Razorbacks win Bogle Park opener
Derek Oxford
Issue date: 3/2/09 Section: Sports
Kayla Johnson hit the first home run in newly opened Bogle Park and the Razorbacks ran away with a 10-5 victory over Bradley on Day 1 of the Holiday Inn-NWA Razorback Invitational.
"This tournament has a good field," Arkansas coach Jamie Pinkerton said. "The teams seem to be hitting their stride so we should see some good competition this weekend."
Following that game, Arkansas battled Ball State in the nightcap and was leading 1-0 before weather halted the game in the sixth inning.
Saturday's games were postponed because of the wintry weather that developed overnight, and play was expected to resume at 9 a.m. Sunday with Ball State having runners at first and third against Arkansas.
In Arkansas' first game against Bradley, the Razorbacks got runs on the board starting in the third inning when Whitney Cloer hit a double.
Sandra Smith then lined one up the chute, setting up Johnson's centerfield blast, to make it 4-0 Arkansas.
Johnson's round-tripper was the first one hit by a Razorback at Bogle Park, but there would be another one to follow it.
Bradley stormed back to tie the game at 4 apiece, but Amie Hubbard retook the lead for Arkansas with a two-run double to make it 6-4, her first RBIs of the season.
The visiting Braves scored one in the fifth to make it 6-5, before lightning struck, causing a 34-minute delay in action.
Once the teams returned to play, Tori Mort reached on an infield single, Miranda Dixon was plunked, and then Johnson walked, bringing Brittany Robison to the dish.
Robison then proceeded to hit a grand slam, rendering any chance of a Bradley comeback obsolete, giving Bogle Park a solid opening ceremony.
"I know our team is excited about opening Bogle Park," Pinkerton said. "It's good to be at home playing on our field this weekend. We're a little road weary too. This is going to be an exciting weekend for our team."
More of that enthusiasm and solid play carried over into the second game, where Arkansas allowed Ball State to gain base runners in each of the first three innings but never allowed a single run to score.
Mort got involved again, however, in the fourth, when she used her speed to belt an inside-the-park home run, which was Arkansas' first hit of the game.
The ball was a bleeder that was catchable for the left fielder, but she messed up her dive and the ball sailed to the wall, with Mort never stopping.
She slid into home for the 1-0 advantage.
The next inning, Ball State loaded the bases before grounding out to end the scoring threat.
Ten Ball State runners were left on base at the time play was stopped.
Arkansas was slated to play Wichita State at 11:15 a.m. Sunday before meeting South Dakota State at 3:45 p.m., however, those games were cancelled due to inclement weather.
Wichita State defeated South Dakota State 7-3 in Game 1 of Friday's action, while South Dakota State returned the favor to Bradley, 1-0.
The Shockers from Wichita, Kan. then roughed up Ball State 10-1.
"This tournament has a good field," Arkansas coach Jamie Pinkerton said. "The teams seem to be hitting their stride so we should see some good competition this weekend."
Following that game, Arkansas battled Ball State in the nightcap and was leading 1-0 before weather halted the game in the sixth inning.
Saturday's games were postponed because of the wintry weather that developed overnight, and play was expected to resume at 9 a.m. Sunday with Ball State having runners at first and third against Arkansas.
In Arkansas' first game against Bradley, the Razorbacks got runs on the board starting in the third inning when Whitney Cloer hit a double.
Sandra Smith then lined one up the chute, setting up Johnson's centerfield blast, to make it 4-0 Arkansas.
Johnson's round-tripper was the first one hit by a Razorback at Bogle Park, but there would be another one to follow it.
Bradley stormed back to tie the game at 4 apiece, but Amie Hubbard retook the lead for Arkansas with a two-run double to make it 6-4, her first RBIs of the season.
The visiting Braves scored one in the fifth to make it 6-5, before lightning struck, causing a 34-minute delay in action.
Once the teams returned to play, Tori Mort reached on an infield single, Miranda Dixon was plunked, and then Johnson walked, bringing Brittany Robison to the dish.
Robison then proceeded to hit a grand slam, rendering any chance of a Bradley comeback obsolete, giving Bogle Park a solid opening ceremony.
"I know our team is excited about opening Bogle Park," Pinkerton said. "It's good to be at home playing on our field this weekend. We're a little road weary too. This is going to be an exciting weekend for our team."
More of that enthusiasm and solid play carried over into the second game, where Arkansas allowed Ball State to gain base runners in each of the first three innings but never allowed a single run to score.
Mort got involved again, however, in the fourth, when she used her speed to belt an inside-the-park home run, which was Arkansas' first hit of the game.
The ball was a bleeder that was catchable for the left fielder, but she messed up her dive and the ball sailed to the wall, with Mort never stopping.
She slid into home for the 1-0 advantage.
The next inning, Ball State loaded the bases before grounding out to end the scoring threat.
Ten Ball State runners were left on base at the time play was stopped.
Arkansas was slated to play Wichita State at 11:15 a.m. Sunday before meeting South Dakota State at 3:45 p.m., however, those games were cancelled due to inclement weather.
Wichita State defeated South Dakota State 7-3 in Game 1 of Friday's action, while South Dakota State returned the favor to Bradley, 1-0.
The Shockers from Wichita, Kan. then roughed up Ball State 10-1.
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