Softball continues SEC play

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas softball team will close outs its current home stand with a Southeastern Conference matchup against No. 18/16 Tennessee on Wednesday at Bogle Park. First pitch for the midweek doubleheader is set for 5 p.m.

"Tennessee historically, since Monica Abbott came on the scene several years ago, has been a top 15, top 20 team," Arkansas coach Mike Larabee said. "They come in with a .344 batting average, an ERA about 2.6 and they are fielding .966 so they are playing very well in all three phases of the game. Once again, for us to win, we are going to have to play like we did down in Georgia a couple weeks ago. We have to make the routine plays defensively; our pitching staff needs to keep it close to give us a chance in the sixth or seventh innings. It is just going to come down to timely hitting. I am looking forward to playing them."

Arkansas (24-16, 8-6 SEC) currently sits third in the SEC Western Division after No. 4/5 Florida swept the Razorbacks in a three-game series over the weekend.

The Razorbacks struggled to find consistency at the plate as they were limited to four runs on seven hits over the final two games after coming out the of the gates fast with 10 hits in Game One. Second baseman Courtney Breault paced the team with a .429 average (3-for-7), one run scored, a double, two RBIs and a .571 slugging percentage.

Tennessee (33-8, 12-4) comes into this weekend off an SEC road series win at Auburn. The Lady Volunteers currently sit in second place in the SEC East and second overall in the conference.

Tennessee leads the all-time series between the two teams 24-11 while the two teams are tied at 8-8 in games played in Fayetteville. Last year, Arkansas lost 9-0 in five innings in a game delayed four hours due to rain. The Razorbacks were limited to three hits in the contest.

Offensively, freshman outfielder Raven Chavanne leads the Lady Volunteers. Chavanne is batting .497 with 71 hits, four doubles, four triples and 22 RBIs. Fellow freshman Kat Dotson is also batting over .400 with a .444 average, 48 hits and 34 RBIs. Both Chavanne and Dotson have 23 stolen bases on the season.

Tennessee is batting a league-best .344 as a team with 35 home runs and 81 stolen bases.

In the circle, freshman Ivy Renfroe leads the pitching staff with a 19-2 record and a 2.18 ERA in 135.0 innings pitched. In her last 13 appearances, Renfroe is 8-0 with a 1.11 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 50.1 innings. Sophomore Cat Hosfield is second on the team with 13 wins and a 3.10 ERA.

Wednesday night’s games will be broadcast on KXUA Fayetteville (88.3 FM) and ArkansasRazorbacks.com, which will also carry live stats for the Tennessee doubleheader.

Rankings are based on the ESPN/USA Softball and USA Today/NFCA collegiate softball polls released Tuesday.

Download: 4-14 Tennessee.pdf