FAYETTEVILLE – No. 12 Arkansas (37-14) shutout No. 3 Tennessee (39-7), 2-0, for the series win Monday night at Bogle Park. It’s the program’s first three-game series victory vs. a top-three ranked team.
Arkansas moves to 37-14 overall and 13-8 in SEC play. Arkansas is 69-19 at home over the last three seasons. With the win, Arkansas also has two top-10 series decisions this season.
The Razorbacks have back-to-back series wins vs. the Lady Vols. Arkansas has also clinched two straight series wins vs. Tennessee in Fayetteville.
Freshman LHP Hannah Camenzind and redshirt senior RHP Chenise Delce combined for the shutout.
Camenzind (4-2) got the win after twirling 5.2 scoreless frames and restraining Tennessee to five hits while striking out two. Camenzind’s pitching was lethal as she forced 11 ground outs throughout the ballgame.
Receiving a standing ovation, Camenzind handed the reigns over to Delce, who was lights out in her fourth save of the season. Delce tossed the final 1.1 innings and retired all four batters she faced. Delce entered in the top of the sixth with runners at second and third with two outs. Delce struck out the final batter to put up another zero for Tennessee.
Delce retired the side in the top of the seventh to secure the win.
Arkansas’ pitching staff was electric all weekend against a dominant Tennessee offense. Across 21 innings, the Razorbacks held the Lady Vols to seven runs.
Arkansas combined for two runs on four hits and has homered in back-to-back outings. Redshirt junior Rylin Hedgecock was the star of the show, blasting her 20th home run – a two-run shot – to put the Hogs on the board. Hedgecock now holds the outright SEC lead in homers this season.
It was a scoreless game until the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Reagan Johnson started the bottom half with a leadoff, infield single. Sophomore Raigan Kramer reached on a fielder’s choice as Johnson was forced out at second. With one out, Hedgecock smoked a two-run Bogle bomb to right center for a 2-0 lead.
Reagan Johnson, sophomore Kacie Hoffmann and junior Hannah Gammill scattered a hit apiece. Johnson, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, increased her hitting streak to four games.
Bogle Park was the place to be all weekend as Arkansas set a new series attendance record of 9,595.
Up Next
Arkansas travels to Missouri to wrap up conference play on May 5-7 at Mizzou Softball Stadium. The series opens at 7 p.m. CT Friday on SEC Network+. All three games will be available on SEC Network+.
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: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
FAYETTEVILLE– No. 6 Arkansas (33-11) makes its annual trip to North Little Rock to square off against first-time opponent Lipscomb (23-21) in a midweek matchup at Dickey-Stephens Park.
First pitch between the Razorbacks and Bisons from inside the home of the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 2. The game will not be televised or streamed.
Tuesday night’s game can be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield, including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Phil Elson on the call. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
Lipscomb LHP Michael Dunkelberger (2-6, 6.35 ERA) vs. Arkansas LHP Parker Coil (0-0, 6.23 ERA)
In the Polls Collegiate Baseball – 5
Perfect Game – 5
Baseball America – 6
D1Baseball – 6
NCBWA – 6
USA Today Coaches – 6
Hogs in The Rock Arkansas will play at Dickey-Stephens Park for the 12th time since its first game there in 2010. Prior to the pandemic-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons, the Hogs had played a non-conference game in North Little Rock every year since 2010.
The Razorbacks boast an impressive 10-1 record at the ballpark, including last season’s extra-inning win against UCA.
2010: vs. Louisiana Tech – W, 5-4 (10)
2011: vs. Memphis – W, 7-2
2012: vs. Louisiana Tech – W, 6-5 (10)
2013: vs. Mississippi Valley State – W, 2-1
2014: vs. Mississippi Valley State – W, 3-0
2015: vs. Memphis – L, 5-4
2016: vs. ULM – W, 3-1
2017: vs. Memphis – W, 2-0
2018: vs. Grambling State – W, 2-0
2019: vs. Grambling State – W, 17-3
2020: N/A
2021: N/A
2022: vs. UCA – W, 2-1 (10)
Know Before You Go
Gates open at 4 p.m.
Dickey-Stephens Park is a cashless facility. Patrons can exchange cash for an in-park gift card at the info booth near the Home Plate Gate. Cash is still accepted in the DSP official parking lot west of the Broadway Bridge.
