STARKVILLE, MS – No. 6 Arkansas (36-12, 17-7 SEC) finished off its three-game series sweep of Mississippi State (24-23, 6-18 SEC) with an 11-6 win on Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.
The Hogs earned their sixth consecutive win in Starkville and their second straight sweep of the Bulldogs in StarkVegas.
With Sunday’s series-sweeping win, Arkansas moved into a tie with Vanderbilt (34-13, 17-7 SEC) atop the SEC standings. The Razorbacks also took a one-half game lead over LSU (37-10, 16-7 SEC) in the West Division standings with the win.
For the third day in a row, Arkansas was all over the Mississippi State pitching staff from start to finish. The Hogs tagged Bulldog both-handed pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje for five runs on three hits and two walks in his 3 2/3 innings of work.
Arkansas opened the scoring in the top half of the third with three runs, highlighted by Brady Slavens’ third homer in as many days. His two run-shot brought home Ben McLaughlin, who reached base via an RBI single, to put the Hogs up, 3-0.
Mississippi State answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the third, but Arkansas punched right back in the fourth. The Hogs posted their second three-spot of the ballgame, spurred by Jace Bohrofen’s bases-clearing double.
It began to get out of hand in the fifth when Arkansas broke the game open with five runs in the inning. Kendall Diggs socked a two-out grand slam before Bohrofen went back-to-back with a solo shot, extending the lead to 11-4.
The continuous offensive onslaught helped the Arkansas pitching staff work around damage. Starter Hunter Hollan allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings before turning the ball over to Cody Adcock, who allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Zack Morris emerged from the bullpen next and delivered what was unquestionably his best outing of the season, spinning three scoreless innings with two strikeouts to earn the win on Sunday. True freshman Parker Coil retired Mississippi State on eight pitches in the bottom of the ninth to close out Arkansas’ 11-6 series-sweeping victory.
At the plate, Bohrofen and Diggs each finished with a team-leading four runs batted in. Diggs went 2-for-3 in the finale to complete his weekend in Starkville 6-for-11 with 10 RBI, three walks and five runs scored.
Arkansas is back in action next weekend, returning to the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium to host SEC Eastern Division foe South Carolina. First pitch between the Razorbacks and Gamecocks is 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 12.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
COLUMBIA, MO – No. 12 Arkansas (38-16) dropped its regular season finale to Missouri, 7-6, Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
Going into the series, the Hogs had won 11 consecutive SEC road series. It’s Arkansas’ first SEC road series loss since March 6-8, 2020, at No. 9 Alabama.
The Razorbacks finish the regular season 38-16 overall and 14-10 in conference play. Despite the loss, Arkansas has wrapped up SEC play with a top-four finish for the third consecutive season. Arkansas is the only conference team to record a top-four finish in each of the last three seasons.
Freshman Atalyia Rijo paced the Hogs offensively with a grand slam. The Horseheads, N.Y., product drove in a career high four runs with the shot. Junior Cylie Halvorson blasted a two-run home run in the first. Halvorson has homered in back-to-back games.
Fifth-year senior Kristina Foreman, sophomore Raigan Kramer and freshman Lauren Camenzind each added to Arkansas’ hits column tally.
The Razorbacks used four arms on the day. Freshman LHP Robyn Herron made the start and tossed 2.0 innings, surrendering two earned runs on two hits. Herron struck out one and walked two batters. Freshman RHP Nikki McGaffin took over for Herron in the third. McGaffin tossed an inning and gave up a run on two hits while fanning one.
Freshman LHP Hannah Camenzind and redshirt senior RHP Chenise Delce threw 1.2 innings each. Camenzind succumbed two runs on one hit. Delce suffered the loss, giving up one run on two hits while striking out two.
Arkansas jumped on board in the first on Halvorson’s two-run home run for a 2-0 lead.
Missouri plated an unearned run in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly, trimming the lead to 2-1.
The Tigers scored two more runs in the bottom of the third to take its first lead of the ballgame.
The Hogs responded with four runs in the top of the fourth via Rijo’s two-out grand slam for a 6-3 edge.
Missouri chipped away in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to cut Arkansas’ lead to 6-4. The Tigers poured on another two runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie it at 6-6. A walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh gave the Tigers a 7-6 win.
