Softball hosts No. 24/21 Kentucky

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas Razorbacks continue at home with a doubleheader against No. 24/21 Kentucky on Wednesday, March 16, with the first game beginning at 4 p.m. at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks go into the Southeastern Conference game with a 9-15 overall record and fresh off three straight losses to then-No. 24 Auburn. The home-opening series started with a 5-1 defeat on Friday afternoon. Sophomore pitcher Hope McLemore went the distance with six strikeouts and just two walks on the day. The Razorbacks came back with five hits on day two, but dropped a 9-1 game in six innings to the Tigers. In the third game of the weekend, Arkansas held the 24th-ranked Tigers to just two runs off five hits and four strikeouts by senior pitcher Kim Jones.

"I thought Hope (McLemore) threw well in the first game and Kim (Jones) did well on Sunday," head coach Mike Larabee said. "Our defense did an outstanding job and we had several opportunities in each game, we just couldn’t get that key hit all weekend."

The Wildcats come into the mid-week doubleheader with a 2-1 SEC record, 16-4 overall. UK collected two wins over previously-ranked No. 7 Tennessee over the weekend. Historically, the Razorbacks have a 26-13 record against Kentucky and a 9-8 win in the final game of the weekend series in Lexington, Ky. during the 2010 season.

"Kentucky took two of three games from Tennessee last weekend," Larabee said. "They have one of top pitchers in SEC in my opinion, so we definitely have our work cut out for us. We don’t need to get a lot of hits, we just need to take advantage of the opportunities that we are given."

Senior Becca Carden and sophomore Courtney Breault go into the doubleheader each with a .333 batting average. Carden had three hits on the weekend against Auburn, including a double in game three. The Razorbacks lead the SEC with 10 triple on the season.

The Razorbacks host Kentucky for two games on Wednesday with the first set for 4 p.m. at Bogle Park.

Download: Notes 3.15.pdf