2020 Arkansas Razorbacks softball team

The 2020 Arkansas Razorbacks softball team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2020 NCAA Division I softball season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Bogle Park.

2020 Arkansas Razorbacks softball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 20
2020 record19–6 (1–2 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Matt Meuchel
  • Yolanda McRae
Home stadiumBogle Park
2020 Southeastern Conference softball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 7 Florida   30 1.000  234 .852
No. 23 Missouri   30 1.000  197 .731
No. 11 Kentucky   21 .667  204 .833
No. 14 Georgia   21 .667  235 .821
No. 10 Alabama   21 .667  148 .636
No. 20 Arkansas   12 .333  196 .760
No. 16 South Carolina   12 .333  176 .739
Texas A&M   12 .333  179 .654
No. 21 Mississippi State   00   253 .893
No. 5 LSU   00   213 .875
Tennessee   00   149 .609
Auburn   03 .000  1611 .593
Ole Miss   03 .000  1213 .480
Conference champion
Tournament champion
y Invited to the NCAA Tournament
As of March 13, 2020[1]; Rankings from NFCA

Previous season

The Razorbacks finished the 2019 season 38–20 overall, and 12–12 in the SEC to finish in a tie for sixth in the conference. The Razorbacks went 0–2 in the Stillwater Regional during the 2019 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament.

Preseason

SEC preseason poll

The SEC preseason poll was released on January 15, 2020.[2]

Media poll
Predicted finish Team
1Alabama
2Tennessee
3LSU
4Kentucky
5Florida
6Georgia
7Arkansas
8Ole Miss
9South Carolina
10Missouri
11Auburn
12Mississippi State
Texas A&M

