May 16, 2008

Box Score

Norman, Okla.- - Arkansas' Brittany Robison sent her fifth home run of the season over the leftfield fence to give the University of Arkansas an early 3-0 lead. The Lady'Backs never looked back in route to a 7-5 victory in the opening game of the Norman NCAA Regional. Arkansas (37-27) will face the winner of the nightcap between Oregon and Oklahoma on Saturday. Tulsa (34-24) will play the loser of Friday night's final game at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

After a scoreless first inning by both teams, UA got the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning. A one-out walk by Dayna Huckabee was followed by a single from Samantha Buckner. With a pair of baserunners, Robinson took a 2-2 pitch out for the 3-0 score.

Arkansas led off the bottom of the third inning with a double by Miranda Dixon. After a sacrifice by Sandra Smith, UA was threatening again. However freshman Jordan Kinard was able to get out of the jam without allowing another run. Kinard would retire eight of the next nine batters, with the only baserunner coming off a fielding error.

Tulsa got its first hit in the top of the fourth when sophomore Lauren Lindsay led off the fram with a single up the middle. After a ground out, senior Sara Dyer hit her fifth home run of the season to cut the UA lead to 3-2. It was Dyer's 21st career home run for the Golden Hurricane, tying her with Lindsay for second on the TU all-time chart. The Hurricane took its first lead in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back singles by senior Lindsey Tower and junior Stephanie Chomicki gave TU a pair of baserunners. Lindsay then recorded her 15th home run of the season to give TU a 5-3 advantage. The long ball tied the school record for home runs in a season for Lindsay. Former TU slugger Katie Torres recorded 15 home runs during the 2004 campaign.

A leadoff home run by Whitney Cloer in the bottom of the sixth inning cut the Hurricane lead to 5-4. Two singles sandwiched around a walk scored another run for the `Hogs. Arkansas would load the bases with a one out walk. Kayla Johnson's flare bounced right in front of TU's leftfielder and allowed two more UA runners to score for a 7-5 Lady'Back lead.