Arkansas rolled over the Panthers with strong performances throughout the lineup and coach Dave Van Horn talked about the strong wins in series’ sweep.
Webb, Opitz talk about opening 2020 season with three big wins over Eastern Illinois
Razorbacks left fielder Braydon Webb (3 runs scored Sunday) and catcher Casey Opitz (2 RBI) recapping final-day win and big wins in series’ sweep.
Hogs have another historic performance in rolling past Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. — Arkansas won its 20th game of the season on Sunday, beating Ole Miss, 108-64, to reach eight SEC wins for the second time since joining the conference.
It is the seventh time since 2000 the Hogs have won at least 20 games.
The Razorbacks continue to make offensive history this season, as they once again broke the program record for most points in an SEC game, scoring 108 points. This is their second straight game breaking that record, as the Hogs dropped 103 on then-No. 15 Kentucky last Sunday.
Arkansas also shattered the program record for field-goal percentage in an SEC game, shooting a whopping 64.4 percent (38-of-59) from the field. The previous record, 60.4 percent, had stood for 20 years.
Senior guard Alexis Tolefree continued her statement season with another great outing against Ole Miss, going for a team-high 19 points in the win.
She was once again the picture of efficiency, going four of six from the field, two of thee from long range, and nine of 10 from the free throw line.
Chelsea Dungee and Amber Ramirez also had solid outings in the Pavilion, going for 18 points and 17 points, respectively.
Fast start in first half
The Hogs were absolutely lethal offensively in the first half, shooting the ball at a staggering 69.7 percent clip, the best shooting half for the Hogs since last week’s 71.8 percent shooting barrage in the second half against Kentucky.
That included a 32-point first period, the fifth time over the course of SEC play the Hogs eclipsed 30 points in a single quarter.
The scoring for the Razorbacks was spread out in the first half, as all nine Hogs that touched the floor scored at least four points.
Tolefree led the way with 11 in the first half. Ramirez, Dungee and A’Tyanna Gaulden all had nine.
Highlights
• Tolefree continues to light it up in SEC play, as she again led the Hogs in scoring, pouring in 19 points.
• Sophomore guard Rokia Doumbia led the Hogs on the glass, pulling down 11 boards, one shy of her career-high.
• Doumbia also led the team in assists, dishing a career-high six of them.
• The Hogs had five players reach double-figures in the game, the fifth time this season that has happened. Arkansas is 5-0 in those games.
• Arkansas moved the ball well against Ole Miss, going for 17 assists as a team, the fifth time this season they have gone for 17 or more helpers.
Tennessee comes to Bud Walton on Thursday
The Razorbacks return home for a huge matchup on Thursday, as No. 25 Tennessee comes to Bud Walton for another ranked showdown.
That game is set to tip at 6 p.m. and will air on the SEC Network.
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Hogs sending Adams to mound to finish season-opening sweep
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back, clinching the series against Eastern Illinois with a 10-1 win on Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Freshman Blake Adams will make his first appearance for the Hogs on Sunday whey they try to complete a sweep, starting at 1 p.m.
You can listen to the game on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home. The game will be streamed at HitThatLine.com and listen by CLICKING HERE.
The pregame show will get underway at 12:30 p.m.
The Razorbacks (2-0) put together their first double-digit run and hit totals of the season, finishing with 12 knocks, including five for extra bases. The presence on the mound was powerful once again, striking out 11 with only two walks.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Patrick Wicklander got the starting nod in the middle game of the series for the Razorbacks and picked up the win after a solid five innings.
He allowed just three hits and two walks, did not allow a run and struck out seven, one shy of a career-high.
Saturday also saw the return of right-handed pitcher Caleb Bolden, who missed the 2019 season with an injury. He worked 3.0 scoreless frames, giving up three hits while striking out three.
Bolden gave way to RHP Peyton Pallette, who allowed a run on two hits, but traded said run for a 4-6-3 double play before striking out the final hitter to end the game.
Infielder Jacob Nesbit and outfielder Braydon Webb produced multi-hit games, as Nesbit posted two singles and a double. It was his 13th multi-hit performance of his career.
Arkansas kicked off Saturday’s game with a pair of homers in the opening frame for an early 3-0 lead. Braydon Webb led off the contest with a homer
off the right field pole for his first as a Razorback.
After a walk to Heston Kjerstad, Matt Goodheart followed with his own home run in the same direction, landing on top of the mound in the visitor bullpen beyond right field for the two-run slam.
It marked the second consecutive game Arkansas has hit two homers in the same inning, as Christian Franklin and Kjerstad accomplished the feat in the fifth inning of Opening Day on Friday.
Franklin led off the third inning with a walk, then was moved over after Casey Martin was intentionally walked to pitch to Jacob Nesbit.
The sophomore third baseman made the Panthers regret the decision, shooting an RBI single past the shortstop to give Arkansas a 4-0 lead.
