The University of Kentucky softball team returns to Southeastern Conference action this weekend as it hosts Arkansas for a three-game series. The league foes will play a single game on Friday, Apr. 14, at 6 p.m. The series concludes with a Saturday, Apr. 15, doubleheader, set for a 1 p.m. start time.
This is the 25th meeting between the two schools. UA leads 15-9 in the all-time series after sweeping three games from the Wildcats a year ago in Fayetteville.
Arkansas swept a doubleheader from Missouri State earlier this week to improve its record to 19-25 on the year. The Lady?Backs are currently ranked fourth in the SEC Western Division with a 5-12 mark in conference play. They had lost 12 straight games before defeating Missouri State on Apr. 11.
Arkansas is led by Mindy O?Malley who is batting .266 (34-for-128) this season. She is followed by Blaire Perry who has hit .262 (33-for-126) in 43 games this year. Dayna Huckabee leads the Lady?Backs with seven doubles and 21 RBI and is fourth on the team with 12 runs scored.
The Wildcats snapped a four-game winning streak when they dropped a doubleheader at Indiana on Wednesday. The Cats are now 18-24 overall with a 2-16 league record which ranks them fifth in the SEC East.
Katie Campbell and Meghan Cooper lead the UK offensive attack, batting .322 and .312, respectively. Campbell has a team-high six home runs and 37 RBI, while Cooper leads the Cats with three triples. Cooper was hit by a pitch twice during the Indiana series, bringing her season total to an SEC-leading 13.
Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Jessica Trueblood leads the team with a 3.29 ERA. Trueblood and Amy Kendall are tied for tops on the team with seven wins and 85 strikeouts this season.
The Kentucky defense continues to be a strong point for the Wildcats this season. UK has only seven games this year where it has committed two or more errors. The Cats have just 35 errors this season and have posted a .970 fielding percentage.
“Both teams have a great opportunity this weekend,” said head coach Eileen Schmidt. “It’s going to come down to each individual getting their job done when called upon for the good of the team.”
