Tag: Danielle Gibson

Deifel welcomes familiar face back to program as assistant

Welcome back Danielle! Courtney Deifel’s latest assistant coach hire is no stranger to the Arkansas softball program.

Arkansas fans won’t need an introduction to the latest softball assistant coaching hire.

Danielle Gibson Whorton, a former two-time NFCA All-American and first in program history, was announced Friday as Courtney Deifel’s newest assistant.

“I’m ecstatic to be returning to Fayetteville in a new and exciting role. Joining Coach Deifel, Coach Meuchel and Coach Gasso is an experience I couldn’t pass up,” Gibson Whorton said. “It’s home for my husband and has become home for me. It all made sense. How fortunate am I to have an opportunity to push this amazing program forward outside of my playing days? New opportunities come with new challenges, and I cannot wait to get started. We will Call the Hogs on The Hill once again.”

Gibson Whorton was a volunteer assistant at Georgia last season. While in Athens, Gibson Whorton guided Bulldog hitters to four All-SEC honors, four NFCA All-Region accolades and two NFCA All-America selections.

Under a new ruling handed down earlier this year, volunteer assistant roles were eliminated and a third paid assistant coach role was added by the NCAA Division I council.

Gibson Whorton will join a staff of Matt Meuchel and recently hired DJ Gasso.

Gibson, Gammill throw first pitch at Naturals game

The best 1B/3B combo in College Softball last season teamed up one last time in Springdale on Saturday.

The best 1B/3B combination in College Softball last season worked together one last time on Saturday night.

Prior to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ 6-3 win over the Tulsa Drillers on Saturday, current Arkansas Softball third baseman [autotag]Hannah Gammill[/autotag] and former Razorback first baseman [autotag]Danielle Gibson[/autotag] teamed up to throw out the first pitch.

Gibson had one of the most illustrious careers in Arkansas history. In 2022, Gibson broke the program record for home runs (48) and RBI (180). In five total years as a collegiate athlete, Gibson hit .366 with 60 career home runs and 220 RBI. This summer, she is competing with Athletes Unlimited softball. In eight games, Gibson is batting .259 with two home runs.

In her second season at Arkansas, Gammill nearly doubled all of her stats. The sophomore totaled 58 hits with 18 home runs and 51 RBI.

Together, Gibson and Gamill formed one of the best fielding combinations in the game according to D1Softball.com, as they were constantly among the top of the best 1B/3B power rankings. At season’s end, Gammill was at the top of D1Softball’s third base power rankings.

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Arkansas Softball lands slugger from Transfer Portal

Arkansas Softball lands Duke’s leading batter from last season, which will help rebuild a depleted roster heading into 2023.

The leading batter from one of the ACC’s top programs becomes the newest member of the “Bogle Bombers”

Kristina Foreman, a graduate transfer from Duke, has committed to Arkansas the program announced Saturday.

“She is a proven competitor that has performed and produced at an elite level through her time at Duke,” says head coach [autotag]Courtney Diefel[/autotag] in a press release. “She brings a great deal of experience and power to our already dynamic lineup. On top of that, she is an incredibly impressive student and leader, and there is no doubt she will make an immediate impact on our program.”

Foreman will look to build on the Razorbacks program record in 2022, where they hit 109 home runs. They have lost most of that production due to graduation, however. Power bats such as [autotag]Danielle Gibson[/autotag], [autotag]Linnie Malkin[/autotag], [autotag]Hannah McEwen[/autotag], [autotag]Taylor Ellsworth[/autotag], and [autotag]KB Sides[/autotag] have since left the program. However, Foreman will fit in with those returning, such as [autotag]Hannah Gammill[/autotag] and[autotag] Kacie Hoffman[/autotag].

Foreman led the Blue Devils in average (.368) and RBI (56) in 48 starts primarily at second base. She earned a spot on the ACC Tournament team, as well as second-team All-ACC honors. She was a part of the first team in program history to earn a trip to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2022.’

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Two Basketball signees sign early NIL deals

It did not take long at all for these athletes to land their first NIL deals.

It did not take long for these highly-touted freshmen to ink their first NIL deal.

[autotag]Nick Smith Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Jordan Walsh[/autotag], two headliners of the 2022 Arkansas Basketball recruiting class that ranks no. 2 in the nation, have announced their first NIL deals.