Clear bag policy is in effect. Clear bags (plastic, vinyl or PVC) must not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″ in size. Small clutch purses (no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″) and one-gallon plastic freezer bags (Ziploc or similar) are permitted.
Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed inside Dickey-Stephens Park. Chairs are not permitted in the Beer Garden.
Have your print-at-home ticket printed or your mobile ticket saved to your phone before arriving. Please call (501) 664-1555 if you are having any issues with digital or PAH tickets.
No outside food or beverage is allowed into Dickey-Stephens Park.
All forms of smoking are prohibited inside the stadium. For fans who wish to smoke, a designated area will be available outside the ballpark.
Cameras with tripods, monopods and/or detachable lenses are not allowed. Guests seen with these items will be asked to return them to their car before entering.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks –
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
FAYETTEVILLE – No. 12 Arkansas (36-14) utilized three home runs and some sixth inning magic to power past No. 3 Tennessee (39-6), 6-4, Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park to even the series. It’s Arkansas’ 11th ranked victory of the season.
The last time Arkansas beat a top-three ranked opponent was on April 10, 2021, vs. No. 3 Alabama at Bogle Park.
In a prolific outing, freshman LHP Hannah Camenzind (4-2) earned the win after spinning 3.0 scoreless innings and restraining the Lady Vols to one run on three hits. In 4.0 total innings pitched, Camenzind struck out one and worked around a walk.
Redshirt senior RHP Chenise Delce (18-6) picked up her fourth save of the season after taking over in the top of the fifth. Delce twirled the final three frames, controlling Tennessee to three runs on four hits. Delce struck out one and only allowed one walk.
Fifth-year senior Kristina Foreman, junior Cylie Halvorson and sophomore Kacie Hoffmann each tanked a home run for the Hogs.
It was a scoreless ballgame until the bottom of the second when Kacie Hoffmann parked a two-out, two-run home run to left center to put the Hogs in front 2-0.
Tennessee evened it at 2-2 in the top of the fifth on a two-RBI double.
A four-run bottom of the sixth for Arkansas was the difference-maker.
It all began with a leadoff double by Raigan Kramer. With one out, Hannah Gammill walked to put two on for the Razorbacks. In a full count, Cylie Halvorson barreled a three-run shot to center to put Arkansas in front 5-2.
In back-to-back fashion, Kristina Foreman mashed a solo home run to give Arkansas a 6-2 advantage.
Tennessee was able to scrap together two runs on a pair of sacrifice flies in the top of the seventh, but its comeback bid felt short as Chenise Delce forced a groundout to first to secure the victory.
Foreman paced Arkansas with two hits, finishing 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a solo home run. Halvorson drove in a team-high three runs on her home run in the sixth. Hoffmann drove in two runs on her home run in the second. Senior Tymber Riley, sophomore Raigan Kramer and freshman Reagan Johnson registered a hit each.
The Razorbacks hit .333 with two outs while limiting Tennessee to a .222 average with two down.
Up Next
Monday’s rubber match between No. 12 Arkansas and No. 3 Tennessee starts at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
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 –
Arkansas powered to a Game Two win over Tennesse with sixth inning home runs by Halvorson (12) and Foreman (2). RNN Sports File Photo / Peggy Barger)
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
Mansfield senior girls win 2A-4 District Track Meet.
Rain and cold finally broke into a glorious morning for track and field. Mansfield was scheduled to host the 2A-4 Senior Conference meet on Tuesday, April 25. Predictions of rain were fulfilled as Tuesday tears, Wednesday wet and Thursday thunderstorms saturated the area.
Men’s coach Ethan Bowman give the boys encouragement after their runner-up team finish.
Working with mother nature for one good day, the Tigers were able to host a rare early morning track meet on the sunniest day of the week.
Teams from the 2A-4 conference showed up for the eventual coronation of host Mansfield. It was the MHS Lady Tigers that made the most of the moderate Friday morning to take the overwhelming.
Jadelynn and Laney Wood celebrate with a sisterhood tradition.
The senior high district, which was the last avenue for track athletes to qualify to state, went off with a definitive Mansfield flavor. Not only were the event helpers heavily manned with current and former Mansfield people, the events themselves were dominated by Tiger athletes.
Mansfield girls, as they have done so many times before, won another conference championship. It was the program’s 17th such title in the last 20 years.
