Softball

The Road to OKC Starts in Fayetteville

Grace Tafolla
Grace Tafolla May 16, 2024
Arkansas Game Notes Fayetteville Regional Guide

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the fifth time in program history and fourth year in a row, the Arkansas softball team and Bogle Park will host an NCAA Tournament Regional on May 17-19. The No. 11 Razorbacks drew the No. 12 overall seed and will be joined by Arizona, Villanova and Southeast Missouri St. in Fayetteville.

The Hogs clash with Southeast Missouri St. at 7:30 p.m. CT Friday at Bogle Park on ESPN+ with Noah Reed (pbp) and Raine Wilson (analyst) on the call. Arizona and Villanova face each other beforehand at 5 p.m. Friday on ESPN+.

The Schedule

Friday, May 17

Game 1: Villanova vs. Arizona – 5 p.m. – ESPN+

Game 2: Arkansas vs. SEMO – 7:30 p.m. – ESPN+

Saturday, May 18

Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 2 p.m.

Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 – 4:30 p.m.

Game 5: Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3 – 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 19

Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 – TBD

*Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 – TBD

*if necessary

History Lesson

  • Arkansas is no stranger to the three other programs trekking to Fayetteville this weekend.
  • The Razorbacks have played both Arizona and SEMO twice apiece this season.
  • Arkansas took on Arizona twice at the Bear Down Fiesta in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 16-17, splitting with the Wildcats. Arizona won 3-2 on Feb. 16 before the Hogs responded with a 3-2 victory on Feb. 17.
  • This will be SEMO’s second trip to Bogle Park this season as the Redhawks participated in the Wooo Pig Classic on March 1-3. Arkansas won both contests, 5-0, and 6-5 (8 inn.).
  • Arkansas is 12-2 all-time vs. SEMO.
  • The Hogs are 3-6 all-time vs. the Arizona Wildcats.
  • Arkansas is 4-0 all-time vs. Villanova with the most recent meeting between both teams taking place in 2020 in Fayetteville. Arkansas won both games, 11-1 (5) and 12-4 (5).

No Season Like Postseason      

  • Arkansas looks to win its fourth NCAA Fayetteville Regional heading into the weekend.
  • As a program, the Hogs have advanced to three Super Regionals.
  • Arkansas last advanced to a Super Regional in 2022.
  • The Razorbacks are looking to advance to their third Super Regional in four years.
  • Arkansas is making its 13th NCAA Tournament Appearance in 2024 and the seventh NCAA appearance under head coach Courtney Deifel.
  • Arkansas has made seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances – every season it has been held since 2017.
  • Prior to Deifel’s arrival, the program had made just six NCAA Tournament appearances.
  • Arkansas hosted an NCAA Regional for the fifth time in history in 2024.
  • All five of the program’s top-16 overall seeds have come under Deifel: 2018 (#13), 2021 (#6), 2022 (#4), 2023 (#11) and 2024 (#12).
  • Arkansas drew a top-four seed at the SEC Tournament for the fourth year in a row at the 2024 tournament.

All-SEC Hogs    

Five Razorbacks garnered All-SEC honors on May 10. For the first time in their careers, junior first baseman Bri Ellis, sophomore center fielder Reagan Johnson and fifth-year senior RHP Morgan Leinstock were tabbed First-Team All-SEC. Senior second baseman Cylie Halvorson was named Second-Team All-SEC for the second consecutive year.

Earning the honor in 2022 and again in 2024, senior third baseman Hannah Gammill was selected to the SEC’s All-Defensive Team along with Bri Ellis. They’re the first Razorback duo to be named to the SEC’s All-Defensive Team in the same year since Gammill (third base) and Danielle Gibson (first base) were named to the 2022 SEC All-Defensive Team. Additionally, Arkansas’ three First-Team honorees are the most since collecting a program-record six First-Team All-SEC selections in 2022.

Defense Wins Games

The Hogs lead the conference and rank 9th nationally in fielding percentage (.978) on 1,439 total chances.

Arkansas has turned the second-most double plays by a conference this season with 26.

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  • First-Team All-SEC at pitcher … Two-time SEC Pitcher of the Week this season.
  • Second on pitching staff with a 1.14 WHIP.
  • From the Mississippi State series on March 22-24 through the Ole Miss series last weekend… Leinstock is 7-0 in the circle with a 1.10 ERA, five complete games, two shutouts, 38 strikeouts and has only surrendered 35 hits and eight earned runs (only five extra-base hits) across 51.0 IP and 11 appearances.
  • Conference-Only Play: Leinstock finished amongst the conference’s best in SEC-only play this season. She finished fourth in saves with two, sixth in the league in wins (8), sixth in batters struck out looking (20), eighth in ERA (2.00), ninth in innings pitched (80.1), ninth in batters struck out (66), 11th in opponent batting average (.213).

Home Sweet Bogle

  • It comes to no surprise that Bogle Park is regarded as one of the premier college softball stadiums and atmospheres in the nation as it recorded the third-highest single-season attendance in NCAA Softball history in 2023.
  • On May 4, Arkansas broke its single-game attendance record, with 3,900 in attendance for game three vs. Ole Miss.
  • During the Alabama series (April 19-21), the Razorbacks set Bogle Park’s weekend series attendance record with 11,571 in the stands across three games.
  • In 2024, the Hogs have accumulated the third-highest cumulative attendance across NCAA softball (89,982). Arkansas averages 3,333 fans per game.
  • Bogle Park hosted the highest attended SEC Softball Tournament in 2023 with 16,937 in the stands May 9-13, shattering Florida’s previous record of 13,201 in 2022.
  • In 2023, the Razorbacks averaged 2,845 fans per game at Bogle Park, which ranked second nationally.
  • 96,725 people entered Bogle Park throughout the 2023 season – the third highest total attendance recorded in NCAA Softball history.
  • Bogle Park hosted the highest attended SEC Softball Tournament in 2023 with 16,937 in the stands throughout the tournament.
  • The Razorbacks have sold over 2,500 season tickets for the 2024 season, shattering last year’s season ticket sales record.
  • The Hogs have ranked top-five nationally in average attendance over the last four seasons.

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

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