Category: Arkansas Softball

Arkansas softball team back home to host Razorback Invitational

No. 14 Razorback softball team to host Invitational this weekend.

After opening the season with a pair of successful weekend road tournaments, the Arkansas softball team finally gets to play in front of the home crowd at Bogle Park.

No. 14 Arkansas (8-2) is hosting the annual Razorback Invitational this weekend and will open play Thursday at 4 p.m. against Illinois State. They will play the Redbirds twice over the four-day event, as well as a pair of games against both, Texas-Arlington and Wichita State.

“They are really strong,” Razorbacks Head Coach Courtney Deifel said of the opposing teams in the event. “We are playing them for a reason. It’s another non-con weekend where we’re going to be challenged.”

The Hogs will play a pair of games Friday – UTA at 3 p.m. and Wichita State at 5:30 p.m. – and two more on Saturday, facing Illinois State at 3 p.m. and the Lady Shockers again at 5:30 p.m. They will wrap things up with Arlington on Sunday, beginning at 12:15 p.m.

“We love playing at home,” Deifel said with a huge grin. “We have one of the best stadiums, with one of the best fields … and some of the best fans in the country. I’m excited that we are home this weekend, and I’m excited that we’re home for three weeks in a row.”

Arkansas will host the Woo Pig Classic next weekend, facing the likes of South Dakota State, Southeast Missouri State and Florida Atlantic. The following weekend, the Hogs will host Nebraska, South Alabama, St. Francis and Northern Iowa in the Razorback Rumble.

After the 17-game homestand, Arkansas will begin the SEC slate at Auburn on March 15.

The Razorbacks began the season two weeks ago, going 4-1 in the Paradise Classic in South Florida, then went 4-1 again in Arizona’s Bear Down Fiesta last weekend. That event included a split of two games against powerhouse No. 23 Arizona.

Deifel, who is in her ninth season at the helm, and the winningest coach in program history, is happy with her team’s early performance, but knows there is always room for improvement.

“I just feel like we’ve done a really good job, defensively, and we’ve got so many tools, offensively,” she said, “but I don’t think we have fired, from one through nine. I do think that last Saturday and Sunday we did take a step in the right direction. I don’t think we are there yet, but I definitely like the steps we have taken.

“The big thing is knowing that potential, knowing what this lineup could be, with different ones stepping up in big moments. We know our best softball is still ahead of us. When we all start firing together it’s going to be a really dynamic lineup.”

Sophomore lead-off hitter Reagan Johnson has begun the season with her bat on fire, leading the team with a .462 average, including a team-high 18 hits and six stolen bases.

Junior Auburn-transfer Bri Ellis has brought the power to the lineup, with a team-high three home runs, while slugging at a .759 percent clip. Collectively, the Razorbacks hit seven total home runs in Arizona, while outscoring their opposition 26-8 over the five games.

In the circle, the Arkansas pitching staff has been stellar. In 36 innings pitched last weekend, the staff did not give up a home run in a location known as a hitter’s “launching pad.”

“I was really proud of how they competed this past weekend, in an environment where the ball flies,” Deifel said. “I just thought our pitchers and our defense did a really good job of limiting the other offenses.”

Senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock and lefty Robyn Herron have been sensational slinging the ball. Leinstock (3-0) has tossed 19.2 innings with a 1.07 ERA and 22 strikeouts, while Herron (3-2) has thrown 27 innings with a 1.30 ERA and 30 strikeouts. Neither has allowed a home run.

The Razorbacks are 7-1 in home openers under Deifel, and are seeking their eighth straight home-opening win, dating back to 2017.

Leinstock’s one-hit gem leads Razorback softball over Omaha

Right-hander Morgan Leinstock went all seven innings Sunday, allowing just one earned run and striking out eight.

Arkansas senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock allowed just one base hit Sunday in a 5-2 complete-game victory over Omaha, wrapping up the Bear Down Fiesta in Arizona.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Leinstock (3-0), a Southern Miss transfer, who is originally from nearby Scottsdale, Ariz. She allowed just one earned run to the Lady Mavericks and struck out eight of the 27 batters she faced.

The No. 13 Razorbacks (8-2) went 4-1 over the weekend, including a two-game split with host Arizona.