The Lady Tigers won every field event, and seven of eleven races en route to a 328 point vacation. Mountainburg had moments as they crawled into second with 142 points. Magazine, with a depleted roster due to softball conflicts, shined their stars but claimed only 69 points in a battle for third with Western Yell County, JC Westside, and Lavaca.
Madison Hearron and Daisy Nelson both win individual events at the sr district as freshmen. Nelson also takes the high point plaque.
The Mansfield men were in a real dog fight with Mountainburg all day long. Round after round the pair of contenders frequently showed up tied in the running points game. Each threw appropriate jabs and landed the occasional body blow.
Searching for any point possible, both teams resorted to tossing throwers into the ring late in the afternoon. It turned out to be the funnest race of the night as linemen type behemoths slothed through a two mile race.
Meet Director John Mackey receives his coach of the year plaque from his grandson Noah.
The final two races actually pulled the plug on the Tigers. Mountainburg squeezed by with a nine point wedge to break the pattern of ties. It was the Dragons from up north that took home the conference team championship 219 to 209 over the Tigers.
It was Mansfield that dominated the trophy spoils for the 9 AM to 2:30 PM track meet. Collectively the track program kept a team championship, team runner-up, two high point winners, and a coach of the year plaque in house.
Many former Mansfield players of coach John Mackey share his most recent success at the district track meet.
The MHS senior girls hoisted the top team prize. Freshman Daisy Nelson claimed another high point plaque. Sophomore Trey Powell did likewise. And, Mansfield mentor John Mackey received another coach of the year honor.
Nelson had won the junior high individual honor ten days earlier. This time she moved up to the high ok school division and handled matters equally as well.
Nelson scored 50.5 points off of four individual wins, a second place, and a relay victory. Her best mark came in the 100m hurdles with a new personal record 16.94 seconds. That time established her as the second best measurement in class 2A state wide.
Senior teammate Jadelynn Wood backed that with her new personal record as well. Wood advanced to the state finals in the 100m hurdles with a 17.28 clocking. Her new superlative elevated her class 2A state ranking to third.
Alex Hecox and Austin Ruiz make an exchange in the 4x400m relay.
Powell totaled 45.5 points on his way to the top individual prize in the men’s league. A late switch to the high jump rather than a relay event gave him the extra points needed to claim the honor.
Powell dominated the conference in the long jump, triple jump, 100m dash, and 200m dash. He won each along with anchoring the winning 4x100m relay.
Mansfield had 11 ladies earn admission to the state competition to be run in Quitman on May 2. Their Mansfield counterparts had 9 players make the men’s advancer file.
Nelson led all entries with six qualifying events for All-District honors. Wood and Powell came in next with five events each. They two were anointed All-District recipients along with the other Tiger teammates making the advancer file from a top 2 district placement.
Braxton Bartlett goes to state in four sprint races.
By conference bylaws, a player that state qualifies by place is considered All-District.
Indoor All-State thrower Seven Sanderson made the conference honor roll in her favorite two events, short and discus.
Sanderson is the defending state champion in the discus. This morning, she set a new personal record with a winning whirl of 103’ 8”. She also topped the 33 foot mark in the shot put for another win.
Raine Hecox makes the 400m dash finsh line. The lone junior earned All-District honors via the 4x800m and 4x400m relays.
Throwing partner Kaylee Ward will join Sanderson in the shot at state. She was second in the event with a 32’ 1” toss.
Ward will also see action in the women’s high jump as the district’s second place qualifier.
Freshman Joey Williams will see state action in the 4x800m relay and 1600m run.
Sophomore Carter Whiley won the high jump event. Whiley advanced in two additional events as well. The sprinter made it to the final round in the 200m dash, and the 4x100m relay.
Zander Walters begins the 4x200m relay.
Kayla Bieker will join the office of Nelson, Wood, and Whiley in the 4x100m relay.
The four players ran together for the first time this season. Bieker and Nelson had stayed down on the junior high squad as freshmen until their promotion to the high school squad after the April 18th junior high districts.
Senior Seven Sanderson wins shot and discus for the Lady Tigers at conference.
Mansfield’s newly formed sprint team set a new 2A-4 conference record in the race. The blind exchange members passed the baton to the finish line in 53.27 seconds.
Domonic Shores, Dawson Robinson, Braxton Bartlett, and Powell checked in at 47.08 in their 4x100m formation for the Tiger men. Hi They advanced to the state finals with the gold medal victory.
