Tag: Arkansas softball

Softball Notebook: Gibson Powers Razorbacks To Successful Opening Weekend

The No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks escaped the chill of Northwest Arkansas this weekend to begin their season on the sunny shores of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico and came away with three wins in five opportunities. 

The No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks escaped the chill of Northwest Arkansas this weekend to begin their season on the sunny shores of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico and came away with three wins in five opportunities.

The Razorbacks grabbed three key wins over Rutgers, Memphis, and Long Beach State, while falling twice to No. 7 Washington. The weekend proved to be successful on all accounts, as the bats worked to score 21 earned runs, and pitching recorded 25 strikeouts.

Danielle Gibson led the way offensively by batting .533 with eight hits and three RBI on the weekend. Taylor Ellsworth, Sam Torres, and Linnie Malkin each had successful weekends as well.

Mary Haff earned two wins in the circle while Chenise Delce grabbed one victory.

Arkansas will welcome Wichita State to Bogle Park on Thursday before opening the Razorback Invitational on Friday. First pitch with the Shockers is at 5 p.m.

Razorback Softball Shuts Out Rutgers For First Win

Arkansas begins the 2022 season with a 4-0 win over Rutgers in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. 

The long-awaited season opener for Courtney Deifel’s No. 8 Arkansas softball team has arrived, and the Razorbacks opened the season in style.

Behind a solid pitching game, as well as key swings by Danielle Gibson and Linnie Malkin, Arkansas begins the 2022 season with a 4-0 win over Rutgers in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Patience is how the Razorbacks got on the board in the season opener. Alabama transfer KB Sides began the bottom of the 1st with a leadoff walk, then almost immediately stole second base. She was later driven home by Danielle Gibson on a two-out double to center, giving Arkansas the early 1-0 lead.

Arkansas capitalized on another two-out opportunity in the third inning. Taylor Ellsworth, Danielle Gibson, and Hannah Gammill would reach base, setting up an opportunity for senior Linnie Malkin with juiced bases. Malkin singled to left field to score Ellsworth, but a boot by left fielder Gabrielle Callaway allowed Gibson and Gammill to score, extending Arkansas’ lead to 3-0.

Gibson lead the team in hits with two, Malkin and Rylan Hedgecock recorded one hit each for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas was dominant in the circle, as Mary Haff, Callie Turner, and Chenise Delce combined to strike out seven in the shutout win. Haff tossed four quality innings in the start, allowing just two hits and striking out two batters.

Transfers Turner and Delce closed out the game in the circle. Turner began her career as a Razorback in grand fashion, striking out the first two batters she faced. She did however find herself in trouble, as the next two batters got on base via the walk. Turner did dig herself out of the hole when Rutgers’ Kyleigh Sand grounded out to her to end the threat.

Delce threw a perfect 6th and 7th inning to finish the game. She faced the minimum, striking out three Scarlet Knights.

The Razorbacks continue their stay in Puerto Vallarta tomorrow, by taking on Memphis and Washington. Each game can be viewed on FloSports.com.

Gibson, Haff Named to Preseason All-SEC Team

Danielle Gibson and Mary Haff were named to the 2022 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team, announced by the Southeastern Conference office.

Two of Arkansas Softball’s brightest stars are gracing preseason lists all over.

Monday, first baseman Danielle Gibson and pitcher Mary Haff were named to the 2022 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team, as announced by the Southeastern Conference office.

Gibson was second on the team with a batting average of .355 last season, with 15 home runs and 51 RBI. With the graduation of Braxton Burnside, Gibson looks to lead the charge in the hitting category, with Linnie Malkin and Hannah McEwin assisting.

Arkansas’ ace returns for her senior season. Pitcher Mary Haff held an ERA of 1.55 in 2021 with 198 strikeouts in 198.1 innings pitched, en route to a 26-7 record.

Per the SEC, the Preseason All-SEC Softball Team is voted on by the league’s head coaches and consists of a minimum of 21 players. No ties are broken.

Arkansas softball begins the season on Thursday by taking on Rutgers in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, with first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m.

Arkansas Softball Checks In at No. 8 in Initial USA Today Poll

Arkansas is one of three SEC teams to begin the season in the top-10. Alabama kicks off the season at No. 2, while Florida is at No. 6.

Stop me if you have heard this one before… the Razorbacks are in the top-10.

In the latest preseason poll to be released, the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll has Arkansas Softball ranked No. 8 to begin the 2022 season.

Arkansas is one of three Southeastern Conference teams to start off the season in the top-10. Alabama kicks off the season at No. 2, while Florida checks in at No. 6.

In all, eight SEC programs will begin the season as top-25 teams.

