Razorback softball set for four-game road swing In Florida
Arkansas continues to chew through schedule with Sunshine State stop
From the University of Arkansas
arkansasrazorbacks.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Fresh off a series sweep of Kentucky, the No. 12/13 Arkansas Razorbacks resume the SEC slate with a trip to No. 2/3 Florida for a threegame series this weekend before concluding the road trip with a visit to North Florida on Monday.
The series opener at Florida is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, while Saturday’s matchup will start at 3 p.m. before the series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m. Friday and Sunday’s games will be broadcast on SEC Network+ while Saturday’s matchup will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Kyle Crooks (PxP) and Aleshia Ocasio (Analyst) will provide commentary of the action on Friday and Sunday, while Eric Friede (PxP) and Madison Shipman (Analyst) will be on the call for Saturday’s contest.
Arkansas will conclude its trip to The Sunshine State with a matchup at North Florida on Monday at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are 23-7 and coming off a series sweep of Kentucky this past weekend by taking all three games by the scores of 5-3, 10-2 (5 inn.) and 2-1.
Arkansas completed its first SEC sweep since March 31April 2, 2023, when Arkansas swept Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. It was the first sweep at Bogle Park for the Hogs since April 29-May 1, 2022, when they took all three games against South Carolina.
The Razorbacks have earned a program record 17 wins by run-rule this season. The previous record of 16 was set back in 2014.
Arkansas has outscored opponents 260-91 this season.
HOGS IN THE POLLS
Arkansas checked in at No. 12 in the NFCA/GoRout Poll and No. 13 in the D1 Softball, Softball America and ESPN/USA Softball Polls this week.
The Razorbacks have been ranked in the Top 25 of the NFCA Coaches poll for a program- best 80 consecutive weeks dating back to the start of the 2020 season. Arkansas is one of six programs nationally to have appeared in the Top 25 of every NFCA Coaches Poll since the start of the 2020 season, joining Oklahoma, Florida, UCLA, Oklahoma State and Florida
State.
HISTORY LESSON
Arkansas and Florida have met 68 times, with Florida leading the all-time series 5117.
Arkansas has won six of the last seven meetings between the program dating back to 2022, including four straight in Gainesville.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
Florida enters the series as the No. 2 team in the country with a 33-6 overall record and a 6-3 mark in SEC play. The Gators are coming off a 4-0 loss at No. 10 Florida State on Wednesday evening.
Florida is batting .357 as a team with 360 hits, 61 doubles, five triples, 65 home runs, 286 RBI and 174 walks in 1,007 at-bats. Freshman Taylor Shumaker highlights the Gators’ offense with a .405 average, 49 hits, 12 doubles, a triple, 13 homers and 56 RBI to go along with 16 stolen bases in 16 attempts.
In the circle, Florida is led by Keagan Rothrock, who just returned from injury last weekend. She owns a teambest 1.32 ERA and 9-2 record with 50 strikeouts in 58.1 innings pitched. The Gators own a 2.18 Era with 175 strikeouts in 237.2 innings pitched.
SCOUTING NORTH FLA.
North Florida is 29-10 this season and 9-0 in ASUN play. The Ospreys are coming off a sweep of crosstown rival Jacksonville this past weekend with wins by the scores of 8-2, 6-5 (9 inn.) and 8-3. They will host Stetson this weekend before welcoming the Razorbacks on Monday evening.
The Ospreys own a team batting average of .304 with 306 hits, 62 doubles, four triples and 22 homers while driving in 183 runs. Allison Benning
See HOGS, page A20
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is one of the best two-way players in the country. The Oregon transfer is batting .414 with a team-best 41 hits, eight doubles, 14 home runs, 36 RBI and 41 walks. In the circle, she owns a 1.35 ERA and is 15-5 with 118 strikeouts in 104 innings pitched.
As a team, UNF owns a 2.39 ERA with 233 strikeouts in 258 innings.
Entering this weekend, Arkansas ranks among the nation’s leaders in numerous categories including hit-bypitch (7th, 38), runs per game (12th, 7.88), sac flies (2nd, 22), on-base percentage (10th, .452), RBI per game (11th, 7.27), walks (7th, 157) and slugging percentage (13th, .601).
Through 33 games, this year’s Arkansas team ranked among the top three in program history in batting average (2nd, .335), doubles (1st, 56), slugging % (2nd, .601), on-base % (1st, .452), runs (2nd, 260), sacrifice flies (1st, 22), RBI (T-1st, 240), total bases (2nd, 499) and walks (2nd, 157).
Arkansas owns a .452 on-base percentage. Two of the Razorbacks’ starters own an .OBP of .500+, while seven starters own an on-base percentage of .400+.
In hitting coach DJ Gasso’s first season in Fayetteville, Arkansas struck out a program- low (COVID season not included) 192 times in 1,408 at-bats during the regular season, bettering the previous program record of 204, which was set in 2014 by 12.
PUTTING UP NUMBERS
Bri Ellis has gotten off to the hottest start in program history and one of the hottest starts in modern NCAA history at the plate. Through 33 games, she currently holds program records in batting average (.494), RBI (52) and slugging percentage (1.276).
Additionally, Ellis ranks second in on-base percentage (.615), home runs (18), runs scored (39) and total bases (101). Trailing only Braxton Burnside, who hit 19 HR and had 102 total bases in 2021, and Devon Wallace, who posted a .643 on-base percentage in 2013. Jessica Bachkora holds the record for runs scored with 40 in 2010 (As of April 4).
Ellis is batting .494 with 18 home runs, 52 RBI, 101 total bases, 39 runs scored while posting a 1.247 slugging percentage and a .615 OBP. Her 66 career home runs are the most among all active D1 players.
She was ranked as the No. 1 first baseman in the country in the Softball America April Position Rankings on April 1.
She was one of only two DI players to lead the nation in slugging percentage, homers and on-base percentage through March 19 of a season since 2012.
The only other player to accomplish the feat was Louisiana-Lafayette catcher Lexie Elkins in 2016.