Mansfield players rally around the littliest Tiger fan.
Zander Walters joined Shores, Robinson and Bartlett for the second place 4x200m relay team. A 1:42.02 stopwatch reading gave them the silver medal.
Mansfield girls also took home silver medals in their 4x200m relay. Raine Hecox, Addie Stover, Laney Wood, and Azlynn Stover led that effort in a solid 2:01.15 measurement.
Senior Natalie Allison joins the jumps team before making her way over to the softball finals.
Hecox, Laney Wood, Azlynn Stover, and Trinity Triska won the 4x800m relay. Jadelynn Wood anchored the winning 4x400m relay team joining the last three names on the previous relay list.
Ashton Hinkle takes a break after winnning the men’s pole vault in the 2A-4 Championships.
Ashton Hinkle, Joseph Carter, Austin Ruiz, and Joey Williams won the men’s 4x800m relay by 52 seconds. Hinkle and Ruiz went one-two in the pole vault to claim those advancer file points.
Trinity Triska and Laney Wood make the exchange for the gold medal 4x400m relay.
Freshman Madison Hearoon may have been the surprise of the night. An increase of 2” 9’ in the triple jump from her first meet to the last sent the horizontal hopper to the state finals as the senior high district champion.
“Madison really works at her craft,” stated her head coach John Mackey. “She was so excited she came running down to the far end of the stadium to break the news. She beat the eighth and ninth best players in last year’s state meet to get today’s district win. So proud of her accomplishment.”
Jadelynn Wood passes the blind exchange to Daisy Nelson as the combination tjat includes Kayla Bieker and Carter Whiley set a new district 4x100m relay.
All totaled, Mansfield qualified nine freshmen to the Quitman hosted class 2A finals. Nelson, Hearron, and Ward go for the girls. Bartlett, Carter, Robinson, Shores, Walters, and Willimas go for the boys.
Trey Powell takes a rest after wining four individual events and the high point plaque.
Hecox is the lone junior. Sophomores Addie Stover, Azlynn Stover, Triska, Whiley, and Laney Wood all made the curtain call. Laney Wood and Whiley were the only other girls to win an individual event out of that class. Laney Wood in the pole vault and Wjiley over the high jump being those two.
Jadelynn Wood won the 300m hurdles in her fastest time this season. The senior and last year’s player of the year, negotiated the 8 barrier race in 50.97 seconds.
Azlynn Stover and Addie Stover are all smiles as they eran All-District honors.
Brooklyn Adams, Natalie Allison, Skylynn Harris, Jaelynn Garcia, Summer Frazier, Ashley Martin, Carissa Vaughan, and Saylor Steward all scored or participated in the district track meet for the Mansfield champs.
FAYETTEVILLE – No. 12 Arkansas (35-14) dropped Saturday’s series opener to No. 3 Tennessee (39-5), 3-1, in front of a sold-out crowd at Bogle Park.
Arkansas falls to 35-14 overall and 11-8 in conference play. Saturday’s attendance of 3,410 is the second-highest in program history.
Despite the loss, redshirt senior RHP Chenise Delce (18-6) had a commanding outing in her 15th complete game. Delce spun 7.0 innings and curbed Tennessee to two earned runs on four hits – its fewest hits since April 6 vs. Baylor. The right-hander struck out four and worked around one walk. The Oklahoma City product held Tennessee hitless until the top of the fifth. Delce retired the first eight batters she faced Saturday afternoon. Additionally, Delce retired the side in the first and second frames.
Freshmen Reagan Johnson and Atalyia Rijo led Arkansas with one hit each. Johnson finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and Rijo went 1-for-2 while scoring Arkansas’ lone run of the ballgame. Johnson has recorded a hit in 10 of her last 11 games. Rijo has recorded a hit in back-to-back games. Redshirt junior Rylin Hedgecock walked twice.
Arkansas and Tennessee exchanged zeroes until the fifth. Tennessee jumped on board in the top of the fifth on a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead.
The Razorbacks clawed away at the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Atalyia Rijo smacked a two-out double to right and then Johnson drove her in on a single to center to even it at 1-1.
The Volunteers responded with a two-run top of the sixth for a 3-1 lead. An RBI single and throwing error led to Tennessee’s final two runs.
