Softball
Clutch hitting, complete game pushes Hogs past Tulsa
Freshman Caroline Hedgcock produced a complete-game performance to lead Arkansas to a 3-1 win over Tulsa.
FAYETTEVILLE — In a top-30 RPI matchup Tuesday evening at Bogle Park, freshman Caroline Hedgcock produced a complete-game performance to lead Arkansas to a 3-1 win over Tulsa.
The victory was the Razorbacks’ 25th of the season, and marked the program’s first home win over Tulsa since 2005, and its first ever at Bogle Park.
Offensively, Autumn Russell and Loren Krzysko each had two hits and scored a run.
Hedgcock, in the Razorbacks’ 13th complete game of the year, allowed just four hits and an unearned run to go along with two strikeouts and no walks.
The Downers Grove, Ill., native needed just nine or fewer pitches to get through four of the first five innings including a four-pitch fifth frame. Hedgcock retired 15 of the first 16 hitters she faced before Tulsa (26-13) scored its run in the sixth.
The teams combined for just one base runner each through three innings but Arkansas (25-14) opened the scoring with a run in the fourth.
Russell got things started with a one-out double to center field, her second hit of the day. She came around to score during the next at-bat when Ashley Diaz knocked a single through the middle of the infield.
Russell’s first-inning hit was her team-leading 40th of the year, and the junior infielder now has 13 multi-hit efforts this season.
Nicole Schroeder started a two-run rally in the fifth inning with a single to left field. Krzysko dropped a single in to right field to put runners on first and second.
After a one-out walk to Haydi Bugarin, the bases were loaded with Shelby Hiers coming to the plate. The senior catcher delivered with a ground ball up the middle that plated pinch runner Sydney Parr.
Arkansas scored its third run of the game when a wild pitch allowed Krzysko to scamper home from third.
Up Next
The Razorbacks continue their home stand and jump back into SEC play this weekend, hosting No. 5 Texas A&M beginning Friday at Bogle Park.
Game one of the series will be televised on ESPNU with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
General admission is free for all home games. In addition to television coverage, Friday’s opener will also be available through the WatchESPN app.
