Razorbacks Open SEC Play at Tennessee
No. 10 Arkansas kicks off SEC play March 18-20 at No. 14 Tennessee. The Hogs and Volunteers begin the weekend with a 5 p.m. first pitch Friday followed by a noon contest Saturday. The series concludes with a 12:30 p.m. game Sunday. All three games will be available on SEC Network+. Following Tennessee, Arkansas travels to Bowling Green, Ky., for a Monday night showdown against Western Kentucky. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
The Schedule
Friday, March 18 – 5 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Saturday, March 19 – 12 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Sunday, March 20 – 12:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Need to Know
Arkansas is coming off the program’s first SEC regular season title (shared with Florida) last season, going 19-5 in conference play. The Razorbacks became the first team not named Florida or Alabama to win the conference’s regular season title since Tennessee in 2007. On the road against league competition, the Hogs went 11-1, producing the most wins on the road during conference play by an SEC team since 2013 when the league adopted the current 24-game schedule. Arkansas posted a 43-11 overall record, recording the best win percentage (.796) and second-most total wins in program history. In the NCAA Tournament, Arkansas earned the No. 6 national need and swept the Fayetteville Regional before hosting the program’s first Super Regional at Bogle Park.
Haff Pencils Her Name Into History, Throws Program’s First Perfect Game
Senior Mary Haff has marched her way into the Arkansas softball history books during her time in Fayetteville. On March 11, Haff threw the program’s first solo perfect game, tossing a seven-inning, 14 strikeout gem to propel the Razorbacks to a 6-0 win over the Terrapins at the JMU Dukes Invitational. Back on March 4, Haff amassed her 700th career strikeout in a win against Kennesaw State. Haff captured SEC Pitcher of the Year award last season, pitching to a 25-7 record with five saves and a 1.55 ERA over 198.1 innings pitched. She struck out 198 hitters compared to just 39 walks issued. Haff was named an NFCA First Team All-American, becoming the first pitcher in program history to earn first team All-America recognition. USA Softball named Haff a Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist. Haff was tremendous in conference play, and among pitchers who threw at least 80.0 innings, led the league in wins (11), saves (4) and appearances (19) while placing fourth in ERA (2.01) and strikeouts (79). Against Texas Tech, she hurled her second career no hitter, striking out six over 5.0 innings, and was one error away from a perfect game. Haff threw her first no-no against Northern Colorado in 2018 as a freshman and is the only pitcher in program history with multiple no-hitters. The Winter Haven, Fla. native sits atop the program’s career record book tallying 81 wins and 14 saves. After charting 14 strikeouts against Maryland, Haff has now registered 14 double digit strikeout performances, which is tied with Kate Henry (2005-08) for most in program history.
Gammill, Haff, Earn SEC Weekly Honors
Sophomore Hannah Gammill and senior Mary Haff earned SEC Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday. It’s the first weekly honor for Gammill and fourth for Haff. The duo powered Arkansas to a 3-0 record in Virginia last weekend, picking up wins against Liberty, Lehigh and Maryland. Gammill manufactured an explosive weekend to help the Razorbacks to a 3-0 record, going 6-for-6 with eight runs, seven RBIs, three home runs and one double while playing errorless defense at third. The Beebe, Ark., product slashed a 2.667 slugging percentage to go along with a 1.000 on-base percentage over the weekend. Through 21 games, Gammill ranks first in the nation in slugging percentage (1.180), second in on-base percentage (0.648), fourth in hit by pitch per game (0.48) sixth in home runs (10), seventh in batting average (.500), eighth in home runs per game (0.48), ninth in RBIs per game (1.33) and 14th in RBIs (28) and runs per game (1.24). The sophomore jacked a career-high two bombs in the Hogs’ 6-0 win over Maryland. In Arkansas’ three games in Virginia, Gammill was hit by pitches four times and also drew two walks.