Schedule and results

2020 Arkansas Razorbacks Softball Game Log
Regular Season
February
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attn. Overall SEC
Troy Cox Classic
February 7vs. UTEPNo. 24NM State Softball Complex
Las Cruces, NM
W 10–0 (5)A. Storms (1–0)A. Johnson (0–1)3341–0
February 7vs. BradleyNo. 24NM State Softball ComplexL 3–4E. Jackson (1–0)M. Haff (0–1)3531–1
February 8vs. BradleyNo. 24NM State Softball ComplexW 12–1 (5)A. Storms (2–0)M. Radford (0–2)4042–1
February 8at New Mexico StateNo. 24NM State Softball ComplexW 5–4A. Storms (3–0)M. Faapito (0–1)9943–1
February 9vs. NebraskaNo. 24NM State Softball ComplexW 15–4 (5)M. Haff (1–1)L. Walljasper (1–2)3014–1
FGCU Invitational
February 14vs. MemphisNo. 24FGCU Softball Complex
Fort Myers, FL
Cancelled[3]
February 14at Florida Gulf CoastNo. 24FGCU Softball ComplexCancelled[3]
February 15vs. FurmanNo. 24FGCU Softball ComplexW 8–1J. Bloom (1–0)M. Smith (1–3)M. Haff (1)5–1
February 15vs. UICNo. 24FGCU Softball ComplexW 8–3M. Haff (2–1)A. Trudeau (1–1)6–1
February 16at Florida Gulf CoastNo. 24FGCU Softball ComplexW 4–1A. Storms (4–0)S. Lawton (4–1)J. Bloom (1)YouTube1837–1
Razorback Invitational
February 20Boston UniversityNo. 23Bogle Park
Fayetteville, AR
W 4–1M. Haff (3–1)A. DuBois (6–2)J. Bloom (2)4028–1
February 21South Dakota StateNo. 23Bogle ParkW 13–3 (5)A. Storms (5–0)K. Conard (1–3)4949–1
February 21MaristNo. 23Bogle ParkW 7–0M. Haff (4–1)C. Phippen (0–2)J. Bloom (3)45610–1
February 22Boston UniversityNo. 23Bogle ParkW 10–2 (6)A. Storms (6–0)A. DuBois (7–4)70911–1
February 22MontanaNo. 23Bogle ParkL 0–5M. Hood (1–4)J. Bloom (1–1)67811–2
February 23MaristNo. 23Bogle ParkW 5–1A. Storms (7–0)K. Myers (1–2)48212–2
Woo Pig Classic
February 27No. 23 BaylorNo. 22Bogle ParkL 2–3A. Pritchett (5–0)A. Storms (7–1)59412–3
February 28VillanovaNo. 22Bogle ParkW 11–1 (5)A. Storms (8–1)S. Kennedy (0–4)53513–3
February 28Kent StateNo. 22Bogle ParkW 9–5J. Bloom (2–1)M. Huck (3–1)61814–3
February 29No. 9 Florida StateNo. 22Bogle ParkL 1–2C. Arnold (3–2)A. Storms (8–2)K. Sandercock (1)1,99714–4
February 29VillanovaNo. 22Bogle ParkW 12–4 (5)J. Bloom (3–1)P. Rauch (9–3)72215–4
March
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attn. Overall SEC
Woo Pig Classic
March 1Kent StateNo. 22Bogle ParkW 8–0 (5)A. Storms (9–2)A. Scali (3–6)69816–4
March 6at No. 9 AlabamaNo. 20Rhoads Stadium
Tuscaloosa, AL
W 1–0A. Storms (10–2)M. Fouts (3–3)3,23617–41–0
March 7at No. 9 AlabamaNo. 20Rhoads StadiumL 2–10 (6)L. Kilfoyl (5–4)J. Bloom (3–2)3,62617–51–1
March 8at No. 9 AlabamaNo. 20Rhoads StadiumL 1–9 (6)L. Kilfoyl (6–4)A. Storms (10–3)3,47417–61–2
March 10KansasNo. 20Bogle ParkW 3–2A. Storms (11–3)H. Reed (4–5)48518–6
March 10KansasNo. 20Bogle ParkW 1–0J. Bloom (4–2)L. Mills (3–3)56319–6
March 13GeorgiaBogle ParkThe remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 14GeorgiaBogle Park
March 15GeorgiaBogle Park
March 17Missouri StateBogle Park
March 20at MissouriMizzou Softball Stadium
Columbia, MO
March 21at MissouriMizzou Softball Stadium
March 22at MissouriMizzou Softball Stadium
March 24at Wichita StateWilkins Stadium
Wichita, KS
March 27North TexasBogle Park
March 27North TexasBogle Park
March 28North TexasBogle Park
March 31Kansas CityBogle Park
April
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attn. Overall SEC
April 1TulsaBogle ParkThe remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 3Texas A&MBogle Park
April 4Texas A&MBogle Park
April 5Texas A&MBogle Park
April 9at Mississippi StateNusz Park
Starkville, MS
April 10at Mississippi StateNusz Park
April 11at Mississippi StateNusz Park
April 18FloridaBogle Park
April 19FloridaBogle Park
April 20FloridaBogle Park
April 24at KentuckyJohn Cropp Stadium
Lexington, KY
April 25at KentuckyJohn Cropp Stadium
April 26at KentuckyJohn Cropp Stadium
May
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attn. Overall SEC
May 1TennesseeBogle ParkThe remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2TennesseeBogle Park
May 3TennesseeBogle Park
Post-Season
SEC Tournament
Date Opponent Seed Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SECT Record
May 6–9Rhoads Stadium
Tuscaloosa, AL
The remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Cancelled
Bold = Arkansas team member
Source:[4]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA poll.

February

Troy Cox Classic

Troy Cox Classic
UTEP024 Arkansas10
Bradley424 Arkansas3
Bradley124 Arkansas12
24 Arkansas5New Mexico State4
24 Arkansas15Nebraska4
NM State Softball ComplexLas Cruces, NM

The Razorbacks opened their 2020 season with a road trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the 2020 playing of the Troy Cox Classic, hosted by the New Mexico State Aggies, which started Friday, February 7. Arkansas received preseason rankings of #17 by Softball America[5] and Flo Softball,[6] #20 by USA Softball,[7] #21 by D1 Softball,[8] and #24 by NFCA.[9] First pitch on opening day was at 9:30 a.m. CST (8:30 a.m. local MST) against the UTEP Miners. The Razorbacks won their first game of the year in run rule fashion, defeating the Miners in five innings. Arkansas' Autumn Storms spent four innings on the mound, tossing 52 pitches, while Jenna Bloom threw 20 pitches to get the final three outs. For the Miners, Allie Johnson spent the entire contest in the circle, throwing 183 pitches.[10] The Lady Hogs put up one run apiece in the first and second innings before scoring three in the third to extend the lead to 5–0. Another two runs scored in the fourth before freshman Rylin Hedgecock, pinch hitting, ended the contest with a run rule three-run home run, the game's only homer.[11]

