FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. Sophomore Marlene Friedman’s two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth lifted No. 5 Arkansas over Central Arkansas, 3-2, Tuesday night at Bogle Park.
Senior Mary Haff (14-3) earned her 91st career win after entering in the fifth and retiring all nine hitters she faced with four strikeouts. The righthander was plugged into the game with no outs and a runner on first, forcing a fly out and back-to-back strikeouts. Sophomore Callie Turner (2-2) made the start and threw four innings, surrendering one earned run on five hits while fanning two.
The Razorbacks improve their overall record to 36-8 and 4-0 all-time against Central Arkansas.
Senior Hannah McEwen was a force at the dish after going 3-for-3 with a run. Friedman went 1-for-2 with a two-run blast in the sixth to permanently put the Hogs in the driver’s seat. Senior Danielle Gibson tallied an RBI on a sacrifice fly sent to the wall to plate the Razorbacks’ first run of the game. Graduate Taylor Ellsworth notched a double in the sixth and Audrie LaValley singled in the fourth.
How It Happened
The Hogs were held scoreless until the fifth. McEwen locked a one-out base hit, her third of the night, to put a runner on. Ellsworth followed suit with a double to left center, positioning runners in scoring position. Gibson sailed a high sacrifice fly to the center field wall which led to McEwen scoring from third to pull the Hogs within one.
Linnie Malkin began the sixth frame with a walk. Next, LaValley’s sac bunt advanced Raigan Kramer, who was pinch running for Malkin, to second. Rylin Hedgecock’s ground out to the 5-6 hole moved Kramer to third. Friedman then stepped up to the plate with two outs to blast her second home run of the season and clutch a 3-2 Razorback victory.
Up Next
The Hogs host South Carolina for a three-game series Friday through Sunday at Bogle Park. Friday’s series opener is set for 6 p.m. All three games will be available on SEC Network+.
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