Smith has signed a deal with Topps, joining over 200 other student-athletes including Alabama’s Bryce Young and USC’s Caleb Williams who have signed agreements for their name and image to be featured on trading cards, in exchange for those athletes to earn profit.

According to On3’s Jeremy Crabtree, Fanatics said the agreements will include both exclusive and non-exclusive co-branded trading card products, incorporating official university trademarks and featuring current student-athletes and former athletes playing in the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

As for Walsh, he has agreed to partner with B-Unlimited, Inc. to release a line of apparel which features his name and image. The collection is supposed to be released later in the year.

B-Unlimited, based in Fayetteville, has partnered with several Razorback athletes including [autotag]Michael Turner[/autotag], [autotag]Brady Tygart[/autotag], [autotag]Connor Noland[/autotag], [autotag]Danielle Gibson[/autotag], and [autotag]KB Sides[/autotag], as well as other athletes from schools such as Ole Miss, Alabama, and Auburn.

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Five Razorbacks earn All-American Honors, tied for national lead

Even though the season is over, Arkansas Softball is still finding ways to break records.

The season may be over, but the best season in Arkansas Softball history keeps getting better.

Prior to the opening game of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association released their All-Americans from the 2022 season on Wednesday, with five players from Arkansas making the list.

With five selections, Arkansas ties Oklahoma for the most athletes to be named All-American.

First baseman [autotag]Danielle Gibson[/autotag], third baseman [autotag]Hannah Gammill[/autotag], center fielder [autotag]KB Sides[/autotag], and utility player [autotag]Linnie Malkin[/autotag] grabbed first-team honors, while pitcher [autotag]Chenise Delce[/autotag] was named second-team All-American.

Gibson earned her second All-American honor after a record-breaking season. During her senior season, Gibson set school records in batting average (.445), hits (81), RBI (70), and total bases (155).

Sides’ lone season in Fayetteville was memorable, as she hit 13 home runs for the Razorbacks. In three seasons at Alabama prior to making the move to Arkansas, she hit three total home runs. Other career-bests for Sides include hits (70), total bases (121), doubles (12), triples (3), RBI (42), stolen bases (28), and walks (45).

Malkin lead the team in home runs with 22. During the meeting with Ole Miss during the SEC Tournament, Malkin became the program’s all-time leader in home runs with 48. According to the press release from Arkansas athletics, Malkin sits at second in the SEC in slugging percentage (.870) and RBI (68).

The final member of the first-team is Hannah Gammill. Gammill was 4th on the team in average with .374, and in RBI with 49. She was also one of five Razorbacks to reach double-digits in home runs. She led the team in on-base percentage with .513, which is fifth-highest in program history.

Chenise Delce, a transfer from Tulsa, was the anchor to Arkansas’ pitching staff. Delce posted a 19-3 record with a 2.12 ERA, 188 strikeouts, and 35 walks in 151.2 innings pitched.

According to the press release from Arkansas athletics, prior to the five selections from this year’s team, only five prior Razorbacks had been named All-Americans: [autotag]Braxton Burnside[/autotag] (2021, First Team), [autotag]Mary Haff[/autotag] (2021, First Team), Danielle Gibson (2021, Second Team), [autotag]Autumn Storms[/autotag] (2019, Second Team) and [autotag]Miranda Dixon[/autotag] (2010, Third Team).

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Arkansas drops game three of Supers to Texas, ends magical season

Arkansas’ magical season comes to a close following a tough loss to Texas in the Super Regionals.

The best season in the history of Arkansas Razorbacks Softball came to a crushing end on Saturday, as the Razorbacks fell to Texas, 3-0 in game three of the Fayetteville Super Regional.

After playing a scoreless game through the 5th inning, it was Texas who cracked the scoreboard first with a three-run 6th inning.

The Longhorns opened the inning with two hits that placed both baserunners in scoring position. Alyssa Washington then stepped into the box for Texas, and battled [autotag]Chenise Delce[/autotag] to a hitters count at 3-1. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Washington hit a double that cleared the bases, and gave Texas the 2-0 lead. In the next at-bat, Washington scored on an RBI single by Mary Iakopo to extend the lead to 3-0.

