All Hogs

Rowdy Rodent Restores Razorback Resiliance

Rally Squirrel immediately wakes up bats after five innings with one hit

Kent Smith

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Despite nearly five hours of TV's most intense drama, things flipped in a very Marvel-esque way as a 6-2 Arkansas win over Oregon seemingly came down to the actions of a rodent in the NCAA softball Fayetteville regional Saturday.

The Duck's Makenna Kliethermes and SEC Pitcher of the Year Chanise Delce were locked in a pitcher's duel that had the slight advantage in Oregon's favor with a one-hitter through five, when a feisty squirrel made a mad dash across the backstop before slipping under the netting into the stands behind home plate just seconds before the first pitch of the 6th inning.

Oregon Ducks pitcher Makenna Kliethermes pitches against Arkansas in Game 3 of the Fayetteville regional. Kliethermes had a 1-hitter going into what became the final inning of the game before the Razorbacks put together a 6-run inning.
Arkansas Communications

Oregon Ducks pitcher Makenna Kliethermes pitches against Arkansas in Game 3 of the Fayetteville regional. Kliethermes had a 1-hitter going into what became the final inning of the game before the Razorbacks put together a 6-run inning.

Apparently the young grey squirrel's ju-ju was more than enough. After being shut out despite keeping the bases relatively full for five innings, the Razorbacks immediately found heat in their bats amid the cold chill and non-stop rain.

Danielle Gibson, who broke the game open Friday evening, ripped a shot up the middle, followed by Hannah Gammill's exact duplication to set the stage for the SEC's most dangerous hitter. Linnie Malkin, who has been in a race against Gibson to keep the Arkansas record for career home runs lifted the first pitch she saw all the way over the berm in center to the edge of the parking lot to make it 3-0. 

While it would have been enough to clinch the win, Kacie Hoffman planted a home run just inside the foul pole in right to finally run Kliethermes from the game. 

A few batters later, Hannah McEwen roped a line drive to left-center to bring in a pair of insurance runs to close out what turned out to be a 31-minute half inning that featured three Oregon pitchers.

"We clustered our hits together, which was huge," Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel said. "Their hits early were just singles that didn't really catch a lot of momentum ... It's just passing the bat and finding a way, so it's really nice that we worked them together."

Delce gave up a 2-run homer to pinch hitter Tehya Bird to add a little drama, but followed with ninth strikeout and a game-ending grounder.

Arkansas pitcher Chenise Delce takes aim at the Oregon Ducks following a rain delay of roughly two hours at the Fayetteville regional. Delce went on to strike out nine batters while claiming the win.
(Arkansas Communications)

Arkansas pitcher Chenise Delce takes aim at the Oregon Ducks following a rain delay of roughly two hours at the Fayetteville regional. Delce went on to strike out nine batters while claiming the win.

Arkansas moves to the regional final where the Razorbacks' opponent will be coming off a late game and a much longer day in the rain than planned. The winner will face the winner of Texas and their opponent from the Seattle regional.

HOGS' BASEBALL GIVES UP SEC WEST CROWN IN BLOWOUT FASHION

RAZORBACKS' SIDES, GIBSON BREAK OPEN NCAA OPENER AGAINST PRINCETON

FISHER LETTING SABAN LIVE RENT FREE IN HIS HEAD

SABAN, FISHER BOTH RIGHT IN PETTY SQUABBLE

IT'S TIME TO DO AWAY WITH DIVISIONS IN THE SEC FOR FOOTBALL

HOGS DROP SECOND GAME OF SERIES AT ALABAMA

RAZORBACKS GET BIG INNING TO START ALABAMA SERIES WITH WIN

• Return to allHogs home page.

• Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the allHOGS message board community today!

• Follow allHOGS on Twitter and Facebook.

Published
Kent Smith
KENT SMITH

Kent Smith has been in the world of media and film for nearly 30 years. From Nolan Richardson's final seasons, former Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner trying to throw to anyone and anything in the blazing heat of Cowboys training camp in Wichita Falls, the first high school and college games after 9/11, to Troy Aikman's retirement and Alex Rodriguez's signing of his quarter billion dollar contract, Smith has been there to report on some of the region's biggest moments. 

Home/Softball