Ellis Named Softball America Player of the Year as Four Hogs Earn All-America Honors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas senior first baseman Bri Ellis has been named the 2025 Softball America Player of the Year as four Razorbacks received All-America accolades, the publication announced Tuesday morning.

She is the first player in program history to be named a national player of the year by any major softball publication. Ellis also garnered first-team All-America honors at first base while pitcher Robyn Herron earned second-team honors. Freshman third baseman Ella McDowell and pitcher Payton Burnham were named Freshmen All-Americans.

The Softball America Player of the Year award has existed since 2019. Ellis is the first SEC Player to win the award since its inception. Previous winners include Rachel Garcia (2019, UCLA), Miranda Elis (2020, Texas), Jocelyn Alo (2021-22, Oklahoma), Valerie Cagle (2023, Clemson) and Reese Atwood (2024, Texas).

Ellis is putting together one of the greatest individual seasons in NCAA history. She is batting .457 with 26 home runs, 72 RBI, 145 total bases, 64 walks and 64 runs scored while posting a 1.142 slugging percentage, a .646 on-base percentage and a 1.788 OPS. Her 26 homers and 72 RBI are both single-season program records and she is on pace to set single-season program records in batting average and on-base percentage. Ellis finished the regular season ranked second nationally in home runs per game (0.51) and walks per game (1.42), becoming the first player to finish the regular season in the top two nationally in both categories since Jen Yee of Georgia Tech in 2010. Through 55 games, Ellis has homered once every 4.88 at-bats while walking once every 3.21 plate appearances.

Herron is 18-6 this season with three saves, a 2.57 ERA, and a team-leading 155 strikeouts in 138.2 innings pitched while limiting opposing hitters to a .193 batting average. She recently earned her 18th win of the season against Oklahoma State on Sunday, courtesy of a complete-game shutout in which she struck out two and allowed just three hits. Herron leads Arkansas in complete games (11) and complete-game shutouts (4). Her 4.90 hits allowed per seven innings ranks 19th nationally.

Burnham has had an incredible freshman season on The Hill, posting a 15-2 record in the circle with a team-best 2.56 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 106.2 innings of work while limiting opposing hitters to a .221 batting average. The Eugene, Ore., product has thrown four complete games and three complete-game shutouts this season. She became the first Razorback in program history to throw a no-hitter in an NCAA Tournament game in a 10-0 win over Saint Louis on Friday. Her 15 wins are the most by a Razorback freshman since Mary Haff’s 29 in 2017.

McDowell has broken onto the scene during her rookie campaign. The Richmond, Texas, product is batting .360 with 62 hits, 10 doubles, a triple, seven home runs, 52 RBI and 95 total bases while drawing 19 walks and registering a .426 on-base percentage. She has tallied 18 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI games. Defensively, she has posted an impressive .975 fielding percentage with 42 putouts and 77 assists in 122 chances.

Up Next
Arkansas (43-12) will host a Super Regional next weekend (May 23-25) at Bogle Park against Ole Miss. The Hogs will face the Rebels at 7 p.m. on Friday and 8 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday’s if necessary game time has not been set.

For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.