Leinstock retired the first seven Omaha batters she faced, before allowing a third-inning walk. She was flawless, other than a slight hiccup in the fifth, with the Razorbacks already up 5-0. She hit a batter, then allowed a one-out walk. Her lone hit allowed was a 2-run double by Omaha’s Lynsey Tucker.

In 13 innings this weekend, Leinstock went 2-0, allowing just that one hit and striking out 15. In 19.2 total innings this season, she has a stellar 0.71 ERA with 22 strikeouts.

Arkansas collected 10 hits on the day, with sophomore Reagan Johnson, and seniors Hannah Gammill and Rylin Hedgecock recording two knocks each.

The Razorbacks jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second, as junior Bri Ellis led off the inning with a single, then came home on senior Cylie Halvorson‘s two-run blast to right-center field.

The Hogs put three more up in the third to boost the lead to five. Johnson got the rally started when she led off with a bunt single, and immediately stole her sixth base of the season. After junior Raigan Kramer singled, senior Nia Carter reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Johnson then scored on Ellis’ sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Kramer came home on another sacrifice fly by Halvorson. Gammill followed with a single and scored on another base hit from Hedgecock, to make it 5-0.

The Hogs outscored their opponents 26-8 over the weekend, while smashing seven home runs. And despite Hillenbrand Stadium’s reputation for being hitter-friendly, Razorback pitchers combined to give up just five earned runs in Tucson, spanning 36 innings, without allowing a homer.

The red-hot Johnson finished the weekend with three-straight multi-hit games, giving her a team-high six multi-hit performances this season.

Arkansas will make its home debut on Thursday, facing Illinois State in the first of a four-day Razorback Invitational. First pitch at Bogle Park is slated for 4 p.m.

Arkansas softball gets revenge, topples host Arizona in Tucson

Lefty Roby Herron continues to shine in the circle with win over Arizona.

A day after losing a heart-breaker to host Arizona in the Bear Down Fiesta, the No. 13 Arkansas softball team returned the favor on Saturday, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season.

The Razorbacks (7-2) entered the event’s second day with an breezy 9-2 win over Omaha, before exacting some revenge in a 3-2 win over Arizona (9-1).

Across both games on Saturday, Arkansas outhit its opposition 20-11, and allowed just four runs over 14 innings of play.

Omaha actually jumped in front of the Hogs 2-0 in the first inning of Game 1, but couldn’t contain the red-hot Arkansas bats. Junior Bri Ellis led off the second inning with her third home run of the weekend, a shot to left-center field, cutting the lead to one. The Razorbacks took control with four runs in the fourth and four more in the seventh.

The Hogs racked up six hits in that fourth frame, including a huge three-run bomb to left by senior Rylin Hedgecock.

Sophomores Rylee Cloud and Reagan Johnson led off the seventh with back-to-back doubles. Seniors Nia Carter and Cylie Halvorson then both added run-scoring doubles later in the inning, to put the game on ice.

In Game 2, sophomore left-hander Robyn Herron (3-2) continued her blazing start in the circle, cooling off the Wildcat bats for the second straight day.

After holding Arizona to just one run on two hits in 6.1 innings on Friday, the Florida native went all seven innings against the home team on Saturday. She held the Cats to just two runs on five hits, striking out three along the way. Herron has already tossed 27 innings this season, with a slim 1.30 ERA and 30 strikeouts.

The Hogs shot out to a 2-0 first-inning lead this time around, as Johnson and junior Raigan Kramer both reached base, then pulled off a double steal to start the rally. Johnson scored on Carter’s fielder’s choice and Kramer came home on a a fielding error.

After Arizona cut the lead to 2-1 in the second, senior Hannah Gammill blasted her second home run of the season in the fourth inning, to make it 3-1.

The Wildcats then cut the lead back to one with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Herron proceeded to shut them down the rest of the way, giving up just one meaningless hit over the final two frames.

The Razorbacks will wrap up the weekend in Tucson on Sunday, facing Omaha again at 10 a.m. The game will be available to stream on FloSoftball.

Arkansas will then return to Bogle Park for its home opener on Thursday, facing Illinois State at 4 p.m., in the first of the four-day Razorback Invitational.

Arkansas softball team splits two at Arizona’s Bear Down Fiesta

Arkansas softball took the opener against Long Beach on Friday, before falling to Arizona.

The No. 13 Arkansas softball team got off to a great start on Friday with a 7-0 over Long Beach State, but fell in the late game to host Arizona, 3-2.

