Razorback sophomore third baseman Hannah Gammill (#20) from Beebe, AR celebrates her single against Texas Thursday night at Bogle Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
FAYETTEVILLE — It was a night of firsts for No. 4 Arkansas as they took a 7-1 victory over No. 18 Texas in Bogle Park before 3,100 fans at the Fayetteville Super Regional Thursday evening.
It was the first time the Razorbacks have ever won a super regional game. In addition, Arkansas beat Texas for the first time ever in softball. Arkansas Coach Courtney Diefel was pleased with her team's play.
"It was a huge team win tonight," Deifel said. "Really big win. It's always nice to get the first one. I thought our defense was really, really tough. I thought our offense was relentless just continuing to put pressure making them throw a lot of pitches."
Arkansas broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the fifth. The Razorbacks sent nine hitters to the plate. Hannah McEwen led off the inning with a double off the fence in center field. Taylor Ellsworth sac bunted McEwen to third. Danielle Gibson then was walked. Hannah Gammill then singled to left field to plate McEwen for a 1-0 lead. Linnie Malkin singled to load the bases. Then Kacie Hoffmann hit a grounder to first baseman who threw it away at home. Both Gibson and Gammill scored.
Arkansas added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth. McEwen led off with an infield single. Ellsworth singled to center field. Gibson then hit a flyout to center, but McEwen went to third after the tag. Gammill then singled to right field to get McEwen across the plate with one out. Malkin then singled to left to get Ellsworth home. The Hogs went on to add two more runs as well.
Texas’ lone run came in the top of the seventh which by that time was too little too late. Texas Coach Mike White knew the Longhorns missed some opportunities to score earlier in game.
"First off I would like the thank Arkansas for having a great facility," White said. "It's obviously one of the nicest in the country. It's always great to see so many fans out. It shows our sport is growing. It was a tight ballgame for 4 1/2 innings. It could have gone either way. We didn't quite get the job done early offensively. We got a little bit done late. Defensively we made a couple of miscues that made a big difference in the ballgame. You can't give extra outs. A good team will take advantage of it and that's exactly what Arkansas did."
The Razorbacks had 12 hits in the game. The only drawback of sorts was they did strand 11 runners. But every starter for Arkansas got on base at least once either with a hit or walk.
"I think our defense did what they've done all year," Deifel said. "And it's not just one of them. Tonight they were relentless. They controlled their zone for the most part really well. I thought 1 thru 9 they were exceptional."
Texas threatened in the top of the first when second baseman Janae Jefferson started the game off with a double to left field. However, Arkansas’ Chenise Delce pitched her way out of the inning.
The two teams kept threatening to score, but both pitchers managed to get out of each jam. The fourth inning was the first one Texas didn’t get the leadoff hitter on base. It was the third inning for Arkansas when they didn’t get the leadoff hitter on.
Delce got out of a real jam in the top of the fifth. Lou Gilbert and Lauren Burks singled to start the inning. Jordyn Whitaker then sacrificed bunted them to second and third. Arkansas then walked Jefferson intentionally. But Delce struck out Mia Scott and got Bella Dayton to ground out to second base.
Delce moved to 19-2 on the season. She allowed the one run on six hits while striking out a half dozen and only walking one. Deifel had praise for the SEC Pitcher of the Year.
"I thought Chenise was exceptional tonight," Deifel said.
The two teams will play again on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and televised on ESPN2. Texas now has to defeat Arkansas twice. Arkansas (48-9) continues to set a record for wins in a single season each time they get a victory.
Razorback junior pitcher Chenise Delce (#7) from Oklahoma City, OK throws a strike against Texas Thursday night at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback sophomore third baseman Hannah Gammill (#20) from Beebe, AR makes a throw for a put-out against Texas Thursday night at Bogle Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback senior left-fielder Hannah McEwen (#23) from San Diego, CA attempts a diving catch against Texas Thursday night at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback freshman right-fielder Kacie Hoffmann (#14) from Elkhorn, NE makes an over the shoulder catch at the wall against Texas Thursday night at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback senior first baseman Danielle Gibson (#41) from Murrieta, CA makes a throw for a put-out against Texas Thursday night at Bogle Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback sophomore shortstop Marlene Friedmann (#18) from Huntington Beach, CA throws to first for a put-out against Texas Thursday night at Bogle Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback junior pitcher Chenise Delce (#7) from Oklahoma City, OK throws to first for a put-out against Texas Thursday night at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback head softball coach Courtney Deifel yells words of encouragement to her players at their game against Texas Thursday night at Bogle Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback sophomore third baseman Hannah Gammill (#20) from Beebe, AR slides into home plate to score against Texas Thursday night at Bogle Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.