UA softball powers way to win over UCA

Arkansas designated hitter Danielle Gibson bats during a game against Kentucky on Friday, March 29, 2019, in Fayetteville.

CONWAY — The No. 19 Arkansas softball team made the most of three hits as part of a historic in-state matchup Tuesday night in front of a record crowd at Farris Field.

The Razorbacks, who rank second in the country in home runs, hit a pair of long balls and Mary Haff struck out 11 as Arkansas defeated Central Arkansas 4-1.

Arkansas (17-2) snapped the Bears’ nine-game winning streak and extended its own to 16 games in the first meeting between the two teams with 755 fans in attendance.

First baseman Danielle Gibson crushed a two-run home run in the top of the first to give the Razorbacks all the runs they would need. Her ninth homer of the season came after Braxton Burnside was hit by a pitch.

UCA senior Kaylyn Shepherd countered in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot, her third of the season, to cut the lead in half. But the Bears (12-8) wouldn’t score again against Haff.

The redshirt junior scattered eight hits — including seven singles — struck out 11 and walked only one in pitching a complete game to pick up her nation’s best 10th victory.

The significance of the game wasn’t lost on Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel.

“It’s huge to be able to play in-state schools, huge for softball and huge for the state,” Deifel said. “The atmosphere was incredible.

“We won the freebie war and made the most of our three hits. It wasn’t our best offensive performance but we did enough to the get the win. Mary did a good job of staying the course and making really big pitches in big moments.”

UCA coach David Kuhn said his team couldn’t take advantage of scoring chances as the Bears managed eight hits against Haff (10-1).

“You can’t defense home runs and walks,” Kuhn said. “That’s just part of the game. It’s pretty good to hold them down to four runs. We just left too many on base. We had a lot of strikeouts and not very good at-bats with runners on base.

“But Mary Haff is a really good pitcher.”

Freshman Hannah Gammill from Beebe added to the Arkansas lead with an RBI double in the second inning, and Linnie Malkin skied her seventh homer of the season in the sixth to set the final score.

Reagan Sperling and Tylar Vernon led UCA with two hits each.

Trailing 3-1, the Bears had a scoring chance in the fifth as Jenna Wildeman, a Bentonville High graduate, drew a lead-off walk and stole second. Third baseman Cylia Hill then beat on an infield single to shortstop and Wildeman tried to score. Gibson threw her out at the plate to end the inning.

Deifel said it was no surprise the Bears played the Razorbacks tough.

“They were scrappy offensively like we knew they’d be,” Deifel said. “They had eight hits, which is not typical off Mary. Three of them were infield hits, but they run well and forced us to make plays.”

The two runs in the top of the first was a big tone setter, too, according to Deifel.

“I thought it was huge to jump out early,” she added. “If they’re worried about how we hit the long ball, it hits a little harder to give up a freebie. It’s one thing to give up solo shots.”

Kuhn praised the work of his pitchers Jordan Johnson and Rio Sanchez. Johnson (3-4) took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. She struck out six, walked two and hit two batters.

“I’d put our (top) three pitchers up against anybody,” Kuhn said. “Arkansas, their 1-5 or 1-6 in their lineup is just unreal.”

The Bears will travel to Fayetteville for the return trip on April 20 to take on the Razorbacks in Bogle Park. Arkansas opens Southeastern Conference play this weekend at South Carolina.