Up Next
Arkansas earned the No. 4 seed at the 2023 SEC Tournament and will play at 4 p.m. CT Thursday, May 11, at Bogle Park. The opponent is TBD. The game will air on SEC Network with Jessica Mendoza, Beth Mowins and Michele Smith on the call.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks –
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
It was a warm spring day in south Logan County, and on this beautiful day, the Magazine High School trap shooting team dedicated a new trap shooting facility.
RNN Sports Photos / Jim Best
RNN Sports would like to thank the Magazine School District and Mrs. Vicky Parrish for inviting us to attend the dedication. On this day, parents of the students, and their sponsors and coaches hosted an outdoor lunch and a demonstration for us to share with our readers.
The Magazine program that has been in existence for a little more than ten years, began the process of securing their new facility in 2019. According to Mrs. Parrish, “In 2019 we had a trap shooting coach and her husband got a job in Branson (Missouri). She resigned, so the superintendent helped secure a coach because we had two students at the time who were shooting. Then, COVID hit (forcing the interruption of school and extracurricular activities), so we kind of practiced whenever we could. We didn’t have a field; the one we had used in previous years was underwater. So, we had nowhere to go. We called Booneville (Lance and Teresa Brown and Jim Tanner) and they told us they would help. So, they let us use their trap field for the first few weeks of the trap shooting season that starts in January and ends at state in June. Then, COVID sent us all home. We were only able to get three or four practices in. So, the next year we shot at Booneville on their trap field. They (Booneville) were very gracious to us.”
Although the Magazine team was and continues to be very grateful to the Booneville program for allowing them use of their facilities, it was a drive for Magazine parents to drive from the north side of Logan County to the south of Booneville for practice sessions. That is when Mrs. Parrish began to make phone calls. “I began to make phone calls to see if anyone had land to donate for a Magazine shooting field. We got nibbles here and there, and finally, I called Leona Cleveland and asked her. Mrs. Cleveland responded by saying “Yes, I believe we have some land, and you know Herchel (Cleveland) you know he will do anything for kids.” So, this is how we came (to having the new shooting field) and their was nothing but the gas well (that is located on the property). We lease the land and the gas company build the small building.””
RNN Sports Photos / Jim Best
So the program began fundraising as the next phase of development for the shooting range. “The gravel, trap shooting house, and the Magazine program would dedicate all of it to the Cleveland family in honor of their deceased son, Jason. The shooting lanes were also dedicated to my father, David Beeler, for his large donation to the project. And that is kind of how we got here today in 2023.”
RNN Sports Photos / Jim Best
The Magazine program includes students in grades 6-12. In addition to their winter and spring schedule, they also participate in a fall competition each year. The FFA has a team, and the Magazine trap shooters can choose to compete with both groups. The team had 42 students as registered participants last year. Approximately 32-36 participated in competitions.
Trap shooting is not a sanctioned high school sport by the Arkansas Activities Association. The sport is organized and sanctioned by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The Magazine program has a handbook of its own policies and eligibility requirements for students that, in the words of Mrs. Parrish, “are stricter than the AAA. This is because it can be a life-or-death situation (the nature of the sport). If you (students) cannot follow rules and stay out of trouble in school, then we do not want to put a gun in your hands. I tell my kids that, and when we have a parent meeting at the start of each season, I tell them that.”
Congratulations to the Magazine trap shooting team and all of the community members who made this program possible. The addition of this new facility will ensure growth and stability for the program that is of high interest to students at Magazine High School.
RNN Sports thanks Mrs. Vicky Parrish and all persons associated with the Magazine program for their hospitality and invitation to cover this great story. Best wishes for a successful future for the Magazine Trap Shooting team!
It was a magical year in the community of Charleston in 2022. The Tigers won another state football championship in a year that saw Charleston dominate their opponents all season long.
Last year’s state championship team was led by a large and extremely talented senior class that is graduating this month, and the torch will now be passed to the next group of Tigers to continue their winning ways.
Charleston head football coach, Ricky May, was the keynote speaker at last evening’s Charleston Chamber of Commerce Banquet, and in his presentation to the many in attendance, he certainly did not disappoint. Coach May, a developer of not only great athletes, but a mentor and developer of fine young men, presented his philosophy of building not only great Tiger football players, but solid young men who will go on to be great men, husbands, and fathers.
