Delce Tosses Shutout, No. 6 Arkansas Captures Series

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A four-hit shutout by Chenise Delce paired with 11 hits by the Razorback offense powered No. 6 Arkansas past No. 12 Kentucky, 8-0, in six innings to earn the Razorbacks’ sixth-straight conference series victory and fifth of the season.

Arkansas improves to 32-8 overall and 11-4 in conference play. The Razorbacks are the only SEC team that hasn’t dropped a series this season. Arkansas combined for 11 hits and four home runs against the Wildcats, who held the SEC’s lowest ERA coming into the series.

Senior KB Sides had a career day at the dish, extinguishing a career-high two home runs while drawing a walk. Senior Danielle Gibson tied her season-high in hits with three and recorded an RBI. Graduate Taylor Ellsworth and junior Audrie LaValley tallied a hit and RBI apiece. Senior Hannah McEwen and freshman Kacie Hoffmann also pounded base knocks.

Junior RHP pitcher Chenise Delce (11-2, 2.29 ERA) tossed her second complete game of the weekend, spinning a four-hit shutout while fanning five. In the last 24.2 innings against ranked opponents, the Oklahoma City, Okla., native has given up just one run while dealing 30 strikeouts. In Sunday’s rubber match, Delce limited Kentucky to zero extra base hits.

How It Happened

Arkansas struck first on Ellsworth’s solo home tank in the first.

LaValley’s RBI single to center in the second added a second run for the Hogs.

Arkansas cruised to a 5-0 lead on Malkin’s three-run crank to left in the third.

Sides’ first home run of the game, a solo blast in the fourth, pushed the lead to 6-0.

Another Sides home run in the sixth moved the lead to 7-0. A few at-bats later, Gibson’s belted her third hit of the day to send McEwen home and secure Arkansas an 8-0 victory in six.

Hog Highlights

• Arkansas collected its ninth win against a ranked team this season
• Chenise Delce threw her seventh complete game and second shutout of the season
• Danielle Gibson tied her season-high in hits with three
• KB Sides homered a career-high two times
• Hannah Gammill hit her 16th home run of the season
• KB Sides moved her season home run count to 10
• Linnie Malkin lined her fifth home run of the week
• Arkansas moved its overall record against Kentucky to 35-27
• The Hogs registered their second-straight series victory over Kentucky

Up Next

Arkansas travels to No. 9 Florida for a three-game set on April 22-24.