The Terrific Ten has you covered on all the best highlights from all the action across college softball on Friday!
*****
1. Arkansas wallops Florida
It was all over television, Courtney Deifel was asked about it in her press conference, and it was a widely-quoted statistic. Entering this weekend’s series in Gainesville, Arkansas had lost 30-straight games to Florida. The streak dated back to April of 2007 and Deifel had never beaten the Gators as a head coach.
That entire statistic was turned on its head on Friday night.
Arkansas walloped the Gators in a 9-1 final score, run-ruling the Gators on their home turf. The first few innings were a pitcher’s duel until the Hogs broke through with five runs in the fifth inning, including a 3-run double from Danielle Gibson. The usually home run-happy Hogs did not hit any longballs in the game. Chenise Delce threw a gem in the circle for Arkansas, limiting the Gators to four hits and collecting eight strikeouts in a 6-inning complete game.
2. Aggies roll the Tide
Alabama’s athletic department might just need to put a big red X over College Station on their SEC map. Friday night, the Aggies bested the Tide on the softball diamond, riding a 6-4 score to a big win. A Davis Diamond-record crowd of more than 2,200 watched the game in-person, as the Aggies offense contributed and withstood a 4-run third inning from the Crimson Tide.
Makinzy Herzog hit a solo home run in the first inning to start the scoring, and it was Trinity Cannon’s 2-run double in the fifth inning that gave the Aggies a lead they would not relinquish. Cannon scored on an RBI single later in the frame to get the score to 6-4, where it would stay for the final two innings.
Herzog got the win in the circle, on in relief of Grace Uribe, while Montana Fouts was tagged with the loss.
3. Stanford takes down Arizona State
Arizona State entered Friday tied for the nation’s longest winning streak; they ended the day with their first loss in PAC-12 play. Stanford took down the Sun Devils in the opener of the two team’s conference series, with a final score of 4-1. A first-inning home run off the bat of Cydney Sanders was the only offense that Arizona State could muster against Alana Vawter, who threw a complete-game 3-hitter.
The Cardinal played small ball to score their runs; a pair of RBI groundouts in the second inning got the scoring started, while an ASU fielding error in the third scored a pair of runs. Mac Morgan did not pitch badly for ASU, allowing just four hits and one earned run, though she did hit four Stanford batters in the game.
4. Marshall takes over first place in the CUSA East
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Sydney Nester had a stellar day in the circle for Marshall on Friday. This time, Nester K’ed eleven Western Kentucky batters en route to a victory over the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green.
The victory gave the Herd sole possession of first place in the CUSA East division, breaking a tie with those same Hilltoppers. Mya Stevenson’s 56th career home run was the difference in the game, as she belted a 2-run shot that was ultimately the only scoring for either side in the game.
5. Ohio State makes history against Michigan
Friday’s game in Ann Arbor began early due to weather, and whatever storm system might have been blowing in, it brought with it some good luck to the visiting Buckeyes. Lexie Handley expertly handled the Michigan offense, matching a career high with 13 strikeouts and allowing just one run on six hits in the game.
The Buckeye offense roughed up Michigan ace Alex Storako, tagging her for five runs on six hits. Sam Hackenbracht moved her hitting streak to five consecutive games with a double in the first inning.