The Razorbacks continued their tournament schedule with a doubleheader against the Bradley Braves, with the first game starting on Friday at 2:00 p.m. and the second on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Friday's contest saw the Hogs suffer their first defeat of the season, by a margin of a single run. The Hogs opened the scoring in the first inning off of a Hannah McEwen RBI, and the score remained 1–0 until the bottom of the fourth, when a defensive error cost the Hogs two runs and the lead. The Braves extended their lead in the next inning by virtue of a wild pitch, making the score 3–1.[12] Although the Razorbacks attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh and final inning, it fell barely short, and the Braves picked up the victory, 3–2. Both teams utilized only one pitcher for the entire game—Arkansas stuck with Mary Haff, who threw 72 pitches, while Bradley stayed with Emma Jackson, who tossed 131.[11]

The rematch with Bradley opened the Hogs' second day of tournament play, and they took full advantage of it. Arkansas jumped out to a 4–0 lead in the first inning, via a Kayla Green RBI and a Linnie Malkin three-run homer. The lead was extended to 8–0 with four more runs in the third inning by way of a bases loaded hit by pitch and a three-run RBI double from Sydney Parr. A couple wild throws allowed the Braves to plate a run in the top of the fourth in unearned fashion, though the Razorbacks responded with another four-run inning, extending the lead to 12–1.[13] A scoreless fifth inning from the Braves' offense triggered the end of the game, giving the Lady Hogs their second win of the year, both in run rule fashion. Autumn Storms picked up her second decision of the year after throwing 43 pitches over three innings; she was assisted by Jenna Bloom, who completed two innings in just 32 pitches. For the Braves, Morgan Radford tossed 71 in the first three innings; she was relieved by Grace French, who completed the fourth and final inning in 35 pitches.[14]

The Hogs' fourth tournament game was against the hosts, New Mexico State; first pitch was on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Arkansas fell behind early, surrendering three runs in the second inning, all by way of solo homers. Arkansas responded in the fifth, as Braxton Burnside sent a single to center field that drove home a run. In the sixth, the Hogs plated another, this one from Audrie LaValley's infield single. Arkansas kept it up in the seventh, as they took their first lead of the contest, 4–3, from Danielle Gibson's two-run homer, which was immediately followed by Linnie Malkin's solo home, her second of the day.[13] In the circle, Autumn Storms earned her third win of the year, throwing 39 pitches in 2⅔ innings. The Hogs also saw 1 inning completed by Mary Haff (18 pitches) and 3⅓ by Jenna Bloom (49 pitches). The Aggies relied largely on Matalasi Faapito, who delivered 94 pitches in her six innings of play. She was relieved during the seventh inning by Chloe Rivas, who delivered the last three outs in 20 pitches.[15]

The Hogs' fifth and final tournament game was against Nebraska; first pitch was on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. The Razorbacks' offense got off to their best start yet to close out the Troy Cox Classic, as they plated five runs (including a two RBIs driven home by Linnie Malkin and a Ryan Jackson home run) in the first inning alone. This was followed by a seven-run second inning that saw Danielle Gibson tally one RBI and Ryan Jackson drive home two more before Audrie LaValley recorded the Lady Hogs' first grand slam of the year to make it 12–0. Nebraska's offense responded in the bottom of the third with a pair of home runs to narrow the lead to nine. Arkansas would not be fazed; Braxton Burnside stepped up in the fourth and drilled a three-run home run to increase the lead to 15–3. Nebraska tallied a solo home run in the fifth, but was unable to do anything more and the Hogs won their third run rule contest by a margin of 15–4.[16] Mary Haff tallied her first win of the year, having thrown 25 pitches in 1⅔ innings. She was assisted in the circle by Jenna Bloom, who tossed 45 in 2⅓ innings, and Rylin Hedgecock, who threw 18 in one inning of play. For the Cornhuskers, Lindsey Walljasper received the decision after throwing 75 pitches in 1⅔ innings. The other 3⅓ were played by Courtney Wallace, who threw 82 pitches in total.[17]

FGCU Invitational

FGCU Invitational
MemphisArkansas
ArkansasFGCU
Furman Arkansas 
UIC Arkansas 
Arkansas FGCU 
FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL

Just five days after concluding play in New Mexico, the Hogs were set to begin another five-game tournament slate, this time in Fort Myers, Florida at the FGCU Invitational, hosted by the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.[18] Arkansas was scheduled to open with a 2:30 p.m. contest against Memphis on Friday, February 14. Later that day, the Razorbacks were set to take the diamond again to face the tournament's hosts, the FGCU Eagles, at 7:00 p.m. However, earlier that day, it was announced that these games had been cancelled and would not be made up.[3]

The Hogs have two games slated for Saturday: at 10:00 a.m., Arkansas will take on the Furman Paladins, followed by a 2:30 p.m. matchup with the UIC Flames.

