April 20, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas softball team used three home runs and a strong pitching performance by senior Hope McLemore to post a 4-0 series-clinching win over the No. 17 University of Kentucky softball team on Saturday at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Ark.
The series will conclude Sunday with a 2 p.m. ET first pitch. Live stats and live video will be available through the links provided below. Fans can also follow all the action by following @UKSoftball on Twitter.
Kentucky (33-14, 9-8 Southeastern Conference) started freshman pitcher Kelsey Nunley in the game, who threw three-plus innings, allowing three runs on four hits with one strikeout. Nunley picked up the loss in the game, moving to 20-6 on the year. She was relived in the fourth inning with no outs by junior Lauren Cumbess, who threw the final three innings, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout. Cumbess earned a no-decision.
Arkansas (30-16, 8-9 SEC) got a great pitching performance in the circle from McLemore, who threw 6.1 innings, allowing no runs on no hits with 10 strikeouts. The senior moves to 5-2 on the year with a 2.05 ERA. McLemore was relieved in the seventh inning with one out by Chelsea Cohen, who got a strikeout and lineout to end the game.
Arkansas jumped on top of the Wildcats in the third inning getting a two-run home run to take a lead it would not relinquish. The inning started with a leadoff walk to Devon Wallace, who moved to second on a groundout. After a lineout for the second out, Clarisa Navarro hit her fifth home run of the season over the wall in left-centerfield to give the Razorbacks the lead. Nunley got out of the jam with a foul out.
Arkansas added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth innings on solo home runs from Jennifer Rambo and Nicole Schroeder.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the seventh inning but could not push a run across. Freshman Maisie Steed started the rally with a one-out walk before pinch hitter Emily Gaines was hit by a pitch and was pinch ran for by Sarah Frazer. Freshman Christian Stokes then reached on a fielder’s choice with Frazer safe at second. That led Arkansas to make a pitching change with Cohen getting out of the jam, sealing the combined no-hitter.
Kentucky will play host to the SEC Tournament this season for the first time in school history. The event, which is considered one of the most prestigious softball tournaments in the nation, will be May 8-11 in Lexington. The championship game will be featured on ESPN2, while all other games will be shown on ESPNU. Ticket information is available at www.UKathletics.com/secsoftball.
For the latest on UK softball, follow “@UKSoftball” on Twitter or like Kentucky Softball on Facebook.
Records:
Kentucky: 33-14, 9-8 SEC
Arkansas: 30-16, 8-9 SEC
Rankings:
Kentucky: No. 17 USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association; No. 17 ESPN.com/USA Softball
Arkansas: Receiving votes in both polls
Schedule:
Kentucky at Arkansas – 2 p.m. ET
Live Stats | Live Video