Haff (6-2) tossed the program’s first solo, seven-inning perfect game against Maryland Friday to secure her 83rd career win as a Razorback. The reigning SEC Co-Pitcher of the Year struck out a season-high 14 batters against Terrapins, which ties her for first in program history in double digit strikeout performances (14). Haff picked up her first win of the weekend after downing Liberty Thursday, surrendering one run on one hit while fanning four in two innings of work. In wins over Maryland and Liberty, Haff struck out 18 and walked zero. The Winter Haven, Fla., native has now retired 27-straight heading into SEC play. Haff is tied for second in the NCAA’s active career leaders in saves with 14. Haff’s 152 career pitching appearances leads the nation.
Run KB Run
KB Sides is making noise at the leadoff spot for the Razorbacks. Through 21 games, Sides has tallied 16 stolen bases, Arkansas’ single season stolen base record sits at 33, which was set by Dana Gulick in 1999. Additionally, Sides stole a program-record three bases in the Hogs’ win over Western Illinois Feb. 20. Sides’ three stolen bases against Western Illinois are tied for most by a SEC player in a single game this season. The Dora, Ala. native hit two home runs over at the Razorback Invitational against Illinois, launching an inside-the-park home run to begin the weekend Feb. 18 before sending a solo shot to center in Arkansas’ second game with the Illini on Feb. 20. Sides compiled a dominant performance in the Hogs’ win against Lehigh last Friday, going a career-best 4-for-4 with a home run, triple and two doubles to complement three RBIs, two stolen bases and two runs.
Coach of the Year
In her sixth season guiding the Arkansas softball program, head coach Courtney Deifel was named SEC Coach of the Year last season, becoming the second skipper in school history to earn the award, and first since Carrie Dever-Boaz in 1999. The Hogs began conference play winning 12 straight games, notching the fifth-best league start in SEC history and captured the program’s first SEC title. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) awarded Deifel and the coaching staff the South Region Staff of the Year. Since Deifel took over in 2016, the Razorbacks have been ranked 59 times in the NFCA Coaches’ Poll after previously being ranked only once in program history. Deifel’s record in Fayetteville is 207-121 and 50-71 in SEC games. Her Razorbacks teams have qualified for the NCAA Tournament four times, the most among any coach in program history. She notched her 200th career win as a Razorback against Missouri State earlier in the month.
Danielle Gibson Doin’ Danielle Gibson Things
Danielle Gibson is piecing together yet another memorable year as a Razorback. Gibson is on the verge of breaking several program records. To start things, off, her .358 career batting average sits atop the program record book. Her 132 RBI are third-most in program history. In 21 games this season, Gibson ranks third in DI softball in batting average (.525), ninth in slugging percentage (.967) and 13th in on-base percentage (.577). Her .525 batting average ranks first in the SEC. Additionally, Arkansas is the only program to currently have two batters ranked inside the top 10 in batting average with Gibson at .525 and Hannah Gammill at .500.
Bogle Bombers
Through 21 games, Arkansas ranks second in DI softball in scoring, averaging 8.52 runs per game. Additionally, the Hogs rank third in on base percentage (.462), third in slugging percentage (.656), fifth in home runs per game (1.81) and sixth in batting average (.364). Last season, Arkansas tied for fourth nationally and led the SEC, mashing a school record 95 home runs. The team shattered the previous program record of 65 long balls hit in 2008. The total ranks 10th in the SEC record book for most home runs in a single-season and were the most hit in a single season hit by an SEC team since Tennessee clubbed 100 in 2015. In 2022, Arkansas returns hitters that accounted for 50 of last year’s 95 taters, led by designated player Linnie Malkin’s 18 bombs. Against Lehigh on March 11, the Razorbacks launched a program-record seven home runs against the Mountain Hawks. Three of the seven home runs were hit in the first inning by Sides, Ellsworth and Gammill. Ellsworth slashed a career-high two home runs against Lehigh. Against Maryland, Gammill slugged a career-high two home runs to power the Hog offense. The Hogs’ 18 RBI and 19 runs are tied for most and second-most in single game program history. The Razorbacks have homered in eight-straight contests and have logged 10 or more hits in its last six games.
