No. 17 Razorbacks Travel to Kansas City and Kansas for Midweek Matchups

Jacob Pavilack March 22, 2021

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 17 Arkansas softball team (23-3, 6-0 SEC) steps out of SEC play for a pair of road non-conference matchups this week. The Razorbacks travel to Kansas City for a 4 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday, March 23, and go to Kansas at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24. Wednesday’s game at Kansas will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Tuesday, March 23 – 4 p.m. – at Kansas City – Live Stats
Wednesday, March 24 – 5 p.m. – at Kansas – Watch – Live Stats

Last Time Out

Arkansas swept its second-straight SEC series, improving to 6-0 in league play for the first time in school history as it took down Ole Miss, 5-1, 3-2 (8) and 3-2 (8) at Bogle Park last weekend. The Razorbacks won both extra inning games on walk-off home runs. The Hogs won Friday’s game, 5-1, and jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs in the first three innings and won a game for the first time this year without hitting a homer. Pitcher Mary Haff went the distance and earned the win, scattering seven hits and did not allow an earned run. The Razorbacks trailed 2-0 in the sixth on Saturday and came back to tie it on outfielder Hannah McEwen’s solo home run and infielder Danielle Gibson’s RBI double. In the bottom of the eighth Gibson smashed her second walk-off homer of the year to left, lifting the Razorbacks to a 3-2 win. Sunday’s game was almost a carbon copy of Saturday’s game as the Hogs trailed 2-0 entering the sixth. Arkansas tied the game on a wild pitch as Gibson darted home from third and outfielder Aly Manzo’s suicide squeeze, which plated pinch runner Cally Kildow. Infielder Keely Huffine blasted the Razorbacks second walk-off home run in as many days to left in the bottom of the eighth. Pitcher Jenna Bloom threw 6.2 innings allowing two runs and Autumn Storms earned the win in relief.

First Timers

After sweeping Ole Miss last weekend, the Razorbacks are 6-0 in SEC play for the first time in program history. Previously, the best start to conference action was a 5-0 mark in 2009. Arkansas is the only undefeated team in league play and hosts Mississippi State this weekend (March 26-28) at Bogle Park.

Bogle Bombers

The Razorbacks have been on a power surge this season, totaling 56 home runs over their first 26 games to lead the SEC and rank second nationally. Burnside leads the team with 15 homers, which leads the SEC and ranks second in the country behind Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo (19). Infielder Danielle Gibson is second on the team with 10 to rank 10th in the country. Designated player Linnie Malkin has added nine bombs. Infielder Keely Huffine has hit five total homers, including four from the nine-spot in the order.

Brax Bombs

Burnside’s 15 home runs this season are already tied for second-most in a single season in program history alongside Devon Wallace (2012) and Jessica Bachkora (2010). The Paragould, Ark. native is two homers away from tying Nicole Schroeder (2017) for the program’s top single-season mark.

One of a Kind

Gibson leads the country hitting 13 doubles this season and also ranks 10th nationally smashing 10 home runs. The first baseman is the only player in the country to hit at least 10 doubles and 10 homers this season. Gibson leads the team hitting .429 and is hitting .522 with five doubles during SEC play.

#HogHits

Haff leads the nation with 14 wins and ranks ninth in strikeouts (109). Haff’s career ERA of 1.53 is currently the best mark in program history.
Two weekends ago, Arkansas swept No. 20 South Carolina on the road, recording its first road SEC series sweep since 2009 against Mississippi State.
In addition to ranking second in the country in homers, the Razorbacks also rank fourth in walks, drawing 100.
Arkansas recently ended a 19-game win streak on Tuesday, March 16, which was the longest in program history. It bested the prior record of 12 set by the 1999 and 2008 teams and was the only one of the three streaks to encompass a conference series sweep.

Opposition Position

Kansas City (14-6) plays the Razorbacks before entering its Summit League play later in the week against South Dakota State. Last weekend, the Roos went 3-2 at the Oklahoma State invite, which included a 6-5 triumph over No. 6 Oklahoma State, the first win against a ranked opponent in program history. Infielder Lia Lombardini leads the team in batting average (.409), doubles (9) and RBI (24). Pitcher Mia Hoveland (7-4) has thrown a team-leading 72.0 innings and holds a 2.82 ERA with 87 strikeouts and a .252 opponent batting average. Meeting for the first time since 2017, Arkansas has a 12-2 lead in the all-time series against Kansas City. The Hogs are playing at Kansas City for the first time in series history.

Arkansas and Kansas (16-8) are meeting for the second time this season after the Razorbacks claimed the first matchup, 8-3, on March 5 at Bogle Park. The Razorbacks outhit the Jayhawks, 8-5, and Burnside hit her ninth homer of the season. Kansas won all five of its games last weekend hosting the Jayhawk Invitational against Tulsa, North Dakota State (2x) and South Dakota (2x). Infielder Morgyn Wynee leads the team with 12 homers and 32 RBI. Pitcher Tatum Goff (6-1) has posted team-bests of a 2.44 ERA, 51.2 innings pitched and 39 strikeouts. The Razorbacks trail in the all-time series, 17-10, but have won the last three meetings.

Up Next

Arkansas hosts Mississippi State for a three-game SEC series from Friday, March 26 through Sunday, March 28. All three games will air on SEC Network+.