FAYETTEVILLE – Fifth-year senior RHP Chenise Delce tossed a two-hit, complete-game shutout to energize No. 11 Arkansas to a 5-0 victory over UAB in Friday night’s series opener at Bogle Park.
Arkansas improves to 29-12 overall and 16-7 at home.
Delce (16-5) twirled her fourth complete-game shutout of the season. Working her craft, the Oklahoma City native tied her season high in strikeouts with 12 across 7.0 innings. In 97 total pitches, Delce worked around two walks and surrendered just one extra-base hit – a double in the sixth. The reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year has gone the distance in her last seven starts. Delce retired the side in four different innings Friday night.
The game remained scoreless through the first five frames. Arkansas then surged in a five-run sixth inning.
Momentum shifted to Arkansas when Delce and the Hog defense worked around runners at the corners in the sixth. The Blazers bolted their second and final hit of the night, a leadoff double to left, and advanced the runner to third on a sharp ground out to Cylie Halvorson at first. A pop up to Kramer in shallow left kept UAB from tagging up and scoring. After intentionally walking a UAB batter, Delce recorded another punchout to keep the Blazers stalemate.
In the bottom of the sixth, freshman catcher Lauren Camenzind broke up the scoreless ballgame by driving in Halvorson on a fielder’s choice to put the Razorbacks in front 1-0. Another fielder’s choice, this time off the bat of fifth-year Tymber Riley, plated two for a 3-0 edge. Junior third baseman Hannah Gammill pounced an RBI single to left for a 4-0 lead. Freshman center fielder Reagan Johnson’s RBI single through the left side increased the lead to 5-0.
Arkansas fused together five hits. Johnson extended her hitting streak to three games after going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Halvorson continued to excel at the plate and finished 1-for-3. Redshirt junior designated player Rylin Hedgecock hit her eighth double of the season. Fifth-year second baseman Kristina Foreman and Gammill chipped in a hit apiece. Camenzind and Riley each drove in a run.
Up Next
Arkansas goes for the series at 3 p.m. CT Saturday on SEC Network+. Sunday’s series finale starts at noon on SEC Network+.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
