GOLF
UA women to play in NW Arkansas Championship
Arkansas’ Gabriela Lopez, Regina Plasencia and Samantha Marks will play in the LPGA’s Northwest Arkansas Championship with sponsor’s exemptions June 22-28 at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers.
The Arkansas women took part in a season-long competition that factored in stroke average, team contributions and academics to earn the exemptions.
Lopez earned the sponsor’s exemption with a 71.76 stroke average. Plasencia and Marks will participate in a qualifier on June 22 to get into the tournament.
“I couldn’t be happier to earn an opportunity to compete in my third Northwest Arkansas Championship,” Lopez said. “Not many collegiate golfers have the chance to test their skills against the best golfers in the world and to be able to do so for the third year in a row — I feel lucky.”
Lopez finished tied for 57th last year.
“As their coach, I am immensely proud of each of these girls for their hard work throughout the spring season,” said Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor. “The competing was fierce and the scoring came down to the wire. Gaby, Regina and Samantha are very deserving of these spots and I know they will represent our Razorback golf team very well.”
SOFTBALL
East Central tops Henderson for GAC title
East Central defeated Henderson State 5-1 Saturday for the Great American Conference championship in Bentonville.
The Lady Tigers (32-14) scored five runs in the first inning with Kayci Snider hitting a two-run double to score Kalie Marcum and Josephina Layman, and Ashlyn White hitting a two-run home run.
Lacey Park (11-2) picked up the victory by pitching a complete game, giving up 8 hits while striking out 3 and walking 2. Michelle Sorenson (19-10) took the loss for Henderson State (41-13), allowing 5 runs in 2/3 inning.
Central Arkansas loses two to McNeese State
Central Arkansas lost 5-1 and 13-2 to McNeese State on Saturday in Conway.
McNeese State (35-18, 20-5 Southland Conference) broke the game open in the first game with four runs in the top of the seventh. Central Arkansas got two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t score.
Kylee Studioso (24-11) took the loss for Central Arkansas (13-18, 16-7 Southland Conference), allowing 5 runs on 10 hits with 2 walks and 8 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
In the second game, McNeese State scored 6 runs in the second and 5 in the third to take a 11-1 lead.
Kaya Gommess (3-1) took the loss for Central Arkansas, giving up 7 runs on 9 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Shivaun Landeros worked 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing 6 runs on 6 hits.
BASEBALL
Arkansas Tech loses to OBU in GAC opener
Arkansas Tech lost 11-3 to Ouachita Baptist in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament on Saturday in Enid, Okla.
Ouachita Baptist (25-15) scored three runs in the third off Arkansas Tech starter Trent Armstrong before adding two more in the sixth. Ouachita Baptist broke the game open in the seventh inning, scoring 6 runs on 4 errors to lead 11-0.
Arkansas Tech (30-20) got on the board in the ninth when Bryan Heward hit a three-run home run.
Ouachita Baptist will play either Harding or Henderson State at 7:30 p.m. today. Arkansas Tech will play Southeastern Oklahoma State at 12:30 p.m. today.
Earlier in the day, No. 1 seed Southern Arkansas defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State 10-3.
Trailing 3-1 going into the sixth inning, the Muleriders (36-15) scored 3 runs in the sixth, 5 in the seventh and 1 in the eighth.
Landon Simpson (8-4) pitched a complete game, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk to get the victory. Nick Johnson (4-5) took the loss for Southeastern Oklahoma, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Southeastern Oklahoma State (17-24) will play either Harding or Henderson State at 4 p.m. today.