Razorbacks Spend Saturday in Tussle with Big Ten Schools

Arkansas wraps up Paradise Classic, now turns eyes west for Arizona

BOCA RATON, Fla. – When it comes to playing teams out of the Pac-12 or SEC, the softball world knows what it's going to get. However, when Big Ten teams show up on the schedule, it's always a roll of the dice.

What Arkansas got in a Saturday finale double-header against Michigan State and Penn State was a struggle. In the early morning tilt against the Spartans, the Razorbacks were able to hold on despite a 3-run home run by Britain Brashears in the sixth to slip away to the late morning game with a 6-5 win to start the year 4-0.

In the second game, Arkansas and Penn State battled through a pitcher's duel throughout regulation to a 2-2 tie in extra innings. That's when the Razorbacks got taken out by a ghost. 

Softball rules allow for a runner to start extra innings on second base, a rule since adopted by Major League Baseball. Raigan Kramer opened the inning as Arkansas' ghost runner. She was immediately moved over to third with a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Gammill, but Penn St. pitcher Bridget Nemeth struck out the next two Razorbacks to get out of the jam. 

Arkansas wouldn't be so lucky. The Nittany Lions followed the same playbook with a sacrifice back to the pitcher, but was able to get a single to first base to score Emily Maddock to clinch a 3-2 win over the No. 16 ranked Razorbacks.

Razorbacks' coach Courtney Deifel reorganized her staff in the offseason with run production in mind. Over the course of five games, Arkansas put up 33 runs across 41 innings on 40 hits.

Arkansas will now head out West for five games shortly after Valentine's Day for the Bear Down Fiesta in Tuscon, Arizona. The highlight of that series will be a pair of games against Pac-12 host Arizona. The Razorbacks will also play Long Beach State and a pair of games against Omaha. 

After that, Arkansas will host a pair of classic style events as part of 17 straight games at Bogle Park that stretches all the way to mid-March.

(Arkansas Communications)

(Arkansas Communications)

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