Up Next
Arkansas looks to even the series at noon CT Sunday on ESPN2. Monday’s series finale is set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network.
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 –
RNN Sports Photos / Peggy Barger
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
FAYETTEVILLE – No. 7 Arkansas (33-11, 14-7 SEC) finished off a three-game sweep of Texas A&M (25-19, 9-12 SEC) with an 8-7 win in Saturday’s series finale at Baum-Walker Stadium to claim its third sweep of an SEC opponent this year.
With the win, the Razorbacks swept the Aggies for the first time since 2018. Arkansas improved to 14-7 in SEC play with Saturday’s series-sweeping win, marking the team’s fourth consecutive season with a 14-7 or better conference record.
Arkansas, now 28-3 overall at Baum-Walker Stadium, is off to its best start at home since 2018. That season, the Hogs won 29 of their first 32 home games and set school records for home wins (34) and home winning percentage (.895).
Razorback starter Cody Adcock set the tone with four scoreless innings of work on the mound. The right-hander struck out four while allowing just one hit and issuing three free passes, earning the win and improving to 4-1 on the year.
The offense spotted Adcock with three early runs, thanks to a two-run third inning. Arkansas scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third on Kendall Diggs’ sacrifice fly and Jace Bohrofen’s single to left, opening a 2-0 lead.
Diggs’ second sacrifice fly of the game came one inning later. The Razorback designated hitter drove in his second run of the game with his flyout to center, extending Arkansas’ advantage to three in the fourth.
Arkansas broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, putting up a five-spot to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Ben McLaughlin and John Bolton, who finished with three hits and two RBI, each collected run-scoring singles in the frame.
The Hogs’ eight-run lead, however, was put to the test against the Aggie offense. Texas A&M scored seven unanswered runs against the Arkansas bullpen, chipping away with three in the sixth, two in the seventh and one more in the eighth.
True freshman Parker Coil was called upon to close out the game, and he did exactly that in his first career SEC appearance on the mound. Working around a leadoff home run in the ninth, the left-hander retired the next three he faced and finished off the ballgame with a strikeout to log his first collegiate save and preserve Arkansas’ 8-7 win.
In addition to Bolton, Caleb Cali (2-for-4), Jace Bohrofen (2-for-3, 1 RBI), and Ben McLaughlin (2-for-3, 1 RBI) each recorded multiple hits in Saturday’s series-sweeping win. With his multi-hit performance at the plate, Bohrofen is now slashing a team-leading .386/.503/.697 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI on the season.
Arkansas plays its final midweek game of the 2023 regular season on Tuesday, May 2, in North Little Rock, Ark., traveling to Dickey-Stephens Stadium, home of the Arkansas Travelers, to take on Lipscomb at 6 p.m.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks –
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
FAYETTEVILLE – Bogle Park plays host to a top-15 marquee matchup between No. 12 Arkansas and No. 3 Tennessee in a three-game series April 29-May 1.
Saturday’s first pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT on ESPNU. Game two will tee off at noon Sunday on ESPN2. Monday night’s series finale begins at 6 p.m. on SEC Network.
Head coach Courtney Deifel hit 300 career wins following Arkansas’ 7-0 victory at Western Kentucky Monday night.
Deifel became the program’s all-time wins leader on Saturday, Feb. 18, when Arkansas defeated No. 22 Louisiana, 7-6. Deifel bested former Razorback skipper Carrie Dever-Boaz’s (1997-2004) 244 career wins at helm.
Hitting Their Stride
The Razorbacks are 8-2 over the last 10 games with several Hogs catching fire.
Reagan Johnson is hitting .486 with a .568 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage with 18 hits, 19 runs scored, 10 RBI, 21 total bases and four stolen bases.
Rylin Hedgecock is batting .393 with 11 hits, 11 RBI, five home runs and eight runs scored along with a 1.000 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage.
Hannah Gammill is slashing .345/.552/.441 with 10 hits, nine runs scored, six RBI and three doubles.
Chenise Delce holds a minuscule 0.92 ERA and a 4-0 record with a save across 30.1 innings pitched. Delce has recorded 39 strikeouts and limited opponents to four runs on 22 hits.
Robyn Herron has filed a 0.47 ERA and 2-1 record in 15.0 innings pitched. Herron struck out 18 and has given up one earned run on eight hits.