The exact scenario would play out again in the fourth inning, as Nesbit once again drove in a run after the walk to Martin.
Along with Nesbit’s play, the fourth inning consisted of six hits, five singles and six runs to give Arkansas double digits in the run column for the first time this season.
With one out, Robert Moore, Webb, Franklin and Kjerstad delivered consecutive singles, followed by an RBI groundout from Goodheart.
Cole Austin finished off the inning with a two-RBI double to left field to give the Hogs 10 runs in the game.
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Arkansas downs Furman, UIC, in FGCU Invitational in Florida on Saturday
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Arkansas defeated both Furman and UIC at the FGCU Invitational at the FGCU Softball Complex on Saturday, downing the Paladins, 8-1, ithen the Flames (2-1,) 8-3.
Game 1: Arkansas 8, Furman 1
Arkansas outhit Furman, 14-3, and held the Paladins to one hit through six innings. Freshman pitcher Jenna Bloom earned her first collegiate win (1-0) and junior Braxton Burnside turned in her first 4-for-4 day at the plate.
The Razorbacks got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning as junior Danielle Gibson drove in junior Hannah McEwen on a single to center to grab a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Gibson recorded her second RBI of the day with a seeing-eye single through the right side to go up, 2-0.
The rest of Arkansas’ runs all came via the longball. Junior Linnie Malkin put Arkansas in the driver’s seat by crushing a three-run homer to left to cap off a four-run fifth frame and gave the Razorbacks a 5-0 advantage.
Malkin leads the club with three longballs and homered for the third time in her last four games.
In the top of the sixth inning, junior Braxton Burnside smashed a solo homer, her second of the year to put the Razorbacks up six.
Sophomore Audrie LaValley capped off the Razorbacks scoring by blasting a two-run homer in the top of the seventh. Furman scratched across a single tally in the bottom of the seventh on a single to center.
Bloom worked four innings and allowed only one hit and walked three with six strikeouts.
In her homecoming to the Sunshine State, junior Mary Haff threw the last three innings out of the pen and allowed two hits, one earned run and fanned a season-high four batters.
The Winter Park, Fla., native collected the rare three-inning save (1).
Game 2: Arkansas 8, UIC 3
UIC snuck across a run in the first inning to claim a 1-0 lead.
The Flames took advantage of two errors and a hit by pitch to score. Haff masterfully worked out of a runners on second and third nobody out situation and struck out the side to limit the damage.
Arkansas’ offense immediately went to work in the bottom of the first and posted four runs on four hits. Parr slapped a single to center and McEwen walked which allowed Gibson to single up the middle and score the first Arkansas run.
After fouling off eight two strike pitches, Malkin spanked a two RBI single to left and advanced to third on a throwing error.
Green came through with two outs and sent rolling single that was stopped behind the second base bag by the UIC second baseman which allowed Malkin to score from third.
The Razorbacks scored a single tally in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Sydney Parr to go up, 5-2. UIC answered in the next half inning by hitting an opposite field leadoff triple and scored on a throwing error.
In the bottom of the fifth, Green drew a bases loaded walk and freshman pinch runner Larissa Cesena scored on a wild pitch to push the Razorback lead to, 7-2.
The Flames scored another run in the sixth inning on a two out single to center and the Razorbacks scored again on a Sydney Parr bases loaded walk.
Haff (2-1) went six innings and struck out a season-best 12 while allowing six hits and three earned runs.
Senior Autumn Storms came in to work a three-up-three-down seventh. Allie Turdeau (1-1) took the loss for UIC and allowed five earned runs and walked five.
Arkansas closes out the FGCU Invitational at 11:30 a.m. Sunday against the host Eagles.
Musselman on another close loss extending losing streak to four games
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said after the 78-77 loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday he hasn’t been a part of something this tough, but they have to move ahead to road trip to Florida.
Jones says loss to Mississippi State on Saturday ‘hurts most’ in streak
With the Razorbacks in the midst of a four-game losing streak, Mason Jones said Saturday afternoon’s 78-77 loss will carry a little added sting.
Martinez wins Tyson Invitational pole vault; distance crew successful in Seattle
FAYETTEVILLE —In a competition which came down to a pair of teammates for second-ranked Arkansas, it was Lauren Martinez setting a pair of career best heights to claim victory in the invitational pole vault on Saturday at the Tyson Invitational held in the Randal Tyson Track Center.
Meanwhile in Seattle, Washington, at the Husky Classic, the Razorback distance crew registered a slew of career best times while racing at 3,000m and 5,000m on Friday as well as in the mile on Saturday.
“Obviously, the opportunity to divide the forces and let our sprint and jump crew do a great job at the Tyson Invitational and then our distance crew to run some all-time best time and national marks worked well,” said Arkansas women’s coach Lance Harter. “It further prepares us to be competitive at the SEC Championships, and ultimately at the national meet.
