SEC Softball, Day 2!

Softball season is now in full swing! And you know that means the post content is about to go up!

Let’s take a quick glance at what happened on the first day of action

Arkansas 4, Rutgers 0

Mary Haff got things started on the right for the ninth-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. Haff pitched four scoreless innings in her 2022 debut, punching out two Rutger batters en route to the 4-0 win. Danielle Gibson got the party started for the Razorbacks offensively on the year, pasting two doubles on the afternoon. The fleet-footed KB Sides picked up two stolen bases in the victory as well.

UCF 7, Georgia 6

19th-ranked Georgia, unfortunately, got off on the wrong foot. The Dawgs were upset by unranked UCF 7-6 in an eight-inning affair to begin the CFX Classic. UCF built up a 5-2 lead after three innings, forcing Georgia to try and make a comeback. And well, that effort was certainly tangible. Jaiden Fields, whose brother is kinda decent at throwing a football, showed off her prowess with the bat as she clobbered a two-run homer in the fourth. UCF added a run in the bottom stanza to push their lead up to 6-4. A single by Lacey Fincher and then a double down the line by Sara Mosley later and the game was tied at 6! Alas, Georgia couldn’t quite prevent UCF from eventually pouncing. Knights first baseman Shannon Doherty smoked a two-run walk-off bomb to end the game in the eighth inning. A fun game to be sure, but not so fun for the Dawgs.

Kentucky 5, Wisconsin 2

Despite falling down 1-0 early on, 20th-ranked Kentucky came away with a win on Opening Day. The Wildcats’ 5-2 victory was helped in large to a three-run fourth inning. Two singles by the likes of Erin Coffel and Renee Abernathy put UK on the board and they never looked back. Taylor Ebbs and Emmy Blane played runs across later, Ebbs on a triple in the sixth inning and Blane on a single that brought Ebbs home. Miranda Stoddard showed resolve and pitched a complete game, striking out five Badgers on the way.

Ole Miss 10, Dixie State 1

Oregon 3, Ole Miss 0

Ole Miss went 1-1 on the first day of action. They began with a 10-1 drubbing of Dixie State but fell 3-0 to the 17th-ranked Oregon Ducks in the nightcap. The Rebels were stifled by Ducks pitcher Makenna Kliethermes. Kliethermes dazzled in the circle, striking out 15 Rebel batters that she saw, allowed only one hit with two walks, and didn’t allow a single run to score in her complete-game shutout. Ducks shortstop Pat Sinicki went 2-for-4 with two RBI while centerfielder Hanna Delgado drove in the other run.

=====================

ALL 13 teams are in action on Friday! Some highlights:

~ Mississippi State opens up against Loyola Marymount at 4 p.m. but the main event comes five-and-a-half hours later. They take on #1 Oklahoma at 9:30 p.m.

~ #9 Arkansas is back in action. They start their day against Memphis and then conclude with #7 Washington in a Top 10 matchup. Sadly, this Top 10 matchup won’t be on TV.

~ A few power conference matchups, including: Mizzou-Penn State, Tennessee-Maryland, Kentucky-Michigan State, Georgia-Minnesota, South Carolina-Virginia, and LSU-Illinois.