Softball

A Loaded Slate in the Sunshine State

Grace Tafolla
Grace Tafolla February 16, 2023
Game Notes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks (5-0) journey south to Florida for the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational Feb. 17-19. The Hogs play a loaded five-game schedule as they’re set to tussle with No. 7 Florida State, No. 19 Duke, Indiana, No. 22 Louisiana and Nebraska.

Arkansas opens the weekend with a Top 10 showdown vs. No. 7 Florida State at noon CT Friday on ESPNU. Following the Seminoles, take on No. 19 Duke Friday at 5 p.m. on ESPN+. Saturday’s tilt features Indiana and No. 22 Louisiana at noon and 3:30 p.m. with both games available on ESPN+.

The Razorbacks conclude the weekend Sunday at 8:30 a.m. vs. Nebraska on SEC Network.

Leading Off

  • Head coach Courtney Deifel is just TWO wins away from becoming the program’s all-time wins leader. Deifel, who currently has 243 wins at Arkansas, needs one win to match former head coach Carrie Dever-Boaz’s (1997-2004) program-record 244 victories. Deifel needs two wins (245) to become the program’s all-time wins leader.
  • Arkansas will make its first appearance in the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational this weekend.
  • The Razorbacks are familiar with playing in Florida. Last season, the Hogs went a perfect 6-0 in the Sunshine State, sweeping Florida for the first time in Gainesville (April 22-24) and going 3-0 in the SEC Tournament hosted by Florida for the program’s first SEC tournament crown.
  • Three Hogs are natives to the Clearwater area: fifth-year Kristina Foreman (Tampa), freshman Robyn Herron (Tampa) and junior Callie Turner (Land O’Lakes). Former Hog and 2021 SEC Pitcher of the Year Mary Haff (Winter Haven) is also from the area.
  • Arkansas will face ranked competition for the first time this season as they battle three ranked teams in Clearwater: No. 7 Florida State, No. 19 Duke and No. 22 Louisiana. The Razorbacks were 12-5 against ranked competition during the regular season last year (ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25).
  • The Razorbacks are coming off a 5-0 opening weekend at the Rebel Kickoff in Las Vegas where they outscored competition 51-9 and recorded three shutouts. Arkansas’ 51 runs are the most opening weekend runs produced in program history.
  • For the first time in program history, the Razorbacks shut out three straight opponents to start the season.
  • The Hogs checked in at No. 4 in several polls this week, which matches the program’s best in-season ranking.
  • Rookie shortstop Atalyia Rijo earned SEC Freshman of the Week after slashing .636/1.000/.733 with a team-best seven hits along with six runs scored, five RBIs, one home run and a double. Rijo and Hannah Camenzind are the first Arkansas freshmen to homer opening weekend since current Hog Hannah Gammill did in 2021.
  • Arkansas, who won the 2022 SEC Regular Season and Tournament titles, will take on the 2022 ACC Tournament Champions Florida State, the 2022 Sun Belt Regualr Season and Tournament Champions Louisiana and the 2022 Big Ten Tournament Champions Nebraska.
  • Deifel’s best start to a season at Arkansas was in 2018, when her squad culminated a 9-0 mark before falling in their 10th game of the season to McNeese.
  • The Hogs will compete against Duke and Indiana for the first time in history.

Following Clearwater, Arkansas returns to the friendly confines of Bogle Park for its home opening tournament, the Razorback Invitational, which runs Feb. 23-26. Arkansas and No. 15 Arizona open the tournament with a doubleheader Thursday, Feb. 23 beginning at 3 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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