Razorbacks split Friday doubleheader
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – No. 8 Arkansas split Friday’s doubleheader with a 4-0 victory over Memphis in the first game and an 8-0 loss to No. 7 Washington in the nightcap.
How it Happened vs. Memphis
The Arkansas offense endured a frustrating day, leaving at least one runner on the bases in six of seven innings to strand eight total. It wasn’t until the bottom of the seventh with one out and trailing 3-0 that the Razorbacks finally found the hit they’d been looking for when Taylor Ellsworth hit a bases loaded rocket into the left field corner to clear the bases and tie the game. Danielle Gibson looked to have the game-winning hit one batter later, but Memphis second baseman Alyssa Dean’s diving play helped send the game to extra innings.
Mary Haff, who entered in relief in the fifth inning, worked her magic in the top of the eighth to get the Hogs out of a jam and set up the bottom of the inning for heroics. Rylin Hedgecock was the hero with a single to deep center to make the Razorbacks a 4-3 walk-off winner.
How it Happened vs. Washington
After trading zeroes in the first, the Huskies took advantage of an error in the second inning to plate three runs. With two down, second baseman Audrie LaValley mishandled a groundball and Washington wasted no time making the Hogs pay by scoring three runs to take an early lead. Arkansas starter Chenise Delce battled into the sixth when the Washington offense exploded for five runs off Delce and reliever Lauren Howell to end the game.
Gibson had the Razorbacks’ only two hits with a pair of singles. Delce took the loss giving up five runs, two earned, on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Hog Highlights
• Ellsworth, LaValley and Linnie Malkin each had two hits in the win over Memphis. All three had a double in the victory as well.
• Haff earned her second win in as many days with 3.2 perfect innings against the Tigers, including four strikeouts.
• Jenna Bloom steadied the game in the middle innings for the Hogs out of the bullpen, allowing one run on four hits over three frames.
• Gibson added two hits in the Razorbacks’ loss to Washington to total four hits in the two games Friday and now leads the team in hits.
• Delce worked 5.1 innings against the Huskies, the longest outing by an Arkansas pitcher in the first three games of the season.
Up Next
The Razorbacks are set to wrap up their trip to Mexico tomorrow with their second doubleheader, playing Long Beach State at 6 p.m. then a second showdown with No. 7 Washington at 8:30 p.m.
