Softball

Arkansas Treks West for Bear Down Fiesta

Grace Tafolla
Grace Tafolla February 15, 2024
Arkansas Game Notes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 13 Arkansas Razorbacks travel west for the Bear Down Fiesta on Feb. 16-18 in Tucson, Ariz. at Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium. Playing a five-game slate, the Razorbacks will take on Long Beach State, host Arizona (twice) and Omaha (twice).

First pitch is slated for Noon CT Friday against Long Beach State. The game will be available to stream on FloSoftball.

Arkansas will clash against host Arizona at 5 p.m. Friday. The game can be streamed for free via Pac-12 Network. On Saturday, the Hogs take on Omaha (FloSoftball) at 12:30 p.m. followed by Arizona (Pac-12 Network) at 3 p.m. Arkansas concludes the tournament Sunday with a 10 a.m. first pitch vs. Omaha (FloSoftball).

Leading Off

  • The Hogs are coming off of a 4-1 opening weekend at the Paradise Classic Feb. 8-10 in Boca Raton, Fla.
  • Sophomore center fielder Reagan Johnson powered Arkansas offensively at the Paradise Classic, hitting .500 (10-for-20) with five runs scored, three stolen bases and an RBI at leadoff.
  • Sophomore LHP Robyn Herron led the Hogs in the circle, hurling to a 2-1 record and a 1.02 ERA across 13.2 IP. Herron fanned 20 batters and allowed just two earned runs on seven hits, including one extra-base hit.

History Lesson

  • Arkansas is 2-4 all-time against Long Beach State.
  • Friday’s duel vs. Long Beach State will be the first since Feb. 12, 2022, when the Hogs captured a 10-0 (5) win in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Arkansas is looking for back-to-back wins for the first time vs. Long Beach State.
  • The Razorbacks will play in Tucson for the first time since 2003. In their first meeting, No. 2 Arizona defeated Arkansas, 9-1, on Feb. 16, 2003.
  • Arizona leads the all-time series, 2-4. In 2023, the two faced one another three times at the Razorback Invitational. Arkansas won two out of three.
  • The Hogs are 4-0 all-time against Omaha. The teams will clash for the first time since March 1, 2019.

Homecoming Hogs
Three Hogs are set to make their return to the Grand Canyon State: Reis Beuerlein (Cave Creek), Morgan Leinstock (Scottsdale) and Spencer Prigge (Phoenix). Nia Carter (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) will also be playing close to home.

Bogle Bombers
Arkansas mashed the third-most home runs in program history in 2023 (69). In 2022, the Razorbacks set a school record after launching 109 home runs en route to winning their second consecutive SEC regular season crown along with the program’s first SEC Tournament Championship. Their 109 home runs tie for second-most in SEC history.

Numbers to Know

  • Redshirt senior right fielder Nia Carter carries a 15-game hitting streak into the Bear Down Fiesta, dating back to her 2023 season at Iowa.
  • Sophomore center fielder Reagan Johnson brings a 10-game hitting streak to Tucson.
  • The Razorbacks are fresh off of a two-home run outing in their 6-5 win vs. Michigan State on Feb. 10. Seniors Cylie Halvorson and Hannah Gammill hit a pair of home runs against the Spartans.
  • Junior first baseman Bri Ellis has recorded at least one hit and one RBI in four of her five first games as a Razorback. Ellis paced the Hogs in RBIs (7) and doubles (3) at the Paradise Classic last weekend.
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