And on Monday, Coach May will begin the reloading process of trying to replace those seniors who were so successful in their careers at Charleston. Spring drills will begin, absent those who are still competing for a state baseball championship next week at Lincoln. Those players will eventually rejoin their football teammates, and before you know it, spring practice will conclude and the next phase of the season, summer workouts, summer camps, and eventually, August preseason practice will be upon us.
RNN Sports will be in Charleston at some point during spring practice to bring you an update from the coaches on the progress of the team, along with action photos from the Tigers’ workouts. And stay with us this summer as we bring you coverage of the Tigers summer football camps!
Good luck to Coach May and the Charleston Tigers as they turn their focus to the upcoming fall football season!
STARKVILLE, MS– No. 6 Arkansas (35-12, 16-7 SEC) dominated Mississippi State (24-22, 6-17 SEC) from start to finish, swatting three home runs and dismantling the Bulldogs, 14-2, in seven innings on Saturday night at Dudy Noble Field.
With the run-rule win, the Razorbacks clinched their fourth straight series win against Mississippi State as well as their second consecutive series win in Starkville for only the second time in program history. Arkansas had not won back-to-back road series against Mississippi State since 2010 and 2012 before doing so in 2021 and 2023.
Arkansas will look to secure its second consecutive series sweep in Starkville in tomorrow afternoon’s finale. The Hogs, 10-1 in their last 11 games against the Bulldogs, have won five straight games at Dudy Noble Field dating back to 2021.
The Razorbacks wasted no time taking control of Saturday night’s game, jumping out to a commanding 8-0 lead after four innings of play. Arkansas pounded Mississippi State starter Landon Gartman for four runs on three hits and four walks, knocking the right-hander out of the ballgame after only 1 2/3 innings.
Kendall Diggs and Ben McLaughlin each collected two-RBI singles in the top half of second as the Hogs opened an early 4-0 lead. Mississippi State’s bullpen fared no better against the Arkansas offense, allowing three more runs in the top of the third and an additional run in the fourth.
Peyton Holt was responsible for two of those four runs batted in, tallying an RBI single in the third before recording his second RBI single of the ballgame in the fourth inning.
Razorback starter Brady Tygart, meanwhile, did not need much help on the mound. Making his second start since returning from an early-season injury, the right-hander needed just 20 pitches to complete two scoreless innings.
Tygart, who earned the win, gave the ball to Will McEntire to close out the final five innings. The veteran right-hander struck out four over his five innings of two-run ball, earning a save – the second of his career – in the process.
Arkansas’ offense continued to mash with McEntire on the mound, scoring six more runs after Tygart departed the game. Brady Slavens hit his second home run in as many games in the top of the sixth before the Razorbacks punctuated their dominant night at the plate with a five-run seventh inning.
Diggs, who finished with a team-leading three hits and five RBI, blasted a two-run home run to right, putting Arkansas up, 11-2. Caleb Cali’s three-run home run later in the seventh extended the Hogs’ lead to 14-2.
First pitch in the series finale between the Razorbacks and Bulldogs is set for 1 p.m. Sunday, May 7, on SEC Network+.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
COLUMBIA, MO – No. 12 Arkansas (38-15) fell to Missouri (33-23), 4-3 (8 inn.), Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
The loss snaps Arkansas’ three-game win streak. The Razorbacks move to 38-15 overall and 14-9 in SEC play.
Arkansas gripped onto a 2-0 lead in the top of the second thanks to back-to-back home runs by junior Cylie Halvorson and fifth-year senior Kristina Foreman.
The Tigers were held scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when an errant throw led to a pair of unearned runs to even it at 2-2.
Arkansas and Missouri exchanged zeroes in the sixth and seventh frames to send it to extras.
In the top of the eighth, freshman phenom Reagan Johnson peppered a leadoff single up the middle. Johnson later advanced to second on a passed ball to put Arkansas in scoring position. Sophomore Raigan Kramer’s fly out to foul territory in right was deep enough to move Johnson smoothly to third. Then, redshirt junior Rylin Hedgecock’s sacrifice fly to left center gave the Hogs a 3-2 lead.
Missouri raked two solo home runs in the bottom of the eighth to even the series with a 4-3 victory.
