Hogs win first SEC Tourney title

GAINESVILLE, Fla.— Fresh off claiming the regular season SEC title outright, the Arkansas Razorbacks backed up their regular season crown with the program’s first-ever SEC Tournament title on Saturday afternoon with a 4-0 win against Missouri at KSP Stadium.

Arkansas ace and SEC Pitcher of the Year Chenise Delce had her talent on full display against the Tigers, allowing only two base runners — both singles —to go with five strikeouts over seven scoreless innings for her fifth shutout of the season.

The Razorbacks wasted no time handing Delce the lead, scratching out a run in the first and another in the second. In the first, SEC Player of the Year K.B. Sides started the rally with a leadoff single and came around to score on Danielle Gibson’s single to right after Hannah McEwen’s single. Freshman Kacie Hoffman led off the second with a triple down the right field line. Marlene Friedman’s single to center plated Hoffman. A two-run rally in the fifth was all Delce and the Hogs needed to claim their second trophy of the year. Sides was involved once again, working a leadoff walk and scoring on a Mizzou throwing error. A wild pitch with two outs later scored Hannah Gammill.

Four Razorbacks collected two hits as part of the team’s 11-hit outburst. McEwan, Hoffman, Taylor Ellsworth and Audrie LaValley all had two hits.

For the third time in program history, the Arkansas softball team and Bogle Park will host an NCAA Tournament regional. The Razorbacks will play Princeton at 5 p.m. Friday on SEC Network. Oregon vs. Wichita State will follow at 7:30 p.m.*