Heroes Weekend at Bogle Park
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After five games on the road, the University of Arkansas softball team returns to Bogle Park to host South Carolina for a three-game set during Heroes Weekend. First pitch of the series opener is Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) with all games this weekend streaming live on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app. General admission is $5 for adults while students with valid ID and fans 17 years and under get in free.
Weekend Schedule
Friday vs. South Carolina – 6 p.m. – SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Saturday vs. South Carolina – 1 p.m. – SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Sunday vs. South Carolina – 1 p.m. – SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Heroes Weekend vs. South Carolina
Friday: First Responders Night
• All police, fire and emergency workers get in free with badge
o Emergency vehicles will be staged for fan interaction
Saturday: Military Appreciation Day
• All current military and veterans receive complimentary admission
• First 250 fans receive a FREE t-shirt
• First 50 students receive a Whataburger gift card
Sunday: Strikeout Cancer Game
• Breast cancer fighters/survivors will be recognized
• First 250 fans receive a pink pom
• All fans encouraged to wear pink
• First 50 kids receive voucher for FREE popcorn and drink
• Kids can run the bases post game
Friday’s series opener will mark the 50th meeting between Arkansas and South Carolina with the Gamecocks owning a 31-18 advantage in the all-time series. The teams have split the eight games played at Bogle Park since the Razorbacks’ home facility was opened in 2009. Last season, South Carolina won two of three games in the series played in Columbia with the Razorbacks taking the middle game. Tori Cooper and Shelby Hiers each homered in last year’s series.
In the team’s last outing, Arkansas swept a midweek doubleheader at Southeast Missouri behind a pair of comeback wins and a career-high 11 strikeouts by Grace Moll in game two. Lauren Archuleta hit a solo shot in the opener while Ashley Diaz hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to push the Razorbacks ahead on the scoreboard. The wins snapped a nine-game losing streak.
Arkansas (15-23, 0-9 SEC) is hitting .277 as a team and ranks fourth in the SEC with 41 home runs. Defensively, the team is first in the conference and tied for eighth in the NCAA with 19 double plays turned this season. With their 7-4 victory in game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Razorbacks tallied their 10th game of the year with at least seven runs.
Individually, Diaz hit her team-leading 12th home run against SEMO which is tied for second in the conference. She enters the weekend as a top-15 performer among league hitters in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, RBI and total bases. Claire Clark carries a five-game hitting streak into the South Carolina series off a two-hit, two-RBI outing against Southeast Missouri. With 21 career wins, Moll is just one shy of joining the program’s top-10 list.
South Carolina comes to Fayetteville with a 28-9 overall record and a 2-7 mark in SEC play. Collectively, the team is hitting .318 at the plate while the pitching staff totes a 2.69 earned-run average. Kaylea Snaer and Alexis Mack pace the offense with identical .378 batting averages while Alaynie Page leads the team with seven home runs and 35 RBI. In the circle, Jessica Elliott is 15-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 30 appearances including 23 starts.
For more information about purchasing tickets for home games this season, call 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151, email raztk@uark.edu or visit the Razorback Ticket Center located next to Baum Stadium. The ticket window at Bogle Park opens one hour before first pitch of each home game. Follow @RazorbackSB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information about Arkansas Softball.