To conclude the tournament, Arkansas will again face FGCU; first pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Razorback Invitational

Razorback Invitational
Boston University Arkansas 
South Dakota State Arkansas 
Marist Arkansas 
Boston University Arkansas 
Montana Arkansas 
Marist Arkansas 
Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR

The Razorbacks will open at home on Thursday, February 20, with the first match of the Razorback Invitational against the Boston University Terriers. First pitch will be at Bogle Park in Fayetteville at 4:30 p.m.

Day 2 of the tournament will see the Hogs take on South Dakota State at 2:30 p.m. and Marist at 4:45 p.m.

Saturday's slate includes two more matchups for the Lady Razorbacks - they will face Boston University again at 12:15 p.m., and will take on Montana afterwards at 2:30 p.m.

Arkansas will wrap up the Razorback invitational with a second game against Marist; this one on Sunday, February 23 at 11:45 a.m.

Woo Pig Classic

Woo Pig Classic
Baylor Arkansas 
Villanova Arkansas 
Kent State Arkansas 
Florida State Arkansas 
Villanova Arkansas 
Kent State Arkansas 
Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR

Just four days after concluding play at their first tournament, the Lady Razorbacks will be back out on the diamond to open their second tournament of the month, starting a slate of six games at the Woo Pig Classic. The opening game will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 27 against the Baylor Lady Bears.

As with the Razorback Invitational, the Woo Pig Classic will feature an Arkansas doubleheader on Friday: the Hogs play Villanova at 4:45 p.m. and Kent State to finish the night at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday will see two more matchups for the Lady Razorbacks. At 4:45 p.m., Arkansas will play host to Florida State, and a 7:00 p.m. rematch with Villanova will follow.

Arkansas will conclude their fourth and final tournament of the month on Sunday, March 1, when they take on Kent State at 12:15 p.m.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final 
NFCA / USA Today 24 24 23 22 20 20  
Softball America[19] 17 22 21 23 20 20  
ESPN.com/USA Softball 20 24 23 21 20 20  
D1Softball 21 23 24 23 22 23

References

  1. "Softball". Southeastern Conference. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  2. "Alabama softball named preseason favorite for 2020". SEC Sports. January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  3. "Softball's Friday Games Canceled at FGCU Invitational". Arkansas Razorbacks. 14 February 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  4. "Deifel Announces 2020 Slate" (Press release). University of Arkansas Department of Athletics. November 21, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  5. "2019 NCAA Division I Top 25". www.softballamerica.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  6. "FloSoftball". www.flosoftball.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  7. "NCAA College Rankings and Polls - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  8. "2020 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Rankings • D1Softball". D1Softball. 21 January 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  9. "NFCA | National Fastpitch Coaches Association". nfca.org. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  10. "UTEP vs. Arkansas (February 07, 2020)" (PDF). University of Arkansas. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  11. "Arkansas Earns Split in Opening Day Doubleheader". Arkansas Razorbacks. 7 February 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  12. "Bradley vs. Arkansas (February 07, 2020)" (PDF). University of Arkansas. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  13. "Gibson's Blast Lifts Razorbacks to Doubleheader Sweep". Arkansas Razorbacks. 8 February 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  14. "Bradley vs. Arkansas (February 08, 2020)" (PDF). University of Arkansas. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  15. "Arkansas vs. New Mexico State (February 08, 2020)" (PDF). University of Arkansas. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  16. "Arkansas Crushes Three Home Runs in 15-4 Rout of Nebraska". Arkansas Razorbacks. 9 February 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  17. "Arkansas vs. Nebraska (February 09, 2020)" (PDF). University of Arkansas. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  18. "2020 Softball Schedule". FGCU Athletics. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  19. "2020 D-I Top 25". SoftballAmerica.com. Baseball America Enterprises. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
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