Texas A&M softball started SEC play in Fayetteville and fell to the seventh-ranked Razorbacks on Friday night, 8-0, in five innings.
The game immediately spun out of control as A&M starting pitcher Emiley Kennedy allowed five in the first.
Arkansas came out swinging, with Rylin Hedgecock hitting a two-run home run before a solo blast from Cylie Halvorson. Kristina Foreman added another two-run homer to complete the inning.
Kennedy lasted just one inning, posting two strikeouts but giving up five hits.
Madison Preston entered in relief, and she posted five strikeouts through three innings.
In the bottom of the third, Preston loaded the bases and then gave up a two-run single to put the Hogs up 7-0.
The Aggie offense struggled to find a spark, posting only three hits in the shutout.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Halvorson scored Arkansas’ final run with a sac fly.
The top of the fifth saw the Aggies almost attempt a comeback story, but they were unable to extend the ballgame.
Bre Warren led off the inning with a double to left center followed by Grace Uribe’s single to shortstop. Amari Harper was hit by pitch to load the bases for the Aggies, but Warren was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice. Julia Cottrill sealed the Aggies' fate with a ground ball that turned into a double play.
The Aggies are set to rematch Arkansas for the second game of this three-game series again on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
