Kentucky Softball shut out in rubber match against No. 6 Arkansas

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On3 image — Photo by Chris Shoals | UK Athletics

Sometimes the bats just fall silent. No. 8 Kentucky Softball (29-11; 9-6 SEC) couldn’t make any noise on Sunday afternoon in Fayetteville in what was an 8-0 loss to No. 6 Arkansas (33-8; 12-4 SEC). The Razorbacks clinched the three-game series with the win.

‘Cats drop first SEC series since late March

After losing the first game of the series 2-1 on Friday, the ‘Cats evened things up on Saturday with an impressive 10-7 comeback win. Kentucky scored nine unanswered runs in game two victory, good enough to overcome a six-run deficit. Erin Coffel hit two home runs and went 4-for-4 at the plate. Defensively, senior pitcher Tatum Spangler threw four shutout innings to finish the game. It was her fourth SEC win of the season.

ICYMI from last night: We suggest you watch. pic.twitter.com/R0yMzYuNuN
— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) April 17, 2022

Unfortunately, the offensive mojo didn’t carry over to Sunday. In the rubber match, Arkansas scored runs in each of the first four innings and added two in the sixth to run-rule the ‘Cats. It was just the second time that Kentucky has been run-ruled all season and their first shutout loss in SEC play since 2019.

Arkansas struck first with a solo homer in the first inning. An RBI single from Audrie LaValley in the second extended the lead to 2-0. It wasn’t until the third that the Wildcats found themselves in real trouble, though. A three-run homer by Linnie Malkin in the bottom of the third gave the Razorbacks a strong 5-0 lead that Kentucky would not overcome.

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KB Sides would go on to hit two home runs after that, one in the fourth and one in the sixth. Arkansas took game three 8-0 and the series along with it. Kentucky was held to just four hits in the game, marking their lowest hit total of the SEC season.

With the loss, Kentucky is now 29-11 on the season and 9-6 in league play. They will stay on the road to face the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Hood Field in Richmond. That game will be Wednesday night at 6 p.m. You can watch live on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.