Over the final two innings, Arkansas would put a total of six runners on base, with only two runner going beyond 2nd base.

Arkansas was limited to five hits on the day, with [autotag]Danielle Gibson[/autotag] collecting two of those. In the circle, Chenise Delce struck out eight batters and allowed seven hits in 6.0 innings pitched. In relief, [autotag]Mary Haff[/autotag] allowed a hit while recording a strikeout.

The magical season for Arkansas Softball comes to a close with Saturday’s loss. The Razorbacks ended the season with a record of 48-12. Over the historic season, Arkansas won every SEC series of the season, en route to their second SEC regular season championship, as well as their first-ever SEC Tournament championship.

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Texas downs Arkansas, forces game three of Super Regionals

Texas got the best of Arkansas in a low-scoring affair, setting up a winner-take-all game three on Saturday.

Friday’s game two of the Fayetteville Super Regional between Arkansas and Texas featured a great game between two stout defenses, and even stronger pitching staffs.

The difference, was one inning, and who got the most production at the plate.

Every run scored in the game came in the 3rd inning, with Texas using the magic of the longball to move ahead of Arkansas, and to grab the 3-1 win. The victory by Texas evens the series at 1-1, forcing a “winner-take-all” game three on Saturday afternoon.

After recording a hit and leaving a runner on base through the first two innings of the game, Arkansas finally scored a run on an infield single by [autotag]Danielle Gibson[/autotag] that scored [autotag]KB Sides[/autotag] to give the Razorbacks the 1-0 lead.

The Longhorns responded by leading off the bottom of the 3rd inning on back-to-back solo home runs by Katie Cimusz and Jenae Jefferson to take the lead away from Arkansas, 2-1.

Mary Iakopo extended the Texas lead to 3-1 on a double to left-center field with one out in the inning. [autotag]Chenise Delce[/autotag] would enter in relief of [autotag]Mary Haff[/autotag], and would strike out the final two batters of the frame.

After the big inning, both pitchers relied on their defense to keep their opposition off of the scoreboard. In 3.2 innings of relief, Delce struck out four batters while allowing just three hits. Hailey Dolcini tossed a complete game for Texas, allowing five hits and striking out two batters.

At the plate, Gibson recorded two of Arkansas’ five hits. Texas’ Alyssa Washington was the only Longhorn to pick up multiple hits.

Game three is set for a 3 p.m CDT first pitch at Bogle Park. The winner will claim a spot in the Women’s College World Series beginning next Thursday in Oklahoma City.

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Hooked ’em! Arkansas takes game one of Super Regionals from Texas

Arkansas Softball is just one win away from a trip to OKC following a series-opening win over Texas on Thursday.

Fans that attended the opener of the Fayetteville Super Regional at Bogle Park were spectacular, and Arkansas Softball rewarded them with a victory.

Behind a strong offensive push in the later innings, the Razorbacks claim game one of the best-of-three Super Regional with Texas, beating the Longhorns, 7-1.

The Razorback defense got out of a jam in the top half of the 5th inning, which swung much-needed momentum towards the Arkansas bats. The Razorbacks were able to grab three runs.

After allowing two hits and an intentional walk in the inning, [autotag]Chenise Delce[/autotag] became locked in a battle with Texas power-hitter Bella Dayton, which ultimately ended in a ground out to [autotag]Audrie LaValley[/autotag] at 2nd base, keeping the Longhorns off of the scoreboard.

That was the play that Arkansas needed to get going offensively. The bats finally struck gold in the bottom half of the inning, as Arkansas left a total of seven runners stranded on base without a run to show for it through the first four innings. That changed with [autotag]Hannah Gammill[/autotag] stepped in the batter’s box.

After [autotag]Hannah McEwen[/autotag] reached on a leadoff double, and [autotag]Danielle Gibson[/autotag] was intentionally walked, Gammill hit a bloop single over the head of Texas’ Alyssa Washington to score McEwen to give Arkansas the 1-0 lead.

[autotag]Linnie Malkin[/autotag] kept the streak going by hitting a single to center field to load the bases for [autotag]Kacie Hoffman[/autotag]. Hoffman hit a ground ball to 2nd base, which looked to set up a routine out with a throw home. However, the throw was wide, which allowed Gibson and Gammill to score to extend the Razorbacks’ lead to 3-0.

