SHERWOOD, Ark. – Bryant's Amie Hubbard slugged a solo home run, her four the of the season, to help the Arkansas Razorbacks softball team to a 6-2 victory over Centenary at the Sherwood Sports Complex on Wednesday, April 15.
Hubbard, who helped the Bryant Lady Hornets reach the Class 7A State finals her senior season in 2005, also walked and scored in the game. She contributed a sacrifice bunt as well.
In addition, Kayla Johnson ascended to the top of Arkansas’ all-time runs scored list. The senior infielder finished the night 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. In the circle, Miranda Dixon improved to 16-6 with a complete-game performance. The Razorbacks improve to 7-0 all-time in games played in Sherwood.[more]
“It’s always special to come down to Sherwood because it’s always a great crowd,” head coach Jamie Pinkerton said. “It’s good to bring the team down here and let them see the appreciation and support the Razorbacks have all across the state.”
The visitors jumped out to a 1-0 lead by scoring an unearned run in the top of the first. After a three-base error in the outfield, Haley Bassett stood on third and eventually came home to score on a foul out by Lindsey Smith.
“We got off to a slow start with an uncharacteristic error in the outfield,” Pinkerton said. “But I liked the way we bounced back to score in the second. Offensively, I liked the way we swung the bats tonight. We didn’t leave many runners on the base.”
Johnson led off the Razorbacks’ half of the second inning with a solo shot to left field, her fourth home run of the season. With the run, she tied Dana Gulick (1997-2000) atop the career runs scored list at Arkansas.
After a walk to Dixon and a throwing error by Centenary, runners stood on first and second. Sandra Smith drove in both runs with a double to left center to give the Razorbacks the 3-1 advantage.
The Razorbacks added a run in the fourth on Hubbard's blast which made it 4-1.
Jessica Bachkora extended her current hitting streak to seven with a double to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Another double by Johnson plated Bachkora to push the Arkansas lead to four. Dixon helped her own cause with a single up the middle which brought Johnson home for the record-setting run. The Razorbacks led 6-1 at the end of five.
Centenary tacked on its second run of the evening in the top of the sixth. Haley Bassett had the first hit of the game for the Ladies with a single up the middle. Jenny Varteressian singled to center field to drive in Bassett to give the game its final tally.
“Miranda did a great job pitching for us tonight,” Pinkerton said. “She pitched with confidence, didn’t get behind and I liked her presence out there in the circle.
Overall, it was a nice win for us over a good Centenary team and it should give us a good boost going into Tuscaloosa this weekend against Alabama.”
