Hogs Advance to SEC Tournament Championship
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 5 Arkansas utilized a four-run fourth frame to power past No. 13 Florida, 4-1, Friday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium and advance to the SEC Tournament Championship for the second time in program history.
“This game was huge for our postseason run,” said senior Danielle Gibson. “We needed to feel pressure and play in a stadium with a lot of energy. I’m excited that we had this game tonight, and I’m obviously excited we came out on top. We were able to scrap together runs without the long ball.”
Junior Chenise Delce (16-2) tossed her 11th complete game of the season in a commanding win against a steaming Florida offense. In seven innings, Delce collected seven strikeouts, zero walks and limited the Gators to just one run on five hits.
Gibson sparked the Razorback offense with a double and single. Senior Linnie Malkin and sophomore Marlene Friedman also netted base hits. Friedman and senior KB Sides tallied two RBIs for the Hogs.
Arkansas moves to 43-9 on the year while advancing to its first SEC Tournament Championship since 1999.
How It Happened
Florida grasped an early 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly to center.
Arkansas broke the game open with a four-run fourth. Gibson knocked Arkansas’ first hit of the game to begin the frame. Gammill followed suit with a walk and Malkin flung a blooper to left to load the bases with no outs. Audrie LaValley’s slow roller back to the pitcher resulted in a throwing error back to the catcher, allowing Gammill and Malkin to score and give the Hogs their first lead. With runners now at second and third, Friedman singled to short and scored Hoffmann. Arkansas got its final run of the night on Sides’ ground out back to the pitcher, scoring a sliding LaValley in from third.
Hog Highlights
- Arkansas advances to the SEC Tournament Championship for the second time in program history and first since 1999
- Danielle Gibson went 2-for-3
- The Hogs scored all four runs in the fourth
- Chenise Delce hurled her 11th complete game of the season
- Arkansas is 4-0 against Florida during the 2022 season
Up Next
The 2022 SEC Tournament Championship game between Arkansas and Missouri is set for 4 p.m. CT. on ESPN2. Arkansas will look to capture the program’s first tournament crown.