Making the start, freshman LHP Hannah Camenzind pitched 4.2 frames and surrendered two unearned runs on four hits. Camenzind restrained Missouri to zero runs through four.
Redshirt senior RHP Chenise Delce (20-7) twirled the final three innings and gave up two runs on a pair of solo home runs. Delce struck out one and worked around a walk.
Reagan Johnson had another outstanding day at the dish, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Johnson has a team-leading 22 multi-hit games this season, including back-to-back games with two base knocks. The Karnes City, Texas, native is on a six-game hitting streak. Johnson moves her season total in hits to 72, which ranks sixth in single-season program history.
Driving in a run on a sacrifice fly, Hedgecock pushed her season total in RBI to 58, which ranks third in single-season program history.
Up Next
Arkansas and Missouri battle in a Sunday rubber match slated for 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
Mansfield’s 2023 track team takes home the class 2A State Runner-Up trophy from the Quitman hosted event.
The target was higher. Mansfield wanted to punctuate an already impressive season by winning the class 2A state track and field championships in Quitman on Tuesday, May 2. The results were a little short but their second place runner-up trophy was still satisfying.
Mansfield All-State seniors Jadelynn Wood and Seven Sanderson appear with Coach John Mackey and the Runner-Up trophy from the 2023 state track meet.
“Any trophy at state is a good day,” typed Mansfield head coach John Mackey in a text to former track star Megan Rose. Rose was one of the first to send a congratulatory message to her high school mentor about the Lady Tiger’s most recent accomplishment.
“Our kids peaked at the right time,” read another message sent from the veteran head coach to MHS track booster Dave Otto. “We just didn’t have enough spots to take down the champs,” continued the text.
Lady Tiger Seven Sanderson wins the class 2A state track discus competition with a personal record 115′ 9″. Sanderson’s mark is the seond best measurement in school history.Seven Sanderson produces an All-State shot put mark of 33′ 0″ at the Quitman hosted state track competition.
Mansfield qualified to the state track meet in 14 of 18 events through their district and pre-qualifying performances. They scored in eleven of those events.
By contrast, Yellville-Summitt, the two-time defending class 2A state champions, appeared in all 18 events. They scored in 16 of those.
“Yellville was the defending state champs for a reason,” offered Mackey as he reflected on the state’s final results. “They had a veteran bunch with much experience. We were tilted towards the freshmen and sophomore side with two senior stalwarts.”
Lane 5 shows All-State hurdler Daisy Nelson closing fast among the 100m hurdler racers at the Quitman hosted state meet. Lane 3 shows All-State relay racer Jadelynn Wood also scoring in the hurdles.
“I’m happy for our kids,” continued the coach. “Outdoor state is so much harder than indoor. You have to get their first before you can think about scoring points. At indoor state, you get to take your whole team. The points are more predictable.”
Mansfield girls accumulated 82.5 points for the second place state prize. Yellville-Summitt amassed 148 points for the championship trophy.
Mansfield got it started early as senior Seven Sanderson and sophomore Laney Wood were the first to compete.
MHS pole vaulter Laney Wood awaits her turn in the spirited competition for first place.
Sanderson, the defending state champion in the discus, didn’t disappoint as she kept her crown with a huge exclamationpoint. A monster throw of 115’ 9” slammed the door on any hint that someone would reach her peak performance.
“That was the second best throw in school history,” noted Mackey. “Seven was incredible. All the practices and all the meet experiences came together in one glorious moment. She has been a pillar of strength in the throws all season long. What a way for a senior to go out, breaking her personal record by over twelve feet and winning another individual state title.”
Sanderson gave Mansfield a quick ten points and their first individual state champion for the day. Wood was close to becoming the second such champion.
Mansfield’s Daisy Nelson, Jadelynn Wood, Kayla Bieker, and Carter Whiley are bound for the Meet of Champs after winnng the 2A state 4x100m relay in 52.19 seconds.
In the women’s pole vault, Wood was having her best day. Clean jumps through the competition kept her in the lead. Finally, on the highest cleared height for the top two contenders, Wood picked up her only scratch.
The crack was open for Yellville’s Fay Chism who had the luxury of the last jump. Having accumulated misses throughout the competition, Chism cleared the 8’ 8” height on an attempt sooner than Mansfield’s leading candidate.
