No. 6 Hogs Begin NCAA Postseason Play against Manhattan

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 6 Arkansas softball team (40-9, 19-5 SEC) makes its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and hosts for the second time in program history as postseason play begins at noon Friday, May 21 against Manhattan on SEC Network. Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Leah Amico (analyst) have the call for all games at the Fayetteville Regional, with Saturday and Sunday TV assignments to be announced later.

Fayetteville Regional Schedule

Game 1: Manhattan at Arkansas – Friday, May 21 – Noon – WatchStats
Game 2: South Dakota State vs. Stanford – Friday, May 21 – 2:30 – WatchStats
Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – Saturday, May 22 – Stats
Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser – Saturday, May 22 – Stats
Game 5: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser – Saturday, May 22 – Stats
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – Sunday, May 23 – Stats
Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser – Sunday, May 23 – Stats

Game Notes

Arkansas | Manhattan | South Dakota State | Stanford

SEC Co-Champs

Arkansas won the series against LSU by claiming the rubber match, 4-1, and locked up the program’s first SEC regular season title on May 3. The Razorbacks shared the championship with Florida, who won three of its last four games with either a go-ahead or walk-off home run in the final inning. The Hogs 19-5 SEC posted the best conference winning percentage (.792) in school history. It’s the program’s first SEC championship of any kind.

Hogs Haul in Postseason Awards

Pitcher Mary Haff earned SEC Co-Pitcher of the Year honors, becoming the first Arkansas pitcher to win the award in program history. Courtney Deifel earned SEC Coach of the Year recognition, the first for Arkansas since Carie Dever-Boaz in 1999. The Razorbacks also saw Haff and infielder Braxton Burnside named to the All-SEC First Team and infielder Danielle Gibson, outfielder Hannah McEwen and pitcher Autumn Storms tabbed to the All-SEC Second Team. Additionally, Gibson earned SEC All-Defensive Team recognition and pitcher Jenna Bloom was named to the All-SEC Newcomer Team. The five total selections on the first and second team is the most in a single year in program history.

Hogs in the NCAA Tournament

Arkansas is making its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and is 10-18 all-time in the event. The Razorbacks have not faced Manhattan, Stanford or South Dakota State in the postseason before, but are 1-0 all-time against the Jaspers and Jackrabbits and 0-2 against the Cardinal. Arkansas grabbed a 9-1 (6 inning) win over Manhattan in 2018 and downed SDSU 13-3 (5 innings) in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign. Stanford is 2-0 against Arkansas but have not met since 2000. Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel was a four-year starting catcher for California (2000-03) and went 8-6 as a player against the Bay area rival Cardinal.

In 2018 Arkansas had its best postseason run, winning the Fayetteville Regional by defeating DePaul and Wichita State (2x) and reaching the super regions hosted by Oklahoma. Haff was untouchable as a freshman and did not allow a run in 18.2 innings pitched.

The Hogs went 0-2 in the 2019 tournament against Tulsa and BYU.

Bogle Bombers

The Razorbacks have been on a power surge this season, totaling a program-record 89 home runs to lead the SEC and rank fourth nationally. Burnside paces the team with a league-leading 24 homers, which places second nationally behind Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo (27). Designated player Linnie Malkin has hit 16 jacks to rank 29th nationally and fifth in the SEC. Danielle Gibson’s 15 homers are 38th nationally and ninth in the SEC. Four players have double-digit bombs this year, which includes catcher Kayla Green’s 12 homers.

Brax Bombs

Burnside’s 24 home runs this season are the most in a single season in program history. She broke the record with her 18th shot of the year on April 1 at Auburn, launching a three-run bomb in the fifth inning. Burnside broke Nicole Shroeder’s record of 17 set in 2017. The Paragould, Ark. product is also tied for fifth in homers in SEC single-season history and holds the record for most by a shortstop.

#HogHits

  • Haff’s 23 wins leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally. She set the Arkansas program record logging her 74th career victory in the regular season finale at LSU.
  • During SEC-only games, pitcher Autumn Storms led the league in ERA (1.24) and was third in opponent batting average (.207).
  • Outfielder Hannah McEwen recorded her 200th career hit at LSU, becoming one of nine players in program history to reach the plateau.
  • In addition to ranking fourth in the country in homers, the Razorbacks also rank sixth in walks, drawing 194.
  • Arkansas’ five SEC series sweeps are the most in program history since the current conference scheduling format began in 2013. The team’s 17 SEC wins are the most in a year over that span.
  • Arkansas finished SEC play 11-1 on the road, the best record in league history since the adoption of a 24-game conference schedule in 2013.