FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A top-15 matchup looms as No. 12 Kentucky involves Fayetteville to duel No. 6 Arkansas April 15-17. The Razorbacks convey their eight-game win streak into Friday’s sequence opener in opposition to the Wildcats, who’re coming off a 2-1 sequence victory over Ole Miss. The Hogs maintain a 33-26 sequence edge over Kentucky, claiming a 2-1 sequence win within the final assembly between each applications on March 29-31, 2019.

The Schedule

Friday – 6 p.m. (SEC Community+)

Saturday – 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Sunday – 11 a.m. (SEC Community+)

Prime of the SEC

The Razorbacks sit atop of the SEC with a 9-3 convention file 5 weeks into convention play. Alabama and Kentucky sit carefully behind with 10-5 and 8-4 convention information. Arkansas is coming off this system’s first SEC common season title (shared with Florida) final season, going 19-5 in convention play. The Razorbacks grew to become the primary workforce not named Florida or Alabama to win the convention’s common season title since Tennessee in 2007. On the street in opposition to league competitors, the Hogs went 11-1, producing probably the most wins on the street throughout convention play by an SEC workforce since 2013 when the league adopted the present 24-game schedule. Arkansas posted a 43-11 total file, recording the perfect win share (.796) and second-most whole wins in program historical past. Within the NCAA Event, Arkansas earned the No. 6 nationwide want and swept the Fayetteville Regional earlier than internet hosting this system’s first Tremendous Regional at Bogle Park.

Haff Pencils Her Identify Into Historical past, Throws Program’s First Excellent Recreation

Senior Mary Haff has marched her means into the Arkansas softball historical past guide throughout her time in Fayetteville. On March 11, Haff threw this system’s first solo excellent sport, tossing a seven-inning, 14 strikeout gem to propel the Razorbacks to a 6-0 win over the Terrapins on the JMU Dukes Invitational. Again on March 4, Haff amassed her 700th profession strikeout in a win in opposition to Kennesaw State. The Winter Haven, Fla., native is now on the hunt for 800 strikeouts after she grabbed her 739th profession Okay within the Razorbacks’ win in opposition to Western Kentucky. Haff captured SEC Pitcher of the 12 months award final season, pitching to a 25-7 file with 5 saves and a 1.55 ERA over 198.1 innings pitched. She struck out 198 hitters in comparison with simply 39 walks issued. Haff was named an NFCA First Staff All-American, turning into the primary pitcher in program historical past to earn first workforce All-America recognition. USA Softball named Haff a Collegiate Participant of the 12 months Prime 10 Finalist. Haff was great in convention play, and amongst pitchers who threw at the very least 80.0 innings, led the league in wins (11), saves (4) and appearances (19) whereas inserting fourth in ERA (2.01) and strikeouts (79). Towards Texas Tech, she hurled her second profession no hitter, putting out six over 5.0 innings, and was one error away from an ideal sport. Haff threw her first no-no in opposition to Northern Colorado in 2018 as a freshman and is the one pitcher in program historical past with a number of no-hitters. The senior sits atop this system’s profession file guide tallying 88 wins and 14 saves. After charting 11 strikeouts vs. Tennessee on March , Haff has now notched 16 double digit strikeout performances – probably the most in program historical past. She is yet another shutout away from tying this system’s profession shutout file (26). Haff is second on the NCAA’s lively profession leaderboard with 162 pitching appearances, and is tied for second in saves (14) and is fourth in wins (89) and is sixteenth in strikeouts with 762.

Delce, Hoffmann, Gibson, Gammill, Haff Earn SEC Weekly Honors

To date this season, 5 completely different Razorbacks have earned SEC weekly honors. Hannah Gammill and Mary Haff have been named SEC Participant and Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 15. The next week, Danielle Gibson was named SEC Participant of the Week on March 22. Kacie Hoffmann was named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 29 after her sturdy outing in opposition to LSU. Chenise Delce is the newest Hog to say weekly accolades as she was chosen as Pitcher of the Week on April 12.

A Delce Deal

Holding a 0.000 ERA in three appearances in opposition to No. 17 Auburn will earn one some accolades, and that’s precisely what it did for junior RHP Chenise Delce. The Oklahoma Metropolis, Okla. product performed a outstanding position in securing the Hogs’ third-straight sweep of the Tigers whereas additionally amassing two wins within the circle. In 7.2 innings, Delce fanned 15 and gave up simply two hits. She struck out back-to-back hitters with a runner on third within the high of the seventh to safe a 4-3, sport two victory to clinch the sequence. An X-factor within the circle, she held Auburn to a .080 batting common and recorded 4 1-2-3 innings within the 7.2 innings she tossed. Spinning 1.1 innings in aid within the sequence finale, Delce struck out all 4 batters she confronted.