Three-fourths of the MHS 4x400m relay team relish in a trophy moment. Trinity Triska, Jadelynn Wood, Laney Wood, and Azlynn Stover ran the final race for the Lady Tigers before the trophy presentation.
“It was crushing,” said Mansfield’s head coach as he witnessed the proceedings first hand. “Laney was one miss from the state title. It’s heartbreaking seeing her on top, and then having it whisked away like that. She’s our champion. I can tell you that.”
Freshman Daisy Nelson came on strong scoring in five of six events of which she qualified. Starting with the pole vault, Nelson also picked up points in the 100m hurdles, 100m dash, 4x100m relay, and 200m dash.
“Daisy and Seven were the MVP’s on this day,” revealed Mackey. “Daisy has the confidence and command of a veteran. She gets a lot of support from home. You can tell through her performances that that support system keeps her grounded and focused.”
Mansfield’s senior girls hoist the Runner-Up trophy at the awards ceremony in Quitman.
Nelson was third in the pole vault at a personal record 8’ 4”. Because of the extended time battling it out with Wood and Chism, her next event was rushed.
Nelson was the only competitor left in the long jump prelims once her time at the pole vault was over. Consequently, she had to jump in consecutive order. According to her coach, the rushed attempts plus the fatigue from the vaults diminished her long jump returns.
“She has been pretty consistent at reaching the fifteen foot mark ever since the Mena meet,” shared Mackey. “She made the finals at 14-6, but it was asking a lot to get her to move up after the long morning.”
The freshmen franchise did get some rest following the morning field event session. The chance to catch her breath, snack, and hydrate seemed to do the trick as the lean of her long day was about to take-off.
Mansfield’s young sprinter showed out in her next four races as the buzz about the Lady Tiger’s fast freshman started circulating. In rapid succession, Nelson knocked out All-State performances in three quick races and scored in the fourth.
Nelson went 16.95 to take second in the 100m hurdles. She went 13.04 in the 100m dash for another second. Then the best race of the day put the freshman squarely into the meet’s heavy storyline.
In the women’s 4x100m relay, Mansfield was the slight favorite. The combination of Kayla Bieker, Carter Whiley, Jadelynn Wood, and Nelson had only run together one time prior to the state finals. However, their collective time was the best mark advanced to the state meet finals.
Freshman Bieker got the baton moving, flying into the first exchange about middle of the pack. Sophomore Whiley got the wheels burning with a push past a core of contenders jockeying for the lead.
Senior Wood got out in a hurry, torching the last curve in formidable fashion to bring the favorites into second place on the exchange.
From there, it was Nelson’s night. The freshman anchor poured it on, passing the Rison Wildcats in the final 15 meters for the dramatic win.
“I was trying to video the race,” claimed the coach. “But all you could recognize on the playback was the ground and my voice screaming ‘chase her down Daisy’!”
Officially, Mansfield broke the tape in 52.19 seconds. The win gave the relay squad an automatic ticket to the Meet of Champions on Wednesday, May 10.
Rison’s run to the top of the podium was dashed by 0.10 seconds. Their collective mark of 52.29 dropped them to second place and the silver “see ya” medal.
Mansfield’s 4x100m win placed the 2023 lineup among Lady Tiger relay royalty. Their 52.19 fully automatic time moved them into third place all time among MHS sprint relay legends.
The 2010 squad that includes Sarah Mathis, Jessica Otto, Beatrice Horvath, and Clara Ellingburg hold the top spot at 50.94 seconds. A nearly identical lineup in 2009 that featured Mathis, Otto, Ellingburg, along with Jessica Welden ran the sprint co-op in 52.06.
Nelson went on to cement her most valuable player honors for the 2023 outdoor meet with a fifth place finish in the 200m dash. Her time of 28.22 was just ahead of relay teammate Whiley. Whiley ran 28.59 for seventh place.
Sanderson was productive in the second wave of field events as well. The senior pushed the 4 kg shot put to a near personal record of 33’ 0”. The measurement was good enough for second place and another All-State performance on the day.
Now in consecutive seasons, Sanderson won the indoor state shot put, the outdoor state discus, and placed second in the outdoor shot.
“I call her the dream girl,” expressed Sanderson’s track coach. “She is our best thrower and best throws coach. She helped her friend Brooke Wright win the 2021 state discus title. Then she went back to back years for the win. That is three straight titles and three straight Meet of Champs qualifiers.”
