FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 8 Arkansas is scheduled to play a three-game series against Louisville Feb. 27-28 at Bogle Park, replacing the previously scheduled Wooo Pig Classic. The Razorbacks and Cardinals kick off the series Sunday at 5 p.m. The series will conclude Monday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Live stats will be available for both games.
The Schedule
Sunday, Feb. 27
Louisville – 5 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 28
Louisville (DH) – 10 a.m.
Need To Know
Arkansas is coming off the program’s first SEC regular season title (shared with Florida) last season, going 19-5 in conference play. The Razorbacks became the first team not named Florida or Alabama to win the conference’s regular season title since Tennessee in 2007. On the road against league competition, the Hogs went 11-1, producing the most wins on the road during conference play by an SEC team since 2013 when the league adopted the current 24-game schedule. Arkansas posted a 43-11 overall record, recording the best win percentage (.796) and second-most total wins in program history. In the NCAA Tournament, Arkansas earned the No. 6 national need and swept the Fayetteville Regional before hosting the program’s first Super Regional at Bogle Park.
Run KB Run
KB Sides is making noise at the leadoff spot for the Razorbacks. Through 10 games, Sides has tallied 14 stolen bases, which leads the NCAA. Arkansas’ single season stolen base record sits at 33, which was set by Dana Gulick in 1999. Additionally, Sides stole a program-record three bases in the Hogs’ win over Western Illinois Feb. 20. The Alabama transfer hit two home runs over at the Razorback Invitational against Illinois, launching an inside-the-park home run to begin the weekend Feb. 18 before sending a solo shot to center in Arkansas’ second game with the Illini on Feb. 20.
Haff On Verge of 700 Strikeouts
Picher Mary Haff sits at 695 career strikeouts in a Razorback uniform heading into the Louisville series. Haff captured Arkansas’ first SEC Pitcher of the Year award last season, pitching to a 26-7 record with five saves and a 1.55 ERA over 198.1 innings pitched. She struck out 198 hitters compared to just 39 walks issued. Haff was named an NFCA First Team All-American, becoming the first pitcher in program history to earn first team All-America recognition. USA Softball named Haff a Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist. Haff was tremendous in conference play, and among pitchers who threw at least 80.0 innings, led the league in wins (11), saves (4) and appearances (19) while placing fourth in ERA (2.01) and strikeouts (79). Against Texas Tech, she hurled her second career no hitter, striking out six over 5.0 innings, and was one error away from a perfect game. Haff threw her first no-no against Northern Colorado in 2018 as a freshman and is the only pitcher in program history with multiple no-hitters. The Winter Haven, Fla. native sits atop the program’s career record book tallying 81 wins and 14 saves.