Arkansas to Begin Title Defense on Day 3 of the SEC Softball Tournament

FAYETTEVILLE – The defending SEC Tournament Champion Arkansas Razorback softball team hosts the 2023 SEC Tournament at Bogle Park. Arkansas will take on Alabama at 7 p.m. CT Thursday, May 11, at Bogle Park, airing on SEC Network. It’ll be the fourth game of the day, so it will start approximately 35 minutes after Game 7 (No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 10 South Carolina) concludes.

Texas A&M vs South Carolina (RNN Sports Photo / Peggy Barger)

Tournament Results as of May 10:

Game 1: 13 Missouri 3, 12 Mississippi State 1

Game 2: 11 Ole Miss 5, 6 LSU 3

Game 3: 10 South Carolina 1, 7 Texas A&M 0

Game 4: 5 Alabama 7, 13 Missouri 2

Ole Miss vs LSU (RNN Sports Photo / Peggy Barger)

Arkansas at the SEC Tournament

Arkansas is coming off the program’s first-ever SEC Tournament Championship.
The SEC Tournament returns to the friendly confines of Bogle Park for just the second time in history. The marquee event was last held at Bogle in 2010. Arkansas dropped its lone game of the tournament to Alabama, 9-0.
In the 2022 SEC Tournament Championship, RHP Chenise Delce tossed a two-hit shutout with five strikeouts. Delce did not allow a walk. Kacie Hoffmann starred offensively for the Hogs, finishing 2-for-3 with a triple and run scored.
Four Razorbacks were named to the 2022 SEC All-Tournament team: Chenise Delce (MVP), Kacie Hoffmann, Mary Haff and Danielle Gibson.
Arkansas is 14-18 overall at the SEC Tournament.
The Hogs are looking for their first SEC Tournament victory at Bogle Park.

The Standard

Arkansas is the only SEC team to record a top-four conference finish in each of the last three seasons. Arkansas won the SEC in 2021 and 2022 and finished fourth this season.

RPI SZN

Arkansas sits at No. 15 in the latest RPI rankings. The Hogs also boast one of the most impressive resumes in the nation:
The Hogs have played the most games in the country against opponents inside the RPI top-25 (25).
Arkansas possesses a .480 win percentage and 12 wins vs. opponents inside the RPI top-25.
Arkansas has one RPI top-10 win this season (Louisiana).
The Razorbacks rank fifth nationally in top-25 (RPI) victories (12).
The Hogs have played the fifth-most games nationally vs. opponents inside the RPI top-50.

Rylin’s Big Bat

Redshirt junior Rylin Hedgecock has quickly blossomed into a star.
Hedgecock sits second in the conference and ties for fourth nationally in home runs with 20.
Hedgecock slugged a career high three home runs vs. Kentucky in game two last on April 22. She also matched her career high in RBI with seven.
Delivered a two-run home run in the series finale vs. Tennessee, helping Arkansas clinch a 2-0 rubber match win.
Hedgecock homered in each of her first three plate appearances vs. Kentucky in game two.
Hedgecock has three multi-home run games this season, including two vs. ranked SEC opponents (Florida & Kentucky).
Her 57 RBI this season sits second in the conference and eighth nationally.
She paces Arkansas in home runs (20), RBI (57), total bases (116), slugging percentage (.829) and on-base percentage (.466).

Leading Things Off

Freshman center fielder Reagan Johnson was named a top-25 finalist for Tucci/NFCA National Freshman of the Year on April 28. Johnson is one of four SEC freshmen selected to the prestigious list.
Johnson ranks second in the SEC in hits with 72. Johnson paces all SEC freshmen in base knocks as well.
On a national scale, Johnson’s 72 hits lead all freshmen and stand eighth overall.
The Karnes City, Texas, native has been dynamic for the Razorbacks so far this season. Johnson was named SEC Freshman of the Week on April 25 after leading Arkansas to a 4-1 week that included a road series win at No. 20 Kentucky.
Electrifying at the leadoff position, Johnson sports a team-leading .377 batting average and paces the Hogs in hits (72), runs scored (41), stolen bases (17) and triples (4). Johnson also boasts a .412 on-base percentage with 20 RBI.
Helping Arkansas capture a doubleheader sweep for a series win vs. Kentucky to earn SEC Freshman of the Week, Johnson went 7-for-9 with three runs scored and two RBI. Johnson recorded a base hit in six straight plate appearances before lining out to short in game two.
Johnson has the sixth-most single-season hits in program history.
Johnson leads Arkansas with 22 multi-hit outings this season. She’s the first Razorback freshman to be named an NFCA Freshman of the Year finalist since Mary Haff in 2018. With four triples this season, Johnson is one triple shy from tying the program’s single-season record of five.

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

– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks –

Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.