Hogs Tussle Cats in Top-15 Matchup
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A top-15 matchup looms as No. 12 Kentucky comes to Fayetteville to duel No. 6 Arkansas April 15-17. The Razorbacks bring their eight-game win streak into Friday’s series opener against the Wildcats, who are coming off a 2-1 series victory over Ole Miss. The Hogs hold a 33-26 series edge over Kentucky, claiming a 2-1 series win in the last meeting between both programs on March 29-31, 2019.
The Schedule
Friday – 6 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Saturday – 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday – 11 a.m. (SEC Network+)
Top of the SEC
The Razorbacks sit atop of the SEC with a 9-3 conference record five weeks into conference play. Alabama and Kentucky sit closely behind with 10-5 and 8-4 conference records. 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 88 wins and 14 saves. After charting 11 strikeouts vs. Tennessee on March , Haff has now notched 16 double digit strikeout performances – the most in program history. She is one more shutout away from tying the program’s career shutout record (26). Haff is second on the NCAA’s active career leaderboard with 162 pitching appearances, and is tied for second in saves (14) and is fourth in wins (89) and is 16th in strikeouts with 762.
Delce, Hoffmann, Gibson, Gammill, Haff Earn SEC Weekly Honors
So far this season, five different Razorbacks have earned SEC weekly honors. Hannah Gammill and Mary Haff were named SEC Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 15. The following week, Danielle Gibson was named SEC Player of the Week on March 22. Kacie Hoffmann was named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 29 after her strong outing against LSU. Chenise Delce is the latest Hog to claim weekly accolades as she was selected as Pitcher of the Week on April 12.
A Delce Deal
Holding a 0.000 ERA in three appearances against No. 17 Auburn will earn one some accolades, and that’s exactly what it did for junior RHP Chenise Delce. The Oklahoma City, Okla. product played a prominent role in securing the Hogs’ third-straight sweep of the Tigers while also collecting two wins in the circle. In 7.2 innings, Delce fanned 15 and gave up just two hits. She struck out back-to-back hitters with a runner on third in the top of the seventh to secure a 4-3, game two victory to clinch the series. An X-factor in the circle, she held Auburn to a .080 batting average and recorded four 1-2-3 innings in the 7.2 innings she tossed. Spinning 1.1 innings in relief in the series finale, Delce struck out all four batters she faced.
The Freshman’s Big Bat
Kacie Hoffmann was named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 29. Hoffmann played an integral role in No. 9 Arkansas claiming its third-consecutive series win against No. 21 LSU, slashing .625/.750/.625 with five hits and three RBI in three games. The Elkhorn, Neb., product tied her career-high in hits twice after pounding two in game two and three. In the rubber match, Hoffmann delivered a crucial two-out RBI single to left in the fifth to push the Hogs’ lead to 6-3. In game two’s opening frame, Hoffmann smoked a two-out, RBI double to right center to grant an early 2-0 edge.
Gibby is Going to Gibby
Danielle Gibson was named SEC Player of the Week for the third time in her career on March 22. 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 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 Western Kentucky to end the four-game road tilt. Nationally, Gibson ranks third in batting average (.487), seventh in total bases (106), eighth in hits (55), 12th in slugging percentage (.938), 14th in home runs (14), 14th in RBI (44), 22nd in home runs per game (.38), and 23rd in on base percentage (.543).
Hannah Slammill
Through 37 games, Gammill nationally ranks seventh in OBP (.573), 14th in home runs (14), 22nd in home runs per game (.38), 29th in batting average (.430). The third baseman is also an anchoring infield staple with 46 assists and 43 putouts and a .947 fielding percentage.
Mary Madness
Haff 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.
Run KB Run
KB Sides is making a splash in her last collegiate season. Already, Sides’ eight home runs this season are more than she recorded in her four years at Alabama. A dynamic threat at the plate, Sides has the ability to bring over-the-fence power as well as small ball, which keeps defenses guessing every time to steps to the plate. Through 37 games, Sides has tallied 22 stolen bases, which is already the fourth-most any Hog has bagged in a single season. 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. 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 has caught fire in SEC play. 12 games into conference play, Sides has amassed a .343 batting average and .442 on base percentage. In the series opener vs. LSU, Sides launched a leadoff home run and went 2-for-2 on the day, drawing two walks. In the series finale, Sides went 3-for-4 with two runs. Sides is making the most of her final season and leaving it all out on the field.
Linnie Launch
Senior Linnie Malkin has proven to be a serious threat with the bases loaded and has blasted three grand slams so far this season, which is rare enough to earn her name into the NCAA record book. Malkin will join a list of 30 others who have hit three or more grand slams in a single season (NCAA record is 6). Malkin is on an offensive tear, obliterating three-consecutive home runs in three-straight plate appearances heading into Friday. Additionally, Malkin tattooed two home runs in the Auburn series opener and also collected two in game two against SEMO, which marks her fifth career multi home run game. Malkin sits at 12th in the country in home runs per game (29).
Two Outs? No Problem!
Arkansas sports a conference-best .338 batting average and 107 RBI when there are two outs.
McEwen is a Hit
Senior Hannah McEwen is as steady and consistent as it gets for the Razorbacks, and the results are showing. McEwen became the program’s all-time hits leader on March 21 at Western Kentucky, amassing her 228th career hit. A strong force in the two-hole this season, McEwen is also inching closer to several program records. Additionally, McEwen is the program’s all-time leader in runs scored after accomplishing that feat in the series finale against Ole Miss on April 3.