The Razorbacks (5-2) have began the season with two multi-team road events. After playing in south Florida a week ago, they traveled across the country for this weekend’s Bear Down Fiesta in Tucson.

Sophomore right-hander Nikki McGaffin started the first game and threw a scoreless first inning, allowing Long Beach’s only hit of the game, while striking out a pair. She was relieved in the second frame by senior righty – and Arizona native – Morgan Leinstock (2-0), who got the win after she tossed six hit-less innings, striking out seven.

Junior Bri Ellis smashed a pair of homeruns for the Razorbacks, giving her four on the young season. The Auburn transfers also knocked in three runs, and drew a pair of walks, as Arkansas outhit the Dirtbags, 8-1.

Senior Nia Carter remained hot at the plate with a season-high three hits, including a sixth-inning triple, while knocking in two runs. With two outs in the fifth inning, the Hogs rallied for three runs, as senior Cylie Halvorson drilled an RBI-double.

In Game 2, the Razorbacks fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, before both teams went silent for the next five. Arkansas tied it at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. After senior Hannah Gammill drew a one-out walk, senior Rylin Hedgecock blasted a two-run shot over the right-center field fence.

Sophomore lefty Robyn Herron (2-2) had another dominant performance in the circle, despite the loss. After taking over for starter Hannah Camenzind in the bottom of the first, Herron spun six scoreless innings, holding the Wildcats to just two hits and striking out seven.

Arizona’s Regan Shockey scored the winning run on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

Arkansas will play two more on Saturday, facing Omaha at 12:30 p.m. which will be streamed on FloSoftball. The Razorbacks will then get a rematch with Arizona at 3 p.m., to be aired on the Pac-12 Network.

No. 13 Arkansas softball team invades Arizona for the weekend

Arkansas has got off to a hot 4-1 start, thanks to the blazing bat of sophomore Reagan Johnson.

After opening the season last weekend in Florida, the No. 13 Arkansas softball team now travels west for the this weekend’s Bear Down Fiesta in Tucson, Ariz.

The Razorbacks (4-1) will play five games in Tucson, beginning Friday at noon against Long Beach State. Arkansas will then tangle with host Arizona at 5 p.m., before games against Omaha and Arizona on Saturday, and the finale against Omaha on Sunday.

Arkansas got off to a solid start a week ago in the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla., as sophomore center-fielder Reagan Johnson began the season on fire. The 5-foot-4 leadoff hitter racked up 10 hits in 20 at-bats, while scoring five runs and stealing three bases. She currently has a 10-game hitting streak, dating back to last season.

Sophomore left-hander Robyn Herron (2-1) was equally as hot in the circle for the Hogs. She made three appearances, including two starts, and turned in a scorching 1.02 ERA, with 20 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

Junior Auburn-transfer Bri Ellis has also flexed her offensive muscle, recording at least one hit and one RBI in four of the first five games, and leading the Razorbacks with seven runs batted in and three doubles. Senior-transfer right-fielder Nia Carter is currently on a 15-game hitting streak, dating back to her 2023 season at Iowa.

It will also be a homecoming weekend of sorts for three Razorbacks, who all hail from the Grand Canyon State. Sophomore Reis Beuerlein is from Cave Creek, senior Morgan Leinstock is from Scottsdale, and junior Spencer Prigge is from Phoenix. Carter is from just across the border in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Arkansas is 2-4 all-time against both, Long Beach State and Arizona. The Hogs lead the all-time series with Omaha, 4-0.

The two games against Arizona will be streamed for free on the Pac-12 Network. The other games will be available on FloSoftball.

No. 12 Razorback softball team splits a pair in south Florida

Arkansas softball opened the twin-bill with a win over Michigan State, before suffering a loss to Penn State.

The No. 12 Arkansas softball team split a double-header in south Florida on Saturday, knocking off Michigan State in the opener, before suffering its first loss of the season at the hands of Penn State in extra innings.

The Razorbacks (4-1) wrapped up the three-day Paradise Classic and must now travel across the country to Arizona for next weekend’s Bear Down Fiesta tournament.

After wins over Marshall, Florida Atlantic and Ohio on the first two days, Arkansas remained unbeaten at the time, with a 6-5 win over the Spartans.

