5 Things You May Have Missed in College Softball Saturday
Comeback Win
Arkansas softball defeated Missouri on Saturday afternoon in a come-from-behind victory in the final inning of play. The Razorbacks trailed by two runs going into the seventh inning and scored three to secure the 6-5 victory. The game-winning two-run single came from Loren Krzysko, who earned her first start of the season that afternoon. With Saturday’s result, Arkansas improves to 23-14 overall and 3-11 in SEC play. The win also snapped an eight-game slide, five of which were decided by one or two runs. The Razorbacks tallied 10 hits against Mizzou for its first double-digit effort since March 12 at No. 9 Alabama. Arkansas and Missouri will battle for the series on Sunday, first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
Ole Miss Stuns Auburn
In a top-25 SEC battle Saturday afternoon in front of a national TV audience, Ole Miss stunned Auburn with a convincing 10-4 victory at Jane B. Moore Field. The Rebels (26-12, 3-8 SEC) and Tigers (32-6, 7-4 SEC) swapped leads early on in the contest before Ole Miss ran away with it in the first win over a top-five team since the 2014 season. Eight of the nine hitters in the Rebel lineup tallied at least one hit, as Ole Miss powered out 15 total in the win, the most in a SEC game this season. Brittany Finney pitched a strong 5.1 innings for the Rebels in the circle and earned her first SEC win. With the series tied at one game apiece, the two teams will face off for the final time on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Gators Shutout Bulldogs
The Florida softball team shutout Georgia 5-0 Saturday, in front of a Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium record crowd of 2,497 people. It’s the first time the Gators have shutout the Bulldogs since April 28, 2013, in Gainesville. The Gators (35-2, 11-1 SEC) offense opened up in the first frame of the contest against the Bulldogs (27-11, 2-8 SEC). Junior Aleshia Ocasio drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to plate sophomore Amanda Lorenz. Ocasio was the catalyst once again in the Gators big fourth inning at the plate. She ripped her second triple of the season to leadoff the frame and was brought home on a tapper back to the circle by Justine McLean. McLean’s 13th stolen base of the season set the table for Lorenz to smack a single to center field. Gator pitcher Kelly Barnhill earned the win and moved to 14-0 on the season. The Gators and Bulldogs will square off in the second game of the series Sunday, April 9, at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
The Wildcats Make History
Just three teams in the last 13 seasons have started 38-1. The 2004 Arizona Wildcats, the 2012 Cal Bears, and the 2017 Wildcats. In 2004, Arizona won its 40th game and went on to start the year 45-1, the best 46-game start in NCAA history. In 2012, the 38-1 Golden Bears lost to Arizona in the 40th game of the year, denying Cal the first 39-1 start since 2004. On Saturday, the Wildcats defeated Stanford 12-0 in five innings, their 24th straight win and 39th in 40 tries this season, matching the 2004 Wildcats, among others, as the best 40-game start in NCAA softball history. Oregon, currently 35-1, has a chance to join the Wildcats next week. In Saturday’s game, Arizona hit four more runs, putting them at 11 home runs and 32 runs scored in their eight offensive innings this series. The Wildcat pitching staff has held Stanford to eight total hits. Arizona will go for its fourth straight Pac-12 series sweep on Sunday at 12 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.
Runs, runs and more runs
Florida State earned an 18-9 win over Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in game one of the series. The Seminoles sent five long balls over the fence during the game and the 18 runs scored was a season high. Senior Ellie Cooper led the team with five RBI, while redshirt senior Alex Powers and sophomore Carsyn Gordon each drove in four runs apiece. “Crazy game today, but I loved to see the fight from this team,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “We always talk about playing through adversity, and today we had plenty of it from the wind and cold and Syracuse putting a lot of balls in play. But at no point did our focus waver, nor did we lose trust in the person to our left and our right. A lot of positives from today, as well as a lot of things to work on, and it will be great to get after it again tomorrow.” The Seminoles will wrap up their series with the Orange on Sunday with a doubleheader that will begin at 10 a.m.