“We’ve had great improvement across the board, which was perfect for this weekend. Next weekend is an option weekend for us and then we are on to SECs.”
Martinez moved to No. 6 on the Razorback all-time list with a clearance of 14-4 ½ (4.38) on her first attempt. She needed a pair of jumps to clear 13-8½ (4.18) as well as a then personal best of 14-2½ (4.33). Martinez previous best was 14-0 ¾ from earlier this season.
“I’ve been waiting to PR for a year now,” stated Martinez. “I was able to double PR when I cleared the 4.33 and 4.38. It was a great feeling and I was very excited. When it came down to just Bailee and I, it was nice having a teammate there as we both attempted a PR. I’ve been working on some technical stuff and I think today it finally clicked a little bit.”
Bailee McCorkle, who is currently No. 9 on the Arkansas all-time list, led the competition based on one fewer miss than Martinez through the 14-2½ height.
Then three misses for McCorkle at 14-4½ placed her second. The Razorback pair were the only ones to eclipse 14 feet as six vaulters missed at 14-2 ½ and finished with 13-8 ½ clearances.
Husky Classic
Entering the weekend as the collegiate leader in the 5,000m, Katie Izzo produced her best time in the 3,000m with a stellar effort of 8:55.67 with teammate Carina Viljoen setting a personal best of 8:56.63 as they placed fourth and sixth in the race.
Izzo’s performance ranks second on the Arkansas all-time indoor list, trailing only the school record of 8:52.57 set by Dominique Scott in 2015. Viljoen’s effort ranks No. 4 on the Razorback all-time list.
“It was a phenomenal field to race against,” said Harter. “There were around 12 runners seriously looking at qualifying for nationals. Any time you can break nine minutes that’s kind of a special barrier, especially for a collegian. That was really impressive.”
Also racing and setting career best times at 3,000m were Krissy Gear and Devin Clark. Gear clocked 9:14.39 to place second in her section and 13th overall while Clark posted a time of 9:17.27 to finish 19th overall. Maddy Reed won her section of the 3,000m in a personal best of 9:22.52.
After winning the 3,000m at the Razorback Invitational, Abby Gray improved her career best in the 5,000m with a clocking of 16:15.72 to finish fifth among collegians and 15th overall with the professional runners included.
In an earlier section of the 5,000m, freshman Adoette Vaughan placed third with a 16:53.26.
“With everyone running so well, it’s a reconfirmation that we’re on our way in preparation for the SEC Championships as well as the national meet,” said Harter.
The fast times continued in the mile on Saturday. Izzo won her Invitational section in 4:35.05 and placed fifth overall as Viljoen (4:35.33) and Gear (4:36.59) raced together in another section to finish sixth and seventh overall.
Izzo moved to No. 8 on the Razorback all-time mile list with Gear No. 11 while Viljoen’s career best of 4:33.88 set last season ranks No. 4.
Also racing in the mile, Arkansas has solid performances from Reed (4:39.62) and Kennedy Thompson (4:49.00).
Tyson Invitational
The Razorback 4×400 relay finished runner-up in 3:34.87 behind a 3:32.87 for LSU with a foursome of Rosey Effiong (55.08), Morgan Burks-Magee (52.87), Tiana Wilson (53.34) and Paris Peoples (53.59). Kansas (3:35.61) placed third with North Carolina A&T (3:35.97) fourth.
Earlier in the meet the Arkansas sprint squad competed in the 200m.
Wilson generated a career best of 23.49 to win her Invitational 200m section and placed fourth overall. LSU’s Thelma Davis produced a world-leading 22.80 for the overall victory.
Effiong led the field in the other 200m competition with a 23.87 to edge out a 23.88 from North Carolina A&T’s Nilaja Florence in the same heat.
The rest of the Razorback crew included by Burks-Magee (24.18), G’Auna Edwards (24.33), Daszay Freeman (24.41) and Tamara Kuykendall (24.50).
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Nairn captures long jump at Tyson Invitational on last attempt
FAYETTEVILLE — Down to his last triple jump attempt, Laquan Nairn generated a leap of 52 feet, 10 ¼ inches (16.11) to move from third to first place at the Tyson Invitational on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Arkansas distance crew raced at the Husky Classic in Seattle over the weekend and produced career best times in various distances.
Leading the effort was Emmanuel Cheboson with a 13:41.90 in the 5,000m to place sixth. Cheboson moved to No. 6 on the Arkansas all-time list.
“I think it was a very productive weekend for our program,” said men’s head coach Chris Bucknam. “I was very pleased with the results at Tyson along with the results at the Husky meet. It’s always tough to split your squad, but it was necessary for us to do.
