FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. A four-hit shutout by Chenise Delce paired with 11 hits by the Razorback offense powered No. 6 Arkansas past No. 12 Kentucky, 8-0, in six innings to earn the Razorbacks sixth-straight conference series victory and fifth of the season.
Arkansas improves to 32-8 overall and 11-4 in conference play. The Razorbacks are the only SEC team that hasnt dropped a series this season. Arkansas combined for 11 hits and four home runs against the Wildcats, who held the SECs lowest ERA coming into the series.
Senior KB Sides had a career day at the dish, extinguishing a career-high two home runs while drawing a walk. Senior Danielle Gibson tied her season-high in hits with three and recorded an RBI. Graduate Taylor Ellsworth and junior Audrie LaValley tallied a hit and RBI apiece. Senior Hannah McEwen and freshman Kacie Hoffmann also pounded base knocks.
Junior RHP pitcher Chenise Delce (11-2, 2.29 ERA) tossed her second complete game of the weekend, spinning a four-hit shutout while fanning five. In the last 24.2 innings against ranked opponents, the Oklahoma City, Okla., native has given up just one run while dealing 30 strikeouts. In Sundays rubber match, Delce limited Kentucky to zero extra base hits.
How It Happened
Arkansas struck first on Ellsworths solo home tank in the first.
LaValleys RBI single to center in the second added a second run for the Hogs.
Arkansas cruised to a 5-0 lead on Malkins three-run crank to left in the third.
Sides first home run of the game, a solo blast in the fourth, pushed the lead to 6-0.
Another Sides home run in the sixth moved the lead to 7-0. A few at-bats later, Gibsons belted her third hit of the day to send McEwen home and secure Arkansas an 8-0 victory in six.
Up Next
Arkansas travels to No. 9 Florida for a three-game set on April 22-24.
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