Rich Gagnon
2
Boston University BOSTONU 8-4
4
Winner Arkansas AR 17-3
Boston University BOSTONU
8-4
2
Final
4
Arkansas AR
17-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Boston University BOSTONU 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 3 1
Arkansas AR 4 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 8 1

W: Haff (10-3) L: DuBois, Ali (5-1)

7
Boston University BOSTONU 8-5
12
Winner Arkansas AR 18-3
Boston University BOSTONU
8-5
7
Final
12
Arkansas AR
18-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Boston University BOSTONU 0 0 1 0 0 6 0 7 11 1
Arkansas AR 2 0 1 0 3 6 X 12 14 3

W: Haff (8-0) L: Handfield, Julia (1-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

No. 14 Arkansas Holds Off Softball in DH Sweep at Wooo Pig Classic

FAYETTEVILLE, Ariz. – Wrapping up the Wooo Pig Classic, the Boston University softball team dropped a pair of tightly-contested contests to host and No. 14-nationally ranked Arkansas on Saturday evening at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks (18-3) used a three-run homer in the first inning of the first contest to jump out to an early lead and held on for a 4-2 victory. A 2018 NCAA Super Regional participant, they then later rallied from a one-run deficit with six runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete the doubleheader sweep against the Terriers (8-5), 12-7, as both Arkansas pitchers combined for 25 strikeouts in 14 innings of work. Freshman Aliyah Huerta-Leipner collected a team-high three hits for BU, and senior Alexa Ponce recorded a team-high three RBIs to lead the offense.

As a result of expected poor weather conditions in Arkansas, including snow, the Terriers' final game against Nevada scheduled for Sunday (March 3) was canceled, making the Razorbacks' DH with BU the final two contests of the tournament. 

GAME ONE: #14 Arkansas 4, BU 2

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Razorbacks needed little time to get on the scoreboard against sophomore Ali DuBois with back-to-back singles and an RBI double down the right field line.
  • With two outs and two on base, Nicole Duncan delivered what proved to be the game-winning at-bat on a three-run homer to left for the 4-0 advantage.
  • Freshman Julia Handfield replaced DuBois in the circle to start the second and scattered four hits over five scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts.
  • BU had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the second on an Arkansas error and sophomore Marina Sylvestri's double to left center, but 2018 National Freshman of the Year finalist Mary Haff earned a line out and two of her 12 strikeouts to get out of the jam.
  • The Razorbacks tried to put the game away in the fifth with runners at the corners on a single and error, but Handfield got a strikeout and grounder to second to end the threat.
  • Haff earned the rarely seen four strikeouts in one inning during the sixth with the help of a wild pitch against senior Emily Morrow, who quickly scored from first on senior Alex Heinen's two-run homer to left center.
  • In the seventh, trying to continue the rally, BU struck out two more times and hit an infield pop-up for the loss.
GAME TWO: #14 Arkansas 12, BU 7

THE TURNING POINT
  • After BU rallied from a 6-1 deficit in the top of the sixth with six runs off six hits and an error, the Razorbacks duplicated the Terriers' efforts in the bottom half with six runs off six combined hits and an error against Handfield, DuBois and freshman Emily Gant.
  • Arkansas used back-to-back doubles to tie the game, 7-7, and then took advantage of a BU error with a two-RBI single to grab the lead for good.
  • Haff pitched the final 1.2 innings of relief and allowed just two unearned runs against two strikeouts to claim her second win of the day.
THE SETUP
  • With one out in the first, Arkansas struck again with a one-out, two-run homer by Katie Warrick for the 2-0 lead.
  • The Terriers almost got on the scoreboard in the second, as sophomore Maya Kipfmiller reached second on a throwing error and tried to score on freshman Nicole Amodio's infield single.
  • However, Arkansas made a great diving stab at the hard-hit ball and managed to throw it home in time for the tag.
  • BU finally got on the board with Huerta-Leipner scoring on Ponce's RBI single through the left side, but the Terriers left the bases loaded.
  • Arkansas added a run in the third and then tallied three runs off four hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles, to extend the lead to 6-1 entering the sixth.
  • Sylvestri started the sixth with a single up the middle and was replaced by senior Analisa Ruff at first on a fielder's choice before Kipfmiller, Amodio (RBI), Gant and Huerta-Leipner (2 RBIs) combined for four straight singles against starter Autumn Storms and Haff.
  • The Razorbacks committed a costly error with two outs that allowed Gant to score and then set up Ponce's two-RBI single to left for the 7-6 advantage. 
DOUBLEHEADER NOTES
  • BU met the Razorbacks for the first time since dropping a tightly-contested 3-2 decision in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Regionals at Cal-Berkeley.
  • Heinen earned her 17th homer of the season for sole possession of eighth place in the program record book and now has four total this season after tallying three last year.
  • Gant totaled nine strikeouts in her second consecutive start against Arkansas after fanning nine Mavericks in Friday's 6-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha.
  • The Terriers fell to 0-3 this season against ranked opponents following an earlier 4-0 loss to then-No. 8 Tennessee.
NEXT UP: LOUISVILLE SLUGGER TOURNAMENT
  • The Terriers will open their California Spring Break trip against San Diego State at 12 p.m. ET on Friday (March 8) at Louisville Slugger Tournament co-host Long Beach State before facing BYU at UCLA later in the day at 5 p.m. ET.
  • BU fell to BYU, 9-0, in 2017 and defeated SDSU twice last season with a 1-0 win in San Diego and 5-2 victory at Fullerton, California.
Print Friendly Version