Freshman Kaylee Ward added points with her sixth place shot put. Her mark was 31’ 4”. The multi-talented phenom also made the high jump finals with limited practice off the softball field.
Azlynn Stover, Laney Wood, Trinity Triska, and Jadelynn Wood secured Mansfield’s state runner-up trophy with a fifth place finish in the final race of the night. Together they went a season best 4:44.67.
Stover, Triska, Laney Wood, and Raine Hecox pointed in the first relay of the night. Their 4x800m collective was run in 12:26.15.
Hecox, Addison Stover, Laney Wood, and Whiley made the 4x200m finals. They also set a new season best at 1:58.76.
Jadelynn Wood appeared in five events at the state meet. The senior’s best individual finish was in the 300m hurdles. Her mark of 52.50 secured fifth place points. She also added value in the 100m hurdle with a seventh place time of 18.61.
The elder of the Wood sisters also made the triple jump event at state. She was joined by freshman district champion Madison Hearron in that horizontal event.
The Arkansas Activities Association will soon recognize Seven Sanderson, Laney Wood, Daisy Nelson, Kayla Bieker, Carter Whiley, and Jadelynn Wood as Class 2A All-State track and field athletes for their top two placements at the state meet.
STARKVILLE, MS – No. 6 Arkansas (34-12, 15-7 SEC) spun a combined two-hitter and blasted a pair of home runs, cruising to a 6-2 series-opening win against Mississippi State (24-21, 6-16 SEC) on Friday night at Dudy Noble Field.
It was the Razorbacks’ first two-hitter of any kind against the Bulldogs under head coach Dave Van Horn as well as Arkansas’ first combined two-hitter against an SEC opponent since doing so at Texas A&M on April 22, 2022.
With the win, Arkansas improved to 10-1 against Mississippi State since 2019. Friday night’s victory was the Hogs’ fourth consecutive win in Starkville, a streak dating back to Arkansas’ three-game series sweep at Dudy Noble Field in 2021.
Arkansas pitchers Hagen Smith (5.0 IP, 8 SO), Cody Adcock (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Gage Wood (3.0 IP, 4 SO) combined for 13 strikeouts in the two-hitter on Friday night, working together to limit Mississippi State to just two runs (one earned).
The Hogs struck first in the top of the first on Jace Bohrofen’s two-run homer. Following Kendall Diggs’ leadoff walk, Bohrofen smoked a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right to put Arkansas up, 2-0, before Mississippi State could swing the bat.
For Bohrofen, it was his 12th home run of the season, tying him with fellow outfielder Jared Wegner for the team lead. The Razorback captain is slashing a team-best .370/.490/.682 with 12 dingers and 40 RBI in 45 games played this year.
Staked with an early two-run lead, Smith retired the first seven he faced before running into trouble on the mound. The Bulldogs cut their deficit to one with a two-out RBI in the bottom half of the third before breaking through again in the bottom half of the fifth, tying the ballgame at two apiece on a passed ball.
Smith would depart after five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and five walks while matching his season high with eight strikeouts. The left-hander, who was making his third SEC start of the year, earned the win on Friday to improve to 7-1 with a 2.56 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings of work on the mound this season.
Brady Slavens’ go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the sixth was more than enough run support for the Razorbacks’ relievers. Adcock, the first arm out of the bullpen, threw a perfect bottom half of the sixth before turning the ball over to Wood, who locked down the final three innings of Friday night’s 6-2 win and secured his team-leading fifth save.
Offensively, Caleb Cali collected a team-high three hits, including a double, in Friday night’s win. His three-hit performance at the plate raised his season slash line in SEC play to a team-best .390/.507/.712.
Arkansas, winner of three consecutive series against Mississippi State, will look to make it four in a row and lock up back-to-back series wins in Starkville for only the second time in school history in tomorrow night’s game two. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6, on ESPN2 with Mike Ferrin (play-by-play) and Lance Cormier (analyst) on the call.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
COLUMBIA, MO – Redshirt senior RHP Chenise Delce (20-6) tossed a two-hit, complete game shutout to guide No. 12 Arkansas to 9-0 (5 inn.) victory over Missouri in Friday night’s series opener.
