Razorbacks Drop Finale to Tennessee, Leave with Series Win
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Despite assembling two runs in the sixth, No. 10 Arkansas’ (19-5) valiant comeback effort fell short as No. 14 Tennessee claimed a 6-2 win in Sunday’s series finale at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The Razorbacks clinched its first series victory on Rocky Top and first over Tennessee since 2017 Saturday after winning the series’ first two games.
Senior Hannah McEwen inched herself one hit closer to becoming the program’s all-time hits leader after going 3-for-3 with a double. Senior Danielle Gibson raked a solo home run – her third home run in the last two games – and lured a walk in the fourth. KB Sides corked a single to short and then scored on Taylor Ellsworth’s ground out a few plays later for the Hogs’ first run in the sixth. Sam Torres collected the Razorback’s final hit of the game on a one-out single down the left field line in the seventh.
Three different arms entered the circle for the Razorbacks Sunday. Callie Turner got the nod, spinning 1.2 innings, striking out one and surrendering four hits and one earned run before handing the keys to Jenna Bloom. Bloom tossed 0.1 innings and gave up one unearned run on two hits. Mary Haff threw the final four innings, fanning three and working around three hits.
How It Happened
Tennessee cusped a 1-0 lead in the first on a double to right. Turner worked around a bases-loaded jam and dealt her first strikeout of the game for the final out.
The Volunteers tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the second.
Both teams were held scoreless in the third through fifth before Arkansas starting chipping away at the lead in the sixth.
Ellsworth’s ground out to short pushed Sides across home for the Hogs’ first run of the game. Gibson followed with a solo home run to slash Tennessee’s lead to 5-2.
Tennessee responded in the bottom frame and added an insurance run on a pair of singles.
Arkansas looked to rally after Torres’ one-out single down the left field line in the seventh, but Tennessee cusped the game’s final two outs to avoid the sweep.
Hog Highlights
• Arkansas clinched its first series victory in Knoxville and first against Tennessee since March 2017
• With three hits against the Vols Sunday, Hannah McEwen needs one more to become the program’s all-time hits leader
• Danielle Gibson hit her third home run in the last two games
• Gibson hit .600 over the weekend, going 6-for-10 at the dish with eight RBIs, three home runs and three runs while posting a 1.500 slugging percentage and 0.636 on base percentage
• KB Sides and Hannah McEwen amassed three hits each over the weekend
• Mary Haff posted 16 strikeouts over the weekend
• The Hogs have homered at least once in their past 11 games
Up Next
Arkansas and Western Kentucky square off in Bowling Green, Ky., Monday at 6 p.m. CT.