1 Oklahoma (32) 56-4 800
2 Alabama 52-9 758
3 UCLA 47-7 700
4 Florida State 49-13-1 696
5 Oklahoma State 48-12 680
6 Florida 45-11 601
7 Washington 45-14 571
8 Arkansas 43-11 515
9 Arizona 41-15 499
10 Texas 43-14 491
11 Missouri 42-17 421
12 Georgia 34-23 416
13 Virginia Tech 37-15 385
14 LSU 35-22 361
15 Clemson 44-8 346
16 Michigan 38-8 321
17 James Madison 41-4 286
18 Oregon 40-17 282
19 Kentucky 43-16 278
20 Duke 44-12 275
21 Arizona State 33-16 185
22 Tennessee 42-15 178
23 Louisiana 47-12 128
24 Liberty 44-15 62
25 Wichita State 41-13-1 59

This is the third poll that has the Razorbacks ranked in the top-10… D1Softball also has Arkansas ranked No. 8 in their preseason poll, while Softball America has the Razorbacks ranked at No. 10.

 

Arkansas Softball Picked Third by SEC Coaches

The preseason SEC Coaches Poll was released Monday and the Razorbacks were selected to finish third, announced by the league office.

When it comes to Arkansas Softball, the hype is real.

The preseason Southeastern Conference Coaches Poll was released Monday and the Razorbacks were selected to finish third, announced by the league office. Arkansas grabbed the No. 3 spot with 124 points, and two 1st place votes.

2022 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
PLACE SCHOOL POINT
1. Alabama (7) 138
2. Florida (3) 131
3. Arkansas (2) 124
4. Tennessee (1) 103
5. Missouri 97
6. LSU 93
7. Georgia 78
Kentucky 78
9. Ole Miss 47
10. Texas A&M 41
11. Auburn 36
12. Mississippi State 35
13. South Carolina 13

Arkansas softball returns ace pitcher Mary Haff, as well as power bats in Danielle Gibson and Linnie Mackin. Arkansas also receives a defensive boost in KB Sides, who transferred to Arkansas in the offseason from fellow SEC program Alabama.

All 13 coaches of the SEC voted in the poll, and could not vote for their own team. According to the SEC, points for the poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 basis.

The Razorbacks open the season on Thursday, February 10 against Rutgers at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. First pitch is scheduled for 10 am.

Two Razorbacks Land on USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist

Pitcher Mary Haff and infielder Danielle Gibson have been added to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist.

“Watchlist Season” has been very kind to Arkansas Softball.

As the regular season draws closer, two Razorbacks have been added to a preseason watchlist, this time from USA Softball.

Pitcher Mary Haff and infielder Danielle Gibson were among 50 players from all over the nation named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watchlist, announced Wednesday by USA Softball. 

 

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Mary Haff, a senior from Winter Haven, Fla. returns as the ace of the pitching staff. In 40 appearances, she struck out 198 batters, which was 4th best in the Southeastern Conference, and had an ERA of 1.55, which was 2nd best on the staff behind Autumn Storms. Storms and Haff were a 1-2 punch last season in the circle, but with the departure of Storms due to graduation, Haff will anchor down the unit.

Last season, Danielle Gibson combined with Braxton Burnside, Kayla Green, and Linnie Malkin to smash 70 home runs and produce 182 runs. Three of those four sluggers return, with Gibson leading the way. Gibson was a threat in the field as well, committing only two errors in 50 games last season, starting primarily at first base.

The Razorbacks begin their season on Thursday, February 10 against Rutgers at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

Arkansas Softball Ranked No. 10 in Softball America Preseason Poll

Arkansas joins three other Southeastern Conference teams in the top-10: No. 3 Alabama, No. 6 Florida, and No. 9 Missouri.

The preseason mentions just keep coming for Arkansas Softball.

As the season draws closer, the Arkansas Razorbacks find themselves ranked in the top-10 in another preseason poll.

Softball America released their preseason top-25 rankings Tuesday, with the Razorbacks sitting comfortably at No. 10. Arkansas joins three other Southeastern Conference teams in the top-10: No. 3 Alabama, No. 6 Florida, and No. 9 Missouri. Georgia (No. 18), Kentucky (No. 20), and Tennessee (No. 23) also represented the conference in the poll. 

 

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Arkansas is also ranked in the top-10 in another publication’s preseason outlook. Earlier this month, D1Softball placed Arkansas at No. 8 in their preseason poll.

D1Softball also projected Arkansas to finish third in the SEC, behind Alabama and Florida.

Arkansas opens the season on February 10 at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, where they will play five games over the weekend, starting with Rutgers at 10 A.M.

 

D1Softball.com Projects Arkansas to Finish Third in SEC

Razorbacks projected to finish only behind Alabama and Florida according to the site.

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Fresh off the most successful season in program history that saw 43 wins and a Southeastern Conference championship, the buzz surrounding Arkansas Softball continues to grow ahead of the 2022 season.

D1softball.com released their SEC preview Monday, and the Razorbacks are projected to finish third in the conference behind Alabama and Florida.

The Razorbacks have earned the respect of the site. Just last week, D1Softball placed Arkansas at No. 8 in their preseason poll.

The expectations are warranted. Courtney Deifel’s team returns ace pitcher Mary Haff, as well as key bats in Danielle Gibson, Hannah McEwin, and Linnie Malkin. Arkansas will also receive a defensive boost from Alabama transfer KB Sides.

Arkansas opens the season on February 10 at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, where they will play five games over the weekend, starting with Rutgers at 10 A.M.