No. 8 Razorbacks Slug Past No. 22 Tigers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 8 Arkansas (21-5, 3-1 SEC) combined for 12 hits as it slugged past No. 22 LSU (21-11, 2-2 SEC), 8-7, in front of a packed Bogle Park Saturday evening.

After becoming the program’s all-time hits leader Monday night, senior Hannah McEwen continued her hot streak, lacing three base hits and driving in two runs. Senior KB Sides brought energy at the leadoff spot, homering in the first and punching a hard-hit, infield single in the fifth to go along with a run. The Hogs also saw production from senior Linnie Malkin, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Sophomore Hannah Gammill went 2-for-3 with a double. Freshman Kacie Hoffmann and juniors Audrey LaValley and Val Ventura each compiled a hit.

Sophomore Jenna Bloom (7-0) secured her seventh win of the season after hurling 2.2 innings and surrendering two runs on five hits. Junior Chenise Delce locked her first save of the season after tossing the final 1.2 innings and holding the Tigers to zero hits.

How It Happened

LSU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Sides tied it up with a leadoff home run in the bottom frame. The Hogs grabbed a 2-1 lead on Malkin’s RBI single up the middle to close the first.

An RBI single by the Tigers tied it up midway through the second before McEwen’s two-RBI single to right plated LaValley and Ventura, giving Arkansas a 4-2 edge.

A pair of home runs followed by an RBI single granted LSU a 5-4 lead in the third before the Razorbacks answered quicky in the bottom frame on Malkin’s RBI single to right, making it even at five.

Arkansas crossed another two runs in the fourth on an LSU throwing error, which scored McEwen and Gibson. The Razorbacks pushed its lead to 8-5 due to an LSU error, this time sending Ventura home on Ellsworth’s hard-hit ball to short.

The Tigers pulled within one on a two-run shot to center in the top of the sixth, but the Razorback defense persisted to hold the lead.

Hog Highlights

• Bogle Park saw its second-largest crowd in program history with 2,991 in attendance Saturday night
• The Razorbacks registered their 10th game this season with 10 or more hits after pounding 12 against the Tigers
• Arkansas has recorded 10 or more hits in seven of its last 10 games
• The Hogs have won their series opener over LSU in each of the last three meetings
• Hannah McEwen tied her season-high in hits with three

Up Next

Game two against LSU is scheduled for Sunday at noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.