Arkansas Clinches Tennessee Series

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the first time in program history, No. 10 Arkansas (19-4, 2-0) clinched its first series victory in Knoxville as it slugged past No. 14 Tennessee (19-8, 2-2), 9-6, on a windy Saturday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Senior Danielle Gibson hit two home runs, including a critical top of seventh grand slam, to go along with a base hit and a season-high seven RBIs. KB Sides had a stellar performance at the dish, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, sacrifice fly and walk while making several vital plays in center. Sophomore Cally Kildow smacked the Hogs’ other base hit on an infield single to short in the second.

Senior Mary Haff (8-2) picked up her second win in as many days and eighth of the season after spinning two innings and allowing zero earned runs on two hits. The Winter Haven, Fla., native downed two and walked zero. Sophomore Jenna Bloom got the start and worked out jams in the first and second to keep the Volunteers scoreless. Bloom painted the corners in 3.1 innings of work, striking out two and walking zero. Redshirt junior Chenise Delce tossed an inning and surrendered three hits before turning the reigns to redshirt junior Callie Turner who then threw 0.1 innings before Haff took over.

How It Happened

The Hogs jumped on board in the first on Gibson’s two run homer. Arkansas added to its lead in the second due to a Tennessee error on Spencer Prigge’s hard-hit ball to deep right, sending Linnie Malkin home. Sides connected on a sacrifice fly to left, plating Kildow from third to create a 4-0 advantage.

Tennessee crossed a run in the third on a solo home run. The Vols pulled within one in the fourth on a two-RBI single up the middle.

Gibson bumped the lead back to 5-3 in the fifth on a two-out, RBI single up the middle to score McEwen.

Tennessee’s solo home run in the fifth cut the lead to 5-4.

Haff entered the game in the bottom of the sixth with runners on first and second and no outs before retiring three to hold Tennessee scoreless.

Gibson’s grand slam in the top of the seventh cushioned the Razorback lead to 9-4. Tennessee plated two in the bottom frame, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit as Arkansas clinched the series victory.

Hog Highlights

• Arkansas clinched the program’s first series victory in Knoxville Saturday
• The Razorbacks clinched their first series win over Tennessee since March 2017
• Danielle Gibson registered new season-highs in home runs (2) and RBIs (7)
• Senior Mary Haff recorded her 85th career win in the circle
• Gibson’s grand slam is the third by a Razorback this season
• The Razorbacks stretched their win streak to 11

Up Next

The series finale between Arkansas and Tennessee is Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT. The game will be available on SEC Network+.