GYMNASTICS
Arkansas beats Illinois State, SE Missouri
Arkansas scored a season-best 196.650 points to defeat Illinois State and Southeast Missouri State on Friday night at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville.
Illinois State finished with 192.025, and Southeast Missouri finished with 191.150.
Sophomore Amanda Wellick won three events. She had a career-best 9.950 on the vault along with a 9.925 on the floor and a 39.425 in the all-around competition.
Senior Stephani Canizaro won her second event of the season with a 9.875 on the uneven bars. Erin Freier, Wellick and Paige Zaziski had a 9.800.
On the balance beam, the Razorbacks scored a season-best 49.000 and did not have a fall. Sydnie Dillard and Samantha Nelson had a 9.825, while Zaziski and Freieer had a 9.800.
In addition to Wellick’s 9.950 on the vault, Zaziski, Leah Mac-Moyle and Heather Elswick all scored 9.850.
While Wellick and Elswick led the way with a 9.925 and 9.900 on the floor exercise, Nelson had a 9.875, and Canizaro and Dillard
had a 9.825.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Paris names Tucker as head coach
Paris has hired Marc Tucker as its new coach, the school announced in a school board meeting late Thursday night.
Tucker has been Paris’ defensive coordinator since 2012. He replaces Bryan Hutson, who resigned last month to become the school’s principal.
Paris, which plays in the 4-3A Conference along with defending Class 3A state champion Charleston, finished 4-6 last season.
Tucker, 48, has also coached at Dover, Morrilton, Hector and Perryville.
BASEBALL
Henderson falls to Harding
Harding defeated Henderson State 3-0 Friday at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia.
Harding (5-2, 1-0 GAC) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Kyler Offenbacker reached on an error, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on Harrison Hunter’s bunt single and scored on John Chapman’s sacrifice bunt. Hunter, who moved to second on Chapman’s sacrifice, scored on Davis Richardson’s ground ball to shortstop.
Hunter singled in Shane Kinnear in the seventh inning to make it 3-0.
Collin Campbell allowed 3 singles, walked 1 and struck out 4 to improve to 2-0 on the season. Henderson State fell to 4-1 and 0-1.
Ouachita Baptist whips Arkansas Tech
Ouachita Baptist defeated Arkansas Tech 10-0 Friday at Rab Rogers Field in Arkadelphia.
The Tigers scored nine runs in the first two innings as Arkansas Tech starter Cody Jones (2-1) absorbed most of the damage, allowing 9 runs on 9 hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Ouachita Baptist’s Reuben Miller led the Tigers by going 4 for 4, scoring 2 runs.
Conner Eller (2-0) pitched a complete game victory for the Tigers.
Arkansas Tech (4-5) and Ouachita Baptist (4-4) meet in a doubleheader at noon today.
UA-Fort Smith sweeps Ecclesia
Arkansas-Fort Smith improved to 5-0 with 11-0 and 8-2 victories over Ecclesia on Friday at Crowder Field in Fort Smith.
In the first game, the Lions scored five runs in the first and third innings and had 12 hits. Catcher Justin Shealy went 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI. Third baseman Matt Turner went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI. Left fielder Josh Vanderpool went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and Tyler Lein went for 2 with a double and 1 RBI.
Jordan Cordray (1-0) allowed 2 hits with 1 walk while striking out 4 over 4 innings.
In the second game, the Lions broke a 2-2 tie in the third with three runs. The Lions scored once in the fourth and twice in the sixth.
Wayde Roth (3-0) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to get the victory in relief of starter Hasten Freeman.
SOFTBALL
Razorbacks split in Florida
Arkansas defeated Florida A&M 10-2 and lost 5-2 to Liberty in eight innings Friday at the Dot Richardson Invitational in Clermont, Fla.
Against Florida A&M, sophomore Sydney Wright had a career-high six strikeouts while redshirt sophomore Nicole Schroeder hit her second home run of the season.
The Razorbacks scored five runs in the sixth to end the game. Schroeder started the inning with a two-run home run to score Stephanie Canfield. With runners on first and third, Parker Pocklington doubled to left to score Jessica Harrison and Claire Clark. The Razorbacks added another run on an error by Florida A&M.
Liberty scored three runs in the first inning of the second game and led 4-0 before Arkansas scored twice in the fourth inning when Sierra Bronkley’s sacrifice fly scored Loren Krzysko. Devon Wallace singled in Jessie Mullen.
The Razorbacks left 10 runners on base in the game, including the bases loaded in the third.
Arkansas plays Louisville at 3 p.m. and Central Florida at 5:30 p.m. today.
UCA beats Hofstra, falls to LSU
Central Arkansas defeated Hofstra 3-2 and lost 8-0 to LSU on Friday at the Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge.
The Bears trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning in the first game when Ashley Boswell hit a home run to left to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Amy Gunnells doubled down the left-field line and scored on a single by Sam Forrest to make it 3-2.
Hofstra put two runners on in the seventh with two out, but Kylee Studioso got a groundout to end the inning.
Studioso (4-1) picked up the victory in her fourth complete game of the season, holding Hofstra to a 2 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. Hofstra’s Morgan Lashley (0-1) took the loss, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with 6 walks and 2 strikeouts in 52/3 innings.
Sahvanna Jaquish hit a three-run home run in the first against LSU. Kellsi Kloss hit a home run in the fifth to make it 4-0. Jaquish hit a three-run home run in the sixth, and Kailey McCasland added an inside-the-park home run.
Baylee Corbello (3-0) picked up the victory for LSU, allowing 1 hit while striking out 5 and walking 4 in 6 innings. Shivaun Laderos (1-2) took the loss for the Sugar Bears, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits with 3 walks in 3 innings.
Central Arkansas plays Notre Dame at 10:30 a.m. today and Hofstra at noon.
Lady Bisons drop two
Harding lost 1-0 to Truman (Mo.) State and 4-2 to Emporia (Kan.) State Friday at the Arkansas-Monticello Softball Classic in Bentonville.
In the first game, Truman State’s Devin Gudenhus drove in Haley Wells from second with the only run in the top of the third. Harding had a chance to tie in the sixth when it loaded the bases, but two consecutive pop ups ended the threat.
In the second game, Emporia State scored in the first when Caitlin Van Vleck singled up the middle to drive in two runs. In the fifth, Stephanie Goodwin hit a doubled to center to score one and Kaitlyn Caston hit a sacrifice fly to center for Emporia State’s final run.
Harding scored in the bottom of the fifth when Kimmy Hendricks singled to short to score Courtney Derrick. In the sixth, Carolyn Clayton hit her first home run of the season.
Harding faces Nebraska-Kearney at 11 a.m. today and William Jewell at 3 p.m.
Arkansas-Monticello defeated Nebraska-Kearney 8-4 and Upper Iowa 5-1.
The Cotton Blossoms overcame a 4-0 deficit in the second inning scoring eight consecutive runs. In the second game, Arkansas-Monticello scored five runs in the first two innings.
UAM (5-2) plays Fort Hays (Kan.) State at 11 a.m. and Pittsburg (Kan.) State at 1 p.m.