Fifth-inning homer by Gibson lifts Hogs past Kentucky, 1-0

FAYETTEVILLE — Danielle Gibson connected on the first pitch from Kentucky’s Grace Baalman and soared her eighth home run of the season over the right-field wall and Arkansas got a 1-0 win Friday night.

Gibson’s home run was Arkansas only run of the game.

It’s the second time this season the Hogs defeated an SEC opponent in this fashion. Arkansas shut out No. 5 Tennessee, 1-0 last Saturday when senior Katie Warrick knocked one out of the park in the fourth.

Starting pitcher junior Autumn Storms gave up only three hits in the victory, striking out six Wildcats in her sixth complete game of the season and second shutout.

Storms forced 11 ground outs from the Kentucky offense, facing only six batters more than the minimum and retiring the first nine batters of the game in order.

Kentucky’s leadoff hitter, catcher Jenny Schaper threatened in the sixth with a single up the middle. UK called to the dugout for a pinch runner but the Wildcat was caught by sophomore catcher Kayla Green during the next batter.

Green’s successful throw down saved the Hogs from what could have been the tying run, as Kentucky doubled before the inning was over.

Besides Gibson’s long ball, two other Razorbacks recorded hits in the victory. Hannah’s McEwen recorded her team-leading 42nd hit of the season with a single in the first, and Warrick recorded two base hits in the win as well. Warricks’ multi-hit performance is the 18th of her career.

The Hogs are now 24-10 overall and 5-5 in conference play. Another win tomorrow (March 30) will put the Razorbacks in the same spot they were last season, 11 games into the SEC season.

Arkansas and Kentucky are anticipated to play game two on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m.