michigan State, before suffering a loss to Penn State.
The No. 12 Arkansas softball team split a double-header in south Florida on Saturday, knocking off Michigan State in the opener, before suffering its first loss of the season at the hands of Penn State in extra innings.
The Razorbacks (4-1) wrapped up the three-day Paradise Classic and must now travel across the country to Arizona for next weekend’s Bear Down Fiesta tournament.
After wins over Marshall, Florida Atlantic and Ohio on the first two days, Arkansas remained unbeaten at the time, with a 6-5 win over the Spartans.
The Hogs thumped seven hits against Michigan State, including a pair of home runs by senior sluggers Cylie Halvorson and Hannah Gammill.
Right-handed sophomore Reis Beuerlein made her second start as a Razorback, after transferring from Mississippi State, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. After while surrendering two runs on four hits.
After sophomore lefty Hannah Camenzind came in for 2.2 frames in relief, giving up three runs and striking out four, fellow sophomore Robyn Herron (2-1) came in to pick up her second win of the young season. The Tampa native shut down the Michigan State bats for the final 1.1 innings, striking out three of the four batters she faced, to put the game on ice.
Halverson’s solo shot tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. The Razorbacks extended the lead to 4-1 with three in the third, including junior Bri Ellis’ two-run single. Gammill’s two-run bomb then made it 6-2 after five.
The Spartans (0-4) rallied for three runs in the sixth, before Herron came in to extinguish the fire.
Facing their second Big Ten opponent of the day, the Razorbacks found themselves in a pitcher’s duel against the Nittany Lions, before allowing a run with one out in the eighth inning to fall, 3-2.
Herron started the game on the mound, and despite the loss, was dominant once again. She went the entire 7.1 innings, giving up just two earned runs, while striking out 10 Nittany Lions for her sixth career double-digit strikeout performance.
Sophomore Reagan Johnson and senior Nia Carter accounted for all four Razorback hits, with two apiece.
Senior Rylin Hedgecock got the Hogs on the board in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to center field. After Penn State tied it at 1-1 in the second, Arkansas regained the lead in the fourth on a Carter’s RBI single.
The Nittany Lions (4-0) tied it again at 2-2 in the fourth, before both teams went scoreless until the eighth. With a “ghost runner” on second to start the inning, Penn State needed just one base hit to claim the win.
In addition to Johnson’s two singles, she also drew a pair of walks and stole her third base of the season.
Arkansas will begin play in Tucson on Friday, facing Long Beach State at noon, followed by a matchup with host Arizona at 5 p.m.