FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A six-run sixth inning by the No. 12/11 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks on Tuesday evening tamed the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team's upset bid at Bogle Park as the Razorbacks took an 8-1 win the mid-week clash.
 
The Razorbacks, who have won the last two SEC championships came into the game being ranked No. 12 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll and No. 11 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25.
 
"I am really proud of our pitching and defense today," said coach Brittany Miller. "They went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country for the first five innings. Hopefully, we can build on this performance when we return home as we make a push to reach the conference tournament."  
 
Both teams went down in order in the first inning. Arkansas capitalized on a Lion fielding error in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Rylin Hedgecock reached on an error and came around to score on a one-out double to left center by Hannah Gammill.
 
The first 13 batters for the Lions went down in order, until Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge) got on base with an infield double. A pop up to third was caught in the wind, which was blowing to the outfield, and it allowed Williams to reach second.
 
Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial) came in as a pinch hitter with two outs in the fifth and drilled an RBI single to left center to bring home Williams. Elizabeth Guerrero (International School of Americas) came in next as a pinch hitter and hit a fly ball that was caught by the Arkansas' center field mere inches away from the fence.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Kacie Hoffman singled up the middle with one out. After a fly out, Raigan Kramer tripled to center and brought home Hoffman.
 
Hedgecock led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to left. Lauren Camenzind singled through the right side and Gammill reached on a fielding error by the Lions. After a pitching change, the Lions got two consecutive outs. Rijo was hit by a pitch and loaded the bases.
 
Reagan Johnson hit a two-run single and after Kramer drew a walk to load the bases once again. Cylie Halvorson cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line and represented the run-rule clinching run. After back-to-back walks to load the bases and a Lion pitching change, Gammill popped up to first to end the inning.
 
The Lions went down in order in the seventh. A&M-Commerce had three hits in the game with one each from Williams and Wright, while Emmie Miehe (Cameron Park, Calif.) came in as a pinch hitter in the sixth and recorded a base hit.
 
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) pitched five innings, being charged with two earned runs, and took the loss. She recorded five strikeouts, including four through the first two innings. Anissa Arredondo (San Antonio – Warren) recorded two outs in the sixth and Madeline Janssen (Earlham, Iowa) recorded the final out of the sixth.
 
For the Razorbacks, Johnson went 2 for 4 and Camenzind went 2 for 3. Robyn Herron recorded 10 strikeouts in her 5.2-inning start. She allowed three hits and one earned run. Chenise Delce came in for the save. She punched out three in 1.1 innings.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions return to Commerce to UIW this weekend for a doubleheader on Friday at 5 p.m. and the series finale on Saturday at Noon.