The Razorbacks improve to 38-14 and 14-8 in league play. Arkansas also extends its winning streak vs. Missouri to three games.
Delce was lights out, spinning 5.0 scoreless frames en route to her fifth solo shutout this season. The reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year fanned five and worked around two walks. Delce did not allow an extra-base hit.
Arkansas combined for 12 hits, led by freshman catcher Lauren Camenzind’s 3-for-3 night. Lacing a career high three hits, Camenzind matched her career high in RBI with two and accounted for two runs scored. Fifth-year second baseman Kristina Foreman reached in all three plate appearances, tying her season highs in hits with two (2-for-2) and RBI with three. Foreman also reached via walk. Freshman center fielder Reagan Johnson (2-for-4, one RBI) and junior first baseman Cylie Halvorson (2-for-3, two runs scored, one double) had multi-hit outings. Sophomore Raigan Kramer drove in two runs on a double and junior third baseman Hannah Gammill singled to round out the hits column.
The Hogs scored in four of five innings.
Striking first, Arkansas put up a two-spot in the first off the crack of Kristina Foreman’s bat. Foreman pounded a two-RBI single for the early lead.
Raigan Kramer added to the lead in the top of the second on her sacrifice fly to center to score Lauren Camenzind and make it 3-0.
Kristina Foreman struck again with an RBI double for a 4-0 lead in the top of the third. Lauren Camenzind sprayed an RBI single to right field to push the lead to 5-0.
After a quiet fourth, Arkansas compiled a four-run fifth to put the game in run-rule territory.
It all began when Hannah Gammill, who previously reached on a single to left, scored on a wild pitch for a 6-0 lead. Lauren Camenzind clocked another RBI single to right, stretching the advantage to 7-0. A Reagan Johnson RBI single followed by a Raigan Kramer RBI double put the Hogs in front 9-0.
Up Next
Arkansas goes for the series win at 4 p.m. CT Saturday on SEC Network+. Sunday’s series finale is set for 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
LITTLE ROCK — With last year’s increase in turkey reproduction and a strong start to the 2023 spring turkey season, biologists and staff at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are cautiously optimistic about recent trends in Arkansas’s turkey woods. One trend that still has AGFC game wardens concerned is the continued use of bait by some poachers to illegally shoot their turkeys.
According to the AGFC’s Code of Regulations, hunters, whether on public or private land, may not hunt turkeys with the aid of bait. An area is considered baited if any food (including shelled, shucked or unshucked corn, chops, wheat or other feed that could serve as a lure or attractant for wildlife is present or has been present in the last 10 days. An area must be completely clear of bait for at least 10 days before it is eligible to be hunted.
So far this season, Arkansas game wardens have issued 75 citations or warnings for major violations related to turkey hunting. Twenty-one of those violations were hunting over bait.
“Catching people who are baiting turkeys requires a lot of time and hard work,” Col. Brad Young, chief of the AGFC’s Enforcement Division, said. “There’s a lot of preseason work identifying where the baited areas are, then you may spend a lot of early mornings out there before the violator shows up. It may take several sits before you finally catch them in the act.”
Young says wardens have many tools available to aid in finding baited sites, but the two most important tools are tips from ethical hunters and old-fashioned boot leather.
“We need our sportsmen and women to make those reports if someone is baiting turkeys on property near where they hunt,” Young said. “Even if we can’t catch them in the act immediately, our game wardens take notes and use the information for future operations. Some have sat on a known poacher’s site for a couple of seasons before they were able to catch them in the act, but it’s going to happen eventually. Fellow hunters who care about the resource are the best aid we have in that effort.”
In addition to being unsportsmanlike, baiting can have serious impact to turkey populations.
Baiting carries with it some concerns with disease transmission as well as concerns with nest predation. Studies conducted on nest success in wild turkeys indicate that nests in close proximity to a baited area have higher rates of nest predation than those further from these sites. Raccoons, skunks and other nest predators attracted to the free meal at bait sites were able to more readily find nearby turkey nesting locations, wiping out the chance of a successful hatch.
“A lot of our biologists and wardens, including myself, are avid turkey hunters, too,” Young said. “When a poacher shoots a turkey over bait, they’re stealing that bird from someone who is willing to follow the rules and accept the challenge turkey hunting gives. We take it personally, and so should every other hunter who’s doing it right.”