“Not only was I pleased with the performances across the board, but also with how we competed. Laquan’s final jump to win the triple jump is an example of that along with Jeremy in the 400m on Friday. Other examples of strong competition for us were in the 4×400, Kristoffer in the 60m and our distance races in Washington.”
Nairn’s final round effort enabled him to surpass event leader Felix Obi of Nigeria, who led the field with a 52-7¼ (16.03) from the second round. Oklahoma’s Jelaani Davis finished third with a 52-0½ (15.86) leap which moved him from sixth to second place in the fifth stanza.
“It was a good competition overall,” said Nairn, who opened with a 51-11 ¼ (15.83) victory at the Arkansas Invitational in January. “Coach (Mario) Sategna and I came into the meet wanting to be mentally prepared for six jumps. I knew I had to stay consistent and be patient.
“It shows how positive our thoughts can be going into a situation where I was sitting in third place for most of the competition. It shows how hard we’re training and how everything is coming together. Coach and I wanted to get 16.10 or better and we had a 16.11 today.”
An exciting race in the 4×400 relay had the Razorbacks and North Carolina A&T battling through each leg and they were separated by a narrow margin at the finish.
North Carolina A&T secured the victory in 3:04.12 with Arkansas runner-up at 3:04.81 while Iowa (3:06.76) and Baylor (3:07.72) were third and fourth.
Running for the Razorbacks were Lesley Mahlakoane (47.29), Jeremy Farr (45.44), Jalen Brown (46.62) and Hunter Woodhall (45.46).
A second relay group for Arkansas placed fifth overall as they won their section in 3:09.48 with a foursome of Travean Caldwell (47.65), James Milholen (46.91), Tre’Bien Gilbert (47.65) and Nick Hilson (47.27).
Racing in the Invitational 200m, Tylin Jackson posted a time of 21.10 for third in his section and 10th overall.
The winner of the event, LSU’s Terrance Laird, clocked a world-leading time of 20.43 with Georgia’s Matthew Boling runner-up in 20.66.
Husky Classic
Luke George had a career best of 4:06.10 for ninth place in his section of the mile. In the 3,000m, Cameron Griffith neared his personal best with a 7:50.80 to place ninth.
Matt Young registered a career best of 13:49.12 to finish eighth in his 5,000m section, improving from a previous indoor best of 14:19.00, while Gilbert Boit ran 13:59.49. Other Razorbacks contesting the 5,000m included Preston Cates (14:36.57), Graham Brown (14:40.27), and Hayden Dressel (14:55.17).
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Perry, Carter after Bulldogs’ narrow win over Razorbacks on Saturday afternoon
Mississippi State players Reggie Perry (17 points, 8 rebounds) and Tyson Carter (26 points) after a 78-77 win over the Hogs on a buzzer-beater tip-in by Abdul Ado.
Razorbacks pick up third straight win, downing Memphis, 4-3
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas won its third straight match at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center, edging Memphis, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon.
In the final match-up of the day freshman Melvin Manuel came back to win the final two sets on court five to get the win for the Hogs.
Arkansas secured the doubles point for the second time this season with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. The pairing of Manuel and Jose Dominguez Alonso moved to 5-2 this spring with a 6-3 victory on court three while Alex Reco and Nico Rousset earned the duos second win this season.
In singles action, Maxim Verboven made quick work at the No. 1 spot with a 6-1, 6-3 straight set win over Jan Pallares.
Enrique Paya followed that up on court six with a two-set win over Patrick Sydow to put the Razorbacks up 3-0. Memphis rattled off three straight wins to tie up the contest at three points apiece.
Manuel dropped the first set at the No. 5 spot in the deciding match but fought back to take set two, 7-5.
After the rookie built a lead in the final set his Tiger opponent, Jeremy Taylor, brought the score to 5-4 with Manuel holding just a single game lead, but the Razorback was able to close it for the Hogs’ fourth win of the season.
Doubles
• No. 1 | Verboven/Paya (Ark) vs. Cutting/Stevenson (Memphis), 5-5 (unfinished)
• No. 2 | Reco/Rousset (Ark) def. Pallares/Sydow (Memphis), 7-5
• No. 3 | Manuel/Dominguez Alonso (Ark) def. J. Story/M. Story (Memphis), 6-3
Singles
• No. 1 | Maxim Verboven (Ark) def. Jan Pallares (Memphis), 6-1, 6-3
• No. 2 | Oscar Cutting (Memphis) def. No. 73 Alex Reco (Ark), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
• No. 3 | James Story (Memphis) def. Josh Howard-Tripp (Ark), 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
• No. 4 | David Stevenson (Memphis) def. Nico Rousset (Ark), 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
• No. 5 | Melvin Manuel (Ark) def. Jeremy Taylor (Memphis), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
• No. 6 | Enrique Paya (Ark) def. Patrick Sydow (Memphis), 6-3, 6-4
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
