Softball Opens Bogle Park Hosting Razorback Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 23 Arkansas softball team (7-1) begins its home slate at Bogle Park this week with six games as part of the annual Razorback Invitational. The Razorbacks take on Boston University in the home opener on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m. The team will play two more games Friday and Saturday and play a single game on Sunday.
| Date/Time | Visitor | Home | Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Feb. 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Boston University | Arkansas | Live Stats |
| Friday, Feb. 21 | 10 a.m. | South Dakota State | Montana | Live Stats |
| Friday, Feb. 21 | 12:15 p.m. | Boston University | Montana | Live Stats |
| Friday, Feb. 21 | 2:30 p.m. | South Dakota State | Arkansas | Live Stats |
| Friday, Feb. 21 | 4:45 p.m. | Marist | Arkansas | Live Stats |
| Friday, Feb. 21 | 7 p.m. | Marist | Boston University | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 22 | 10 a.m. | Boston University | South Dakota State | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 22 | 12:15 p.m. | Boston University | Arkansas | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 22 | 2:30 p.m. | Montana | Arkansas | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 22 | 4:45 p.m. | Marist | South Dakota State | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 22 | 7 p.m. | Montana | Marist | Live Stats |
| Sunday, Feb. 23 | 9:30 a.m. | Montana | South Dakota State | Live Stats |
| Sunday, Feb. 23 | 11:45 a.m. | Marist | Arkansas | Live Stats | SEC Network Plus |
Razorback Offensive Explosion
After the first two weeks of competition, the Razorbacks lead the Southeastern Conference and rank third nationally with a .376 team batting average. The trio of senior Sydney Parr, and juniors Ryan Jackson and Hannah McEwen, all lead the squad hitting .429. The Hogs also lead the SEC and place sixth in the country averaging 8.0 runs per game. McEwen is the team leader in runs (10) and is third in the conference in runs per game (1.25).
Junior Linnie Malkin has provided pop in the middle of the lineup and is slugging .769 through the first eight games. She’s the team leader in home runs (3), RBIs (11) and total bases (20).
Greens Grabs SEC Player of the Week Honors
Junior catcher Kayla Green has earned SEC Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career, the conference office announced Tuesday (Feb. 17). The award is the first weekly honor for the Razorbacks this year and is the sixth SEC Player of the Week won by an Arkansas player during head coach Courtney Deifel’s tenure. Green is only the second Razorback catcher to win the award as Jennifer Cirigliano was the program’s first in 1997.
Green compiled a 6-for-9 (.667 ba.) week and paced the SEC’s leading offense (.376 team ba.) to a perfect 3-0 weekend at the FGCU Invitational. She went 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles against Furman in an 8-1 victory to open the weekend, and later that day collected a season-best three RBIs against UIC. To cap off the weekend, she went 2-for-4 against FGCU and plated a run in the second inning on a single and drove home another run with a two out double in the third. The junior posted a .750 on base percentage.
Defensively she anchored the Arkansas pitching staff to 33 strikeouts and just six walks. The California product also caught two runners attempting to steal a base.
#HogHits
- Arkansas has opened the season 7-1 or better for the fourth consecutive season.
- The Razorbacks are 17-6 all-time in home openers and 3-1 under head coach Courtney Deifel.
- Arkansas is 29-7 at the Razorback Invitational and 12-4 under coach Deifel.
- Senior pitcher Autumn Storms leads the SEC and ranks eighth in the country with a 13.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
- Junior pitcher Mary Haff has totaled eight career saves. She is one save away from tying the program career record of nine held by Katy Henry (2005-08), Rachel Talley (1999-02) and Tammy Kincaid (1997-00).
Last Time Out
Arkansas went 3-0 at the FGCU Invitational last week against Furman (8-1), UIC (8-3) and FGCU (4-1). The Razorbacks improved to 8-0 all-time at the event. In the Saturday doubleheader against the Paladins and Flames, Arkansas outhit its opposition, 20-9. Green and Jackson drove home every RBI in the victory over the Eagles and three two out runs in the top of the third proved to be the difference.
Freshman pitcher Jenna Bloom registered her first career victory and save over the weekend. She struck out six and surrendered only one hit in her first career decision against Furman. The Huntington Beach, Calif. native was filthy out of the pen versus FGCU, struck out all six batters she faced and earned a save.
Series History
Boston University (9-1) – The two programs will be meeting for the second straight season after the Razorbacks won a pair of games at the Wooo Pig Classic. Arkansas is 3-0 against the Terriers all-time and was victorious at the NCAA Berkeley Regional in 2012, 3-2. The Hogs are 4-1 against the current alignment of the Patriot League.
South Dakota State (4-5) – The Jackrabbits and Razorbacks will be meeting for the first time ever at the Razorback Invitational. Arkansas is 11-6 all-time against the Summit League.
Marist (3-1) – Arkansas is 2-0 in the series and will be playing in Fayetteville for the first time. The Razorbacks last defeated Marist at the 2018 EMU Madeira Beach Invitational in Florida, 15-3. Arkansas is 3-0 against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams.
Montana (5-5) – The two schools will be meeting for the first time but already share a strong connection. Razorback assistant coach Matt Meuchel’s sister, Melanie, is in her third season as the Grizzlies head coach. The Hogs are 9-4 against Big Sky Conference teams.
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