Hogs can’t get key hits in late innings as Tennessee takes series with 5-2 win

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Arkansas couldn’t put together enough late hits Sunday afternoon and dropped the weekend series against No. 5 Tennessee, 5-2.

Arkansas (22-9, 4-5) scored first. Sydney Parr took her first at-bat up the middle and to the warning track in center field for a triple. Hannah McEwen followed with a sacrifice to centerfield, scoring Parr from third, putting the Hogs ahead, 1-0.

The sacrifice by McEwen is Arkansas’ 15th of the season, an SEC best.

Tennessee (26–5, 4-2) capitalized on an error by the Hogs on a two-out dropped fly ball to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth.

After a lead-off strikeout by starter Mary Haff in the fifth, the Lady Volunteers strung together four runs on three hits and another Razorback error to take a 5-1 lead.

Autumn Storms came on in relief for Haff in the fourth, retiring the final five Lady Vols in order through the next inning.

Designated player Danielle Gibson sent one into right field for a base hit in the sixth inning, as Arkansas and pinch-runner Sam Torres got to third after a double by Ashley Diaz, then scored as Katie Warrick put the ball in play and was thrown out at first.

The rally ended there for Arkansas as the next two batters would be retired by Lady Vols reliever Matty Moss.

Arkansas recorded five hits in the contest, two from Gibson and one a piece from Diaz, Parr, and pinch-hitter Ryan Jackson.

Haff followed her career-best performance with another impressive show in the circle, striking out five Lady Vols while allowing only four hits in 22 batters faced.

The Razorbacks continue their road stint with a double-header at Texas-Arlington on Tuesday, then jump back into SEC play with a home series against No. 18 Kentucky starting Friday.