FAYETTEVILLE- No. 12 Arkansas’ (38-17) comeback bid fell short as the Razorbacks fell 3-2 to No. 13 Alabama in nine innings in Thursday night’s SEC Tournament quarterfinals at Bogle Park.
In epic fashion, the Razorbacks and the Crimson Tide have gone into extra innings in each of their last two matchups.
Alabama struck first in the top of the second, plating a run off of an Arkansas fielding error that gave them an early 1-0 lead.
The pitcher’s duel featuring the last two SEC Pitchers of the Year, Chenise Delce and Alabama’s Montana Fouts, took over as both teams were held scoreless in the third through fifth innings until the Hogs tied it up in the sixth. With Reagan Johnson in scoring position at second, Cylie Halvorson belted an RBI single to center to even it at 1-1. Arkansas eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but Alabama worked out of the jam to prevent Arkansas from taking the lead.
Arkansas had the bases loaded again in the seventh but came up empty.
After a quiet eighth inning from both sides, Alabama claimed a 3-1 lead in the top of the ninth after a two-RBI double down the left field line.
The Razorbacks didn’t let up in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Reagan Johnson drew a walk and Raigan Kramer drove her in on a double to center to cut the deficit to 3-2. Rylin Hedgecock walked to load the bases, but a ground out to shortstop ended the ballgame.
Throwing 165 total pitches across 8.1 innings, redshirt senior RHP Chenise Delce (20-9) suffered the loss despite her dominant outing. In her eighth career double-digit strikeout performance, Delce racked up 10 strikeouts and curbed Alabama to three runs on nine hits. The Oklahoma City native worked around runners in scoring position in seven different innings.
Offensively, Cylie Halvorson led the Hogs with an RBI single. Rylin Hedgecock powered the Razorbacks with a 2-for-3, two-walk performance. Hannah Gammill was also issued two walks. Reagan Johnson finished 1-for-4 and scored both of Arkansas’ runs. Kristina Foreman, freshman Atalyia Rijo and Raigan Kramer also amassed a hit apiece.
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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.
