Hogs Host LSU in Top-25 Matchup
No. 8 Arkansas and No. 22 LSU meet for the Razorbacks’ SEC home-opening series March 26-28. Saturday and Sunday’s games will be broadcast on ESPN2, and Monday’s series finale will be available on SEC Network. In the last matchup between the two programs (May 1-3, 2021), Arkansas clinched a 2-1 series victory in Baton Rouge. The Hogs have won two-consecutive series over the Tigers. The first meeting between the two programs dates back to April 18, 1997, when LSU secured two wins in a double header in Fayetteville.
Game Information
Watch: ESPN2 (Saturday and Sunday), SEC Network (Monday)
PxP: Kevin Brown
Analyst: Michele Smith, Amanda Scarborough
Need to Know
Arkansas is coming off the program’s first SEC regular season title (shared with Florida) last season, going 19-5 in conference play. The Razorbacks became the first team not named Florida or Alabama to win the conference’s regular season title since Tennessee in 2007. On the road against league competition, the Hogs went 11-1, producing the most wins on the road during conference play by an SEC team since 2013 when the league adopted the current 24-game schedule. Arkansas posted a 43-11 overall record, recording the best win percentage (.796) and second-most total wins in program history. In the NCAA Tournament, Arkansas earned the No. 6 national need and swept the Fayetteville Regional before hosting the program’s first Super Regional at Bogle Park.
Haff Pencils Her Name Into History, Throws Program’s First Perfect Game
Senior Mary Haff has marched her way into the Arkansas softball history book during her time in Fayetteville. On March 11, Haff threw the program’s first solo perfect game, tossing a seven-inning, 14 strikeout gem to propel the Razorbacks to a 6-0 win over the Terrapins at the JMU Dukes Invitational. Back on March 4, Haff amassed her 700th career strikeout in a win against Kennesaw State. The Winter Haven, Fla., native is now on the hunt for 800 strikeouts after she grabbed her 739th career K in the Razorbacks’ win against Western Kentucky. Haff captured SEC Pitcher of the Year award last season, pitching to a 25-7 record with five saves and a 1.55 ERA over 198.1 innings pitched. She struck out 198 hitters compared to just 39 walks issued. Haff was named an NFCA First Team All-American, becoming the first pitcher in program history to earn first team All-America recognition. USA Softball named Haff a Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist. Haff was tremendous in conference play, and among pitchers who threw at least 80.0 innings, led the league in wins (11), saves (4) and appearances (19) while placing fourth in ERA (2.01) and strikeouts (79). Against Texas Tech, she hurled her second career no hitter, striking out six over 5.0 innings, and was one error away from a perfect game. Haff threw her first no-no against Northern Colorado in 2018 as a freshman and is the only pitcher in program history with multiple no-hitters. The senior sits atop the program’s career record book tallying 86 wins and 14 saves. After charting 11 strikeouts vs. Tennessee Friday, Haff has now notched 15 double digit strikeout performances – the most in program history.
Gibson, Gammill, Haff Earn SEC Weekly Honors
Danielle Gibson was named SEC Player of the Week for the third time in her career Tuesday. Gibson’s honor marks the second-straight week a Razorback has captured SEC weekly honors as Hannah Gammill and Mary Haff were selected as Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 15. The Murrieta, Calif., product guided Arkansas to its first series win in Knoxville, Tenn., and a dominant win against a Western Kentucky squad that was receiving votes in several national polls. In four games, Gibson slashed .667/1.917/.733 with five home runs and 12 RBI. She scattered eight hits and accumulated 23 total bases. Additionally, Gibson produced a season-high seven RBI, which is the most by an individual in SEC play so far this season, and two home runs, including a crucial top of the seventh grand slam, to clinch the series over No. 14 Tennessee. The home run output didn’t stop Saturday as she tattooed a solo shot in Sunday’s series finale. The senior also swatted two-run and three-run jacks against the Hilltoppers Monday. In an offensive tear, she has homered in each of her last three at-bats. Nationally, Gibson’s .548 batting average paces DI softball. She also ranks second in slugging percentage at a 1.123 clip, fifth in on base percentage (.605), seventh in home runs per game (0.44), seventh in total bases (82), seventh in RBI per game (1.36), (10th in home runs (11), 11th in hits (40) and 13th in RBI (34).
Sophomore Hannah Gammill and senior Mary Haff earned SEC Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 15. It’s the first weekly honor for Gammill and fourth for Haff. The duo powered Arkansas to a 3-0 record in Virginia, picking up wins against Liberty, Lehigh and Maryland. Gammill manufactured an explosive weekend to help the Razorbacks to a 3-0 record, going 6-for-6 with eight runs, seven RBIs, three home runs and one double while playing errorless defense at third. The Beebe, Ark., product slashed 1.000/2.667/1.000 over the weekend. Through 25 games, Gammill ranks first in DI softball in hit by pitch per game (0.52), fourth in slugging percentage (1.032), seventh in home runs per game (0.44), eighth in on base percentage (.593), 10th in home runs (11), 17th in RBI per game (1.20), 27th in RBI (30), 34th in total bases (64) and 43rd in batting average (.435). At the conference level, Gammill ranks first in home runs per game, second in home runs, first hit by pitch per game, second in home runs, second in slugging percentage, third in on base percentage, fourth in RBI per game, fourth in runs per game, sixth in total bases and seventh in batting average and ninth in RBI.
Haff (9-2) tossed the program’s first solo, seven-inning perfect game against Maryland on March 11 to secure her 83rd career win as a Razorback. The reigning SEC Co-Pitcher of the Year struck out a season-high 14 batters against Terrapins, her 14th double digit strikeout performance. Haff picked up her first win of the weekend after downing Liberty Thursday, surrendering one run on one hit while fanning four in two innings of work. In wins over Maryland and Liberty, Haff struck out 18 and walked zero. She retired 27-straight heading into the SEC opening series at Tennessee. Haff is tied for second in the NCAA’s active career leaders in saves with 14 and appearances with 156.
Run KB Run
KB Sides is making noise at the leadoff spot for the Razorbacks. Through 25 games, Sides has tallied 17 stolen bases. Arkansas’ single season stolen base record sits at 33, which was set by Dana Gulick in 1999. Additionally, Sides stole a program-record three bases in the Hogs’ win over Western Illinois Feb. 20. Sides’ three stolen bases against Western Illinois are tied for most by a SEC player in a single game this season. The Dora, Ala. native hit two home runs over at the Razorback Invitational against Illinois, launching an inside-the-park home run to begin the weekend Feb. 18 before sending a solo shot to center in Arkansas’ second game with the Illini on Feb. 20. Sides compiled a dominant performance in the Hogs’ win against Lehigh on March 11 , going a career-best 4-for-4 with a home run, triple and two doubles to complement three RBIs, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Sides adds speed to the Razorback lineup and in center, where she made several crucial catches in Arkansas’ series victory against Tennessee. Sides ranks 10th nationally in runs per game (1.20).