The Razorbacks added four insurance runs in the 6th inning. Gammill grabbed her second RBI of the day by scoring McEwen on a single, and she later scored on a single by Malkin.

History repeated itself in the inning, as Hoffman would again hit a ground ball in the infield, which turned into a Texas error. The wide throw to 1st base from Texas’ Mia Scott allowed two more runs to score, pushing Arkansas’ lead to 7-0.

Texas scored their first and only run in the bottom of the 7th inning. With the bases loaded, Texas’ Mia Scott hit a grounder to 2nd base, which Arkansas used to get the out at 2nd, allowing the run from 3rd base to score. Bella Dayton flew out to McEwen in the next at-bat to close the game.

Arkansas was led offensively by Hannah Gammill’s three-hit, two-RBI night. Hannah McEwen also had three hits in the game while Linnie Malkin and former Longhorn [autotag]Taylor Ellsworth[/autotag] picked up multiple hits.

In a complete game performance, Chenise Delce struck out six Longhorns while allowing six hits and walking one batter.

Game two of the Super Regionals is set for 5:30 p.m. CDT on Friday at Bogle Park. The game can be seen on ESPN2. An Arkansas win will send them to Oklahoma City for the program’s first-ever trip to the Women’s College World Series.

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Rivalry rekindled: Arkansas Softball set to host Texas for a spot in the WCWS

A rivalry series for a shot at the Women’s College World Series? Count us in.

The rivalry between two former Southwest Conference foes begins a new chapter on Thursday, that in the form of softball.

The Arkansas Razorbacks, winner of the Fayetteville Regional, is set to host the winner of the Seattle Regional, Texas, in the Super Regionals this weekend at Bogle Park for a shot to compete in the Women’s College World Series.

The Razorbacks defeated Oregon on Sunday, 9-3 to close a perfect 3-0 weekend in their home-standing regional led by a four home run game from the likes of Danielle Gibson, Kacie Hoffman, Linnie Malkin, and KB Sides. Despite there being four home runs hit, the leader at the plate was [autotag]Rylin Hedgecock[/autotag], as she hit a three-RBI double in the 6th inning, an inning where the Razorbacks scored six runs to put the game away.

For Texas, they were one of five teams to win their regional despite not hosting. Competing in the Seattle Regional hosted by Washington, Texas defeated the Huskies twice over the weekend to advance to the Super Regionals. After defeating Washington 8-2 on Saturday, the Longhorns fell to the Huskies, 2-1 to set up a winner-take-all game seven.

In the final game of the weekend, the score was deadlocked at 0-0 until the 5th inning when Bella Dayton doubled down the left field line to score two runs, giving Texas the 2-0 lead. The Longhorn’s final blow came when Jenae Jefferson hit a solo home run in the top of the 7th to extend the lead to 3-0. That home run really came at a great time, as the Huskies scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning to trim Texas’ lead to 3-2, but ultimately ran out of outs and taking the defeat.

The Razorbacks and Longhorns begin their three-game set on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. CDT at Bogle Park. The game will be televised on ESPN 2.

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Hello, Supers: Arkansas advances after dispatching Oregon

Another six-run inning against Oregon allowed Arkansas to advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.

Sixes are wild.

A day after sending Oregon to the elimination bracket in the Fayetteville Regional with a six-run inning, Arkansas just eliminated directly the Ducks with a six-run inning on Sunday, 9-3.

The Razorbacks advance to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament which they will play again at Bogle Park next weekend against an opponent to be determined. With the game tied at three, Arkansas dropped six in the sixth inning to break open the game.

Arkansas hit four home runs in the win and a three-run double from pinch-hitter Rylin Hedgecock plated runs number two, three and four in the sixth. KB Sides, Danielle Gibson, Linnie Malkin and Kacie Hoffman went yard.

Courtney Deifel’s team led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth. But an Ari Carlson double turned into a de facto inside-the-park home run after errors allowed her to come home on the same play, clearing the bases of two other Ducks in the process.

It was about the only mistake Arkansas pitcher Mary Haff made. The other five hits she allowed were all singles and she struck out four while walking just one.

The opponent and pitch times for the Super Regional round will be determined later Sunday.