April 10, 2016
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The South Carolina Gamecocks (30-10, 4-8 SEC) could not overcome Arkansas’s offensive success on Sunday, as the Razorbacks took a 10-5 win in the series finale at Bogle Park.
South Carolina tried to tally a second-straight seventh-inning comeback, coming into the frame down 10-4. Senior Ansley Ard drove in sophomore Kamryn Watts to close the gap to 10-5. The Gamecocks loaded the bases with two outs, but Arkansas starter Grace Moll got a grounder back to herself to end the game.
Arkansas ran out to a 4-0 lead in the second, getting RBI hits from Claire Clark and Madison Yannetti ahead of Lauren Archuleta’s two-RBI single. Gamecock junior Kaylea Snaer knocked her 20th double of the year in the third, bringing home freshman Kennedy Clark after her two-out walk, to make it a 4-1 contest.
The Razorbacks stretched the advantage to 6-1 on Rachel Box’s fourth-inning, two-run homer. South Carolina got one run back in the fifth after loading the bases with one down, as senior Alaynie Page scored on sophomore Krystan White’s fielder’s choice. But Arkansas pushed the lead to 8-2 on Archuleta’s double off the right-field wall, scoring two more.
South Carolina drew within four again in the sixth. With senior Ansley Ard on third, freshman Alexis Mack grounded one towards first that the Razorbacks let roll until it hit the bag, giving Mack the RBI single. Two batters later, Snaer smashed another double, scoring Mack to make it 8-4. But Arkansas scored twice more in the sixth, as Loren Krzysko doubled in a run with two outs before coming home on a wild pitch to push the lead to 10-4.
Moll (11-20) picked up the win, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and seven walks while fanning three. Gamecock starter Nickie Blue (14-8) took the loss, giving up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits and three walks.
Game Changer:
Arkansas came out swinging and answered every Gamecock counter.
Key Stat:
South Carolina left 13 runners on base in the contest, compared to just five for the Hogs.
Notables:
– With her two doubles on the day, Snaer ties South Carolina’s single-season record of 21, originally set by current volunteer assistant Tina Plew Whitlock in 1995.
– It’s Snaer’s fifth two-double game of the year, as she went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two walks.
– Senior Jordan Bizzell went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, and freshman Kenzi Maguire also went 2-for-4.
– Clark reached base three times on two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
– Three different Gamecocks had stolen bases: Ard, Mack and Watts.
– Archuleta led Arkansas with a 2-for-3 day and four RBI, while Box went 2-for-4 with the two-run homer and a double.
– Krzysko and Clark both had doubles as well.
Tweet of the Game:
M6 | Snaer DOUBLES AGAIN! No. 21, tying SC’s single-season record. Mack scores, now 8-4 #Gamecocks down at Arkansas.
– Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) April 10, 2016
Up Next:
South Carolina travels to Spartanburg for a Tuesday contest at USC Upstate. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Cyrill Stadium.