The Hogs thumped seven hits against Michigan State, including a pair of home runs by senior sluggers Cylie Halvorson and Hannah Gammill.

Right-handed sophomore Reis Beuerlein made her second start as a Razorback, after transferring from Mississippi State, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. After  while surrendering two runs on four hits.

After sophomore lefty Hannah Camenzind came in for 2.2 frames in relief, giving up three runs and striking out four, fellow sophomore Robyn Herron (2-1) came in to pick up her second win of the young season. The Tampa native shut down the Michigan State bats for the final 1.1 innings, striking out three of the four batters she faced, to put the game on ice.

Halverson’s solo shot tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. The Razorbacks extended the lead to 4-1 with three in the third, including junior Bri Ellis’ two-run single. Gammill’s two-run bomb then made it 6-2 after five.

The Spartans (0-4) rallied for three runs in the sixth, before Herron came in to extinguish the fire.

Facing their second Big Ten opponent of the day, the Razorbacks found themselves in a pitcher’s duel against the Nittany Lions, before allowing a run with one out in the eighth inning to fall, 3-2.

Herron started the game on the mound, and despite the loss, was dominant once again. She went the entire 7.1 innings, giving up just two earned runs, while striking out 10 Nittany Lions for her sixth career double-digit strikeout performance.

Sophomore Reagan Johnson and senior Nia Carter accounted for all four Razorback hits, with two apiece.

Senior Rylin Hedgecock got the Hogs on the board in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to center field. After Penn State tied it at 1-1 in the second, Arkansas regained the lead in the fourth on a Carter’s RBI single.

The Nittany Lions (4-0) tied it again at 2-2 in the fourth, before both teams went scoreless until the eighth. With a “ghost runner” on second to start the inning, Penn State needed just one base hit to claim the win.

In addition to Johnson’s two singles, she also drew a pair of walks and stole her third base of the season.

Arkansas will begin play in Tucson on Friday, facing Long Beach State at noon, followed by a matchup with host Arizona at 5 p.m.

Johnson goes 4-for-4 at the plate as Arkansas softball moves to 3-0

Arkansas softball got a great pitching performance from transfer righty Morgan Leinstock in 3-0 win.

The No. 12 Arkansas softball team continued its hot start with a 7-3 victory over Ohio at the Paradise Classic in south Florida on Friday.

The Razorbacks (3-0) got a splendid start from senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock, who was making her Arkansas debut after transferring from Southern Miss. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native tossed 6.2 innings, striking out seven and holding the Bobcats to just five hits.

It was the Razorbacks second 10-hit game in their first three games, as Reagan Johnson continued her torrid start. The sophomore outfielder tied her career-high with four hits in as many at-bats, while also scoring two runs and stealing two bases.

Arkansas jumped on the board early, when Johnson scored on an RBI-double by junior Bri Ellis in the first inning. Senior Rylin Hedgecock then knocked her own RBI-double to make it 2-0.

The Hogs increased the lead to 6-0 in the second, beginning with senior Nia Carter‘s two-run single, notching the first of her three RBIs of the game. After a sacrifice fly by senior Hannah Gammill, Hedgecock’s second consecutive hit plated the sixth run.

The lead went to 7-0 in the third, when Carter singled in junior Raigan Kramer.

After Ohio rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore lefty Hannah Camenzind came in to record the final out of the game.

Arkansas will conclude the tournament on Saturday with a doubleheader against Penn State at 8 a.m., followed by a showdown with Michigan State at 10:15 a.m. Both games will be available to stream on FloSoftball.

No. 12 Arkansas softball opens with pair of victories in Florida

The Razorbacks softball team got off to a good start with a pair of victories in the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton.

The No. 12 Arkansas softball team opened its season with a two-game sweep Thursday, on the first day of the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla.

Arkansas (2-0) opened the tournament with a 10-3 victory over Marshall, then needed just five innings to beat host Florida Atlantic, 8-0.

Sophomore lefty Hannah Camenzind earned the win in the opener, hurling 4.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just four hits and striking out three.

After the Thundering Herd grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the third, the Razorbacks tied it at 3-3, on senior Cylie Halvorson’s RBI single.

The Razorbacks began to take control in the fifth, plating three runs pounded in three runs in the fifth. Following a leadoff double by Bri Ellis, senior designated player Rylin Hedgecock put the Hogs back ahead with an RBI-single to left. Camenzind plated another with a sacrifice fly, before junior Spencer Prigge made it 6-3 with an RBI-double.

