2008 Woodie Awards
Lady'backs continue hot streak, sweep kentucky in league play
Cory Crawford
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Sports
The Arkansas Lady'Back softball team is back in winning form.
Arkansas (32-18, 5-12 Southeastern Conference) swept Kentucky (15-27, 3-14) this weekend for its first SEC series win of the year. The Lady'Backs have now won nine of their last 10 games.
The Lady'Backs kicked off the series with a nine-inning, 6-5 win Saturday. Miranda Dixon drove in Jocelyne Moncrief in the ninth, giving Arkansas the lead and the eventual win.
"It seemed like we were on the ropes and waiting for Kentucky to land the knockout blow and we survived," said Arkansas head coach Jamie Pinkerton. "Late in the game, we did what we had to do to get it tied and win in extra innings."
Arkansas took a 2-0 lead early with a Kayla Johnson home run in the third, but Kentucky scored three in the bottom of the third, putting the Wildcats on top.
After the Wildcats added a run in the fifth, Sandra Smith hit a home run to pull the Lady'Backs within one.
Down 5-3 in the seventh, Arkansas scored two runs on a Johnson double to tie the game, and send it into extra innings.
Katy Henry earned the win, pitching all nine innings.
Leslie Dixon, Miranda Dixon and Samantha Buckner all hit solo homers in the second game as Arkansas eased to a 3-0 win.
Miranda Dixon also pitched a two-hitter for her second strong outing in a row.
"Miranda just built off her Oklahoma game and was outstanding," Pinkerton said. "When her pitches move like that, she's tough."
The final game of the series proved to be a bit easier for the Lady'Backs. Arkansas pounded out 11 hits and took advantage of five Kentucky errors, rolling to a 14-1 victory to clinch the sweep.
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but that wouldn't last long.
Arkansas scored three runs, two unearned, in the second. Smith and Huckabee each homered in the third to give the Lady'Backs a 7-1 lead.
Johnson followed in the fourth with a three-run home run of her own and Huckabee capped off a four-run fifth with a two-run homer, her second of the day.
Miranda Dixon allowed just two hits, while striking out eight.
Earlier in the week, the Lady'Backs hosted a two-game set with No. 11 Oklahoma.
Arkansas won the opener 3-2 and lost the extra-inning nightcap 3-2.
"With the storied program and tradition that OU has, that's a big win for us," Pinkerton said.
Arkansas' other midweek series against Kansas was cancelled because of weather.
Next week will be busy for the Lady'Backs with five SEC games, all at Lady'Back Yard.
Arkansas brings in Alabama Thursday for a doubleheader before hosting Ole Miss for two games Saturday and one Sunday.
Arkansas (32-18, 5-12 Southeastern Conference) swept Kentucky (15-27, 3-14) this weekend for its first SEC series win of the year. The Lady'Backs have now won nine of their last 10 games.
The Lady'Backs kicked off the series with a nine-inning, 6-5 win Saturday. Miranda Dixon drove in Jocelyne Moncrief in the ninth, giving Arkansas the lead and the eventual win.
"It seemed like we were on the ropes and waiting for Kentucky to land the knockout blow and we survived," said Arkansas head coach Jamie Pinkerton. "Late in the game, we did what we had to do to get it tied and win in extra innings."
Arkansas took a 2-0 lead early with a Kayla Johnson home run in the third, but Kentucky scored three in the bottom of the third, putting the Wildcats on top.
After the Wildcats added a run in the fifth, Sandra Smith hit a home run to pull the Lady'Backs within one.
Down 5-3 in the seventh, Arkansas scored two runs on a Johnson double to tie the game, and send it into extra innings.
Katy Henry earned the win, pitching all nine innings.
Leslie Dixon, Miranda Dixon and Samantha Buckner all hit solo homers in the second game as Arkansas eased to a 3-0 win.
Miranda Dixon also pitched a two-hitter for her second strong outing in a row.
"Miranda just built off her Oklahoma game and was outstanding," Pinkerton said. "When her pitches move like that, she's tough."
The final game of the series proved to be a bit easier for the Lady'Backs. Arkansas pounded out 11 hits and took advantage of five Kentucky errors, rolling to a 14-1 victory to clinch the sweep.
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but that wouldn't last long.
Arkansas scored three runs, two unearned, in the second. Smith and Huckabee each homered in the third to give the Lady'Backs a 7-1 lead.
Johnson followed in the fourth with a three-run home run of her own and Huckabee capped off a four-run fifth with a two-run homer, her second of the day.
Miranda Dixon allowed just two hits, while striking out eight.
Earlier in the week, the Lady'Backs hosted a two-game set with No. 11 Oklahoma.
Arkansas won the opener 3-2 and lost the extra-inning nightcap 3-2.
"With the storied program and tradition that OU has, that's a big win for us," Pinkerton said.
Arkansas' other midweek series against Kansas was cancelled because of weather.
Next week will be busy for the Lady'Backs with five SEC games, all at Lady'Back Yard.
Arkansas brings in Alabama Thursday for a doubleheader before hosting Ole Miss for two games Saturday and one Sunday.
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