The Freshman’s Large Bat

Kacie Hoffmann was named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 29. Hoffmann performed an integral position in No. 9 Arkansas claiming its third-consecutive sequence win in opposition to No. 21 LSU, slashing .625/.750/.625 with 5 hits and three RBI in three video games. The Elkhorn, Neb., product tied her career-high in hits twice after pounding two in sport two and three. Within the rubber match, Hoffmann delivered a vital two-out RBI single to left within the fifth to push the Hogs’ result in 6-3. In sport two’s opening body, Hoffmann smoked a two-out, RBI double to proper heart to grant an early 2-0 edge.

Gibby is Going to Gibby

Danielle Gibson was named SEC Participant of the Week for the third time in her profession on March 22. The Murrieta, Calif., product guided Arkansas to its first sequence win in Knoxville, Tenn., and a dominant win in opposition to a Western Kentucky squad that was receiving votes in a number of nationwide polls. In 4 video games, Gibson slashed .667/1.917/.733 with 5 house runs and 12 RBI. She scattered eight hits and collected 23 whole bases. Moreover, Gibson produced a season-high seven RBI and two house runs, together with a vital high of the seventh grand slam. to clinch the sequence over No. 14 Tennessee. The house run output didn’t cease Saturday as she tattooed a solo shot in Sunday’s sequence finale. The senior additionally swatted two-run and three-run jacks in opposition to Western Kentucky to finish the four-game street tilt. Nationally, Gibson ranks third in batting common (.487), seventh in whole bases (106), eighth in hits (55), twelfth in slugging share (.938), 14th in house runs (14), 14th in RBI (44), twenty second in house runs per sport (.38), and twenty third in on base share (.543).

Hannah Slammill

Via  37 video games, Gammill nationally ranks seventh in OBP (.573), 14th in house runs (14), twenty second in house runs per sport (.38), twenty ninth in batting common (.430). The third baseman can be an anchoring infield staple with 46 assists and 43 putouts and a .947 fielding share.

Mary Insanity

Haff tossed this system’s first solo, seven-inning excellent sport in opposition to Maryland on March 11 to safe her 83rd profession win as a Razorback. The reigning SEC Co-Pitcher of the 12 months struck out a season-high 14 batters in opposition to Terrapins, her 14th double digit strikeout efficiency. Haff picked up her first win of the weekend after downing Liberty Thursday, surrendering one run on one hit whereas fanning 4 in two innings of labor. In wins over Maryland and Liberty, Haff struck out 18 and walked zero. She retired 27-straight heading into the SEC opening sequence at Tennessee.

Run KB Run

KB Sides is making a splash in her final collegiate season. Already, Sides’ eight house runs this season are greater than she recorded in her 4 years at Alabama. A dynamic menace on the plate, Sides has the power to convey over-the-fence energy in addition to small ball, which retains defenses guessing each time to steps to the plate. Via 37 video 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 file sits at 33, which was set by Dana Gulick in 1999. Moreover, Sides stole a program-record three bases within the Hogs’ win over Western Illinois Feb. 20. Sides’ three stolen bases in opposition to Western Illinois are tied for many by a SEC participant in a single sport this season. Sides compiled a dominant efficiency within the Hogs’ win in opposition to Lehigh on March 11 , going a career-best 4-for-4 with a house run, triple and two doubles to enhance three RBIs, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Sides provides pace to the Razorback lineup and in heart, the place she made a number of essential catches in Arkansas’ sequence victory in opposition to Tennessee. Sides has caught fireplace in SEC play. 12 video games into convention play, Sides has amassed a .343 batting common and .442 on base share. Within the sequence opener vs. LSU, Sides launched a leadoff house run and went 2-for-2 on the day, drawing two walks. Within the sequence finale, Sides went 3-for-4 with two runs. Sides is benefiting from her remaining season and leaving all of it out on the sector.

Linnie Launch

Senior Linnie Malkin has confirmed to be a critical menace with the bases loaded and has blasted three grand slams up to now this season, which is uncommon sufficient to earn her identify into the NCAA file guide. Malkin will be a part of an inventory of 30 others who’ve hit three or extra grand slams in a single season (NCAA file is 6). Malkin is on an offensive tear, obliterating three-consecutive house runs in three-straight plate appearances heading into Friday. Moreover, Malkin tattooed two house runs within the Auburn sequence opener and in addition collected two in sport two in opposition to SEMO, which marks her fifth profession multi house run sport. Malkin sits at twelfth within the nation in house runs per sport (29).

Two Outs? No Drawback!

Arkansas sports activities a conference-best .338 batting common and 107 RBI when there are two outs.

McEwen is a Hit

Senior Hannah McEwen is as regular and constant because it will get for the Razorbacks, and the outcomes are displaying. McEwen grew to become this system’s all-time hits chief on March 21 at Western Kentucky, amassing her 228th profession hit. A robust power within the two-hole this season, McEwen can be inching nearer to a number of program information. Moreover, McEwen is this system’s all-time chief in runs scored after carrying out that feat within the sequence finale in opposition to Ole Miss on April 3.