No. 11 Arkansas Sweeps No. 20 Kentucky in Doubleheader

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 11 Arkansas softball team used its powerful offense to beat No. 20 Kentucky in both games of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, winning 8-1 in game one and 14-6 in game two, shortened to five innings.

In game one, Erin Coffel hit her team-leading 16th home run of the season to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning at 1-1, as Arkansas then would score the final seven runs of the game to close out the opening game of the twin billing. In game two, Kentucky took a 3-2 lead thanks to an RBI double by Kennedy Sullivan and a Lauryn Borzilleri walk with the bases loaded, but the Arkansas offense then had 11-straight players reach base in the top of the second inning and put up a nine spot to take the lead, and won the game in a run rule.

With the results, Arkansas ups its Southeastern Conference record to 11-6 and sits 34-12 on the year overall. Kentucky loses its sixth-straight SEC game for the first time since the 2015 season, and falls to 7-10 in the league. UK is 25-16-1 overall on the 2023 campaign.

Kennedy Sullivan pitched five innings in the first game of the day with four runs crossing the plate for Arkansas off her arm and three earned. The super senior allowed seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Taylor Hess then came on in relief of Sullivan and allowed four runs in 2.0 innings of work.

Alexia Lacatena started game two for Kentucky with, lasting 1.1 innings on six earned runs with five hits surrendered. Sloan Gayan pitched the final 3.2 innings, giving up eight runs with two strikeouts. All in all on the day, Arkansas outhit Kentucky 28-11 and outscored the Wildcats, 22-7.

Game three of the series will be Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on the SEC Network+ with Dave Baker and Joanna Lane on the call from John Cropp Stadium in Lexington.

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