After Marshall walked in a run in the sixth, junior Raigan Kramer knocked in a run for Arkansas. Camenzind then knocked in the final two runs with a double to left-center.

The Razorbacks tallied 11 hits in the game, including four doubles. Halvorson and Ellis each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

“We had a lot of composure, and we ‘stayed the course’. It was very business-like considering it was our first game out there. We had a little nerves and unexpectedness, but we handled it very well. Reis (Beuerlein) gave us a good start. Hannah Camenzind came in and complemented her and did a good job using our defense. We exhaled at the half way point and started acting like ourselves.”

Sophomore left-hander Robyn Herron went the five-inning distance in Arkansas’ nightcap win over the Owls, tossing her third career complete game shutout. The Tampa native allowed just two hits, while striking out seven.

“Robyn Herron was outstanding. She controlled an offense that has the potential to really get going, so I was pleased with her outing.”

The Razorbacks’ bats exploded early, as they jumped out to a quick 5-0 first-inning lead. Ellis broke the ice with a two-run single. A hit batter and an FAU errors allowed two more runs to score, before sophomore Reagan Johnson added a run-scoring single. Johnson finished with two hits in the game.

Kramer slapped a two-run single in the second, and Halvorson capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

“I thought it was huge to score early runs in the second game. The start was contagious and shows a lot of potential for putting pressure on other teams. We did a really good job of passing the bat.”

Arkansas will next face Ohio at 11:30 a.m. (CT) on Friday, before a double-header against Penn State and Michigan State on Saturday. All games are available on FloSoftball.

D1Softball names two Razorbacks to preseason All-American team

Nia Carter and Bri Ellis made more history for Arkansas softball with selections to D1Softball’s preseason All-American team.

Two Arkansas Razorback softball players were named to D1Softball’s preseason All-American second team on Friday.

Redshirt senior outfielder [autotag]Nia Carter[/autotag] and junior first baseman [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] each earned the honor. The pair are just the fifth and sixth Hogs ever selected to D1Softball’s preseason All-American teams – all of which have come since 2020.

Carter, a transfer from Iowa, chose to play for the Hogs for her final season of eligibility. Carter’s 2023 was incredible as she started all 62 games and recorded 101 hits, 30 RBIs, 45 runs scored, eight stolen bases and 115 total bases with a .479 batting average. She earned plenty of accolades following the year, including first team All-Big Ten and third team All-American nods.

Ellis enters her first season as a Razorback after two stellar seasons at Auburn. She boasts 117 career starts, 96 RBIs, 87 hits and 34 home runs with a career batting average of .288. Last year, she started all 62 games while recording 42 hits, 47 RBIs and 14 home runs with a .275 batting average.

The Hogs will begin their season on Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m in Boca Raton, Fla. when they face Marshall as part of the Paradise Classic.

Thanks to ESPN, Arkansas softball will have plenty of exposure in 2024

Arkansas softball will have plenty of television exposure this season, thanks to multiple broadcasts on ESPN networks.

Entering the 2024 season, [autotag]Arkansas softball[/autotag] is firmly in the national spotlight. They’re ranked in the top 20 of every major preseason poll and are poised to build off of six consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.

As a result, 11 Razorback games will be prominently televised across the ESPN family of networks during the regular season. That’s in addition to having all of their games available on SEC Network+.

The first of those 11 linear broadcasts will be on March 30-April 1 in a primetime road matchup with No. 6 Georgia on SEC Network and ESPN2. [autotag]Courtney Deifel[/autotag]’s squad welcomes Missouri to Bogle Park for two SEC Network broadcasts of the series.

Arkansas’ road series against No. 22 South Carolina on April 12-14 will have two SEC Network broadcasts, and right after that, the Hogs’ home series against No. 14 Alabama will feature a game on SEC Network and ESPNU.

The Razorbacks will then host Ole Miss to Fayetteville for their final series of the regular season on May 3-5. That series will feature two games on SEC Network.

In addition to those 11 games, all 12 SEC Softball Tournament games will be televised on SEC Network, with the semifinals and championship game appearing on ESPN2.

Arkansas softball’s 2024 season begins on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m. against Marshall as part of the Paradise Classic.