SOFTBALL
Larabee resigns as Arkansas coach
Mike Larabee resigned as Arkansas’ softball coach Sunday, shortly after the Razorbacks lost to Alabama 1-0 at Bogle Park in Fayetteville to end their season at 1-23 in SEC play and 16-37 overall.
Larabee had a 149-181 record in six seasons at Arkansas, including a 38-114 in SEC games, with two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long thanked Larabee and his staff for their work and dedication to the program, but said in statement the program has not made the necessary progress to compete in the SEC and on a national level. He said a national search for a new softball coach will begin immediately.
The Razorbacks’ 1-23 conference record is the program’s worst. Their only SEC victory came April 11 at South Carolina.
Alabama broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning on a two-out RBI single by Danae Hays.
Haley Meinen allowed 1 run on 5 hits in 7 innings for the Razorbacks. Alabama starter Sydney Littlejohn allowed Arkansas to advance past first base just once.
Stephanie Canfield went 2 of 3, to lead Arkansas.
UCA loses to McNeese State
Central Arkansas (31-19, 16-8 Southland Conference) lost to McNeese State (36-18, 21-5) 13-10 in eight innings in Conway.
Hannah Stirton had three hits to lead the Bears. Ashley Boswell, Hayley Parker and Jessie Taylor each had two hits.
BASKETBALL
Colorado’s Thomas transferring to UA
Colorado forward Dustin Thomas decided on Sunday that he would transfer to Arkansas after making an official visit to Fayetteville over the weekend.
Thomas, 6-8, 225 pounds, announced his intentions to transfer from the Buffaloes on March 16 after starting 11 of 32 games and averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds this past season.
He averaged 16.7 minutes while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from beyond the three-point line and shooting 67.9 percent from the free throw line.
“After being there for the weekend and being around those guys and around the coaching staff I just really felt like it was a great place and an opportunity to come in and finish my career,” Thomas said. “Coach Anderson and the rest of the staff really made me feel like family. I just felt like it was a good spot for me.”
He averaged 20 points, 14 rebounds and 5 steals a game for Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas as a senior before signing with Colorado over Oklahoma and Kansas State.
“They said for the next year they’re going to need some experience and they wanted me to come in and be a big part of the team,” Thomas said.
Thomas will have to sit out the 2015-2016 season before being eligible to play in 2016-2017 as a junior. He said he plans to use the year off to work on his game.
“I’m real versatile, I can do a lot of things inside and out,” Thomas said. “I can shoot the three and I can put the ball on the floor. I can take it to the basket and take advantage of mismatches in the post and score over the post. I can shoot the midrange.”
He and Arkansas football target McTelvin Agim, a defensive end from Hope, are good friends.
“He wished me luck and congratulated me,” Thomas said. “That’s my little bro.”
— Richard Davenport