Sunday is for the Seniors
Four Razorbacks will be honored for Senior Day on Sunday: Chenise Delce, Kristina Foreman, Rylin Hedgecock and Tymber Riley. The Senior Day ceremony will take place following the game on the field.
Rylin’s Big Bat
Redshirt junior Rylin Hedgecock has quickly blossomed into a star.
Hedgecock ties for the national lead in home runs with 19.
The Valdosta, Ga., product also ties for the SEC lead in home runs.
Hedgecock slugged a career high three home runs vs. Kentucky in game two last Saturday. She also matched her career high in RBI with seven.
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 55 RBI this season sits second in the conference and seventh nationally.
She paces Arkansas in home runs (19), RBI (55), total bases (112), slugging percentage (.836) and on-base percentage (.467).
Hedgecock has blasted the fourth-most home runs in single-season program history. She’s six homers shy from tying Braxton Burnside’s single-season program record of 25.
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: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
FAYETTEVILLE – Drew Sanders was the first Razorback to hear his name called during the NFL Draft, being selected in the third round (67th overall) by the Denver Broncos on Friday night to extend Arkansas’ streak to 28 consecutive drafts with at least one Hog being called. Just 30 picks later, another Hog was called when Ricky Stromberg was picked by the Washington Commanders with the 97th overall pick (third round).
Sanders became the first Arkansas linebacker to be selected since Dre Greenlaw in 2019 and the highest selected linebacker since Quinton Caver was taken 55th overall by Philadelphia in 2001. Sanders is the first Razorback taken by Denver since McTelvin Agim was also taken in the third round in the 2020 draft. Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Razorback Steve Atwater was the first ever Hog taken by Denver in 1989.
In his lone season at Arkansas, Sanders was phenomenal in 12 games that earned him unanimous All-America status and became the first Arkansas linebacker to be named First-Team All-America by the Associated Press since Ronnie Caveness in 1964. Sanders is the first linebacker and eighth player in program history to achieve unanimous All-America status – earning honors from all five outlets used to determine unanimous All-Americans: Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. He is the first Razorback to earn the nod from all five since running back Darren McFadden in 2003, and the first Arkansas defender to do so since defensive end Billy Ray Smith Jr. in 1982.
Sanders led the Hogs in tackles (103), tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (9.5) while forcing three fumbles, recovering one and picking off one pass. The junior led the team in tackles in seven games during the 2022 campaign and registered double-digit tackles six times. Sanders jumped onto the national scene in just his second game on The Hill in a victory over South Carolina, making 11 tackles to go with three tackles for loss, including two sacks, to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors along with national recognition as the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and Bednarik Award Player of the Week. He was later named the Butkus Award Linebacker of the Month for September.
He became just the second Razorback in history to earn multiple SEC defensive player of the week awards after making 10 tackles, including a half tackle for loss, recovering a fumble and intercepting the first pass of his career in the win over No. 14 Ole Miss. Sanders joined the legendary Quinton Caver, who earned three SEC defensive player of the week recognitions in 2000 before being a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Led by Sanders, the Arkansas defense increased pressure on the quarterback during the 2022 season, setting a school record with 42 sacks. Sanders’ 9.5 sacks matched the seventh-most in a single season by a Razorback and are the most since the late Chris Smith’s 9.5 sacks in 2012.
Stromberg is the first Arkansas center selected since Frank Ragnow was the first pick (20th overall) of the Detroit Lions in the 2018 Draft and first offensive lineman drafted since 2019 when New England took Hjalte Froholdt in the fourth round. The Commanders made Stromberg their first Arkansas pick since taking Kam Curl in the seventh round of the 2020 draft.
A staple of the Arkansas offensive line during his four seasons, Stromberg started his final 25 straight games with 44 overall starts during his career. His senior season capped an impressive career as he became the fourth Razorback to earn the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy – given annually to the league’s top offensive lineman – joining Shawn Andrews (2002, 2003), Jonathan Luigs (2007) and Sebastian Tretola (2015). Stromberg was named an honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Focus and picked up First-Team All-SEC status from the Associated Press, the league’s coaches, PFF and USA Today. He helped pave the way for an offense that gained 6,128 yards – second-most in school history – and running back Raheim Sanders to rush for 1,443 yards. Stromberg helped the Hogs’ running game eclipse 3,000 yards for the 10th time in school history, powered by nine games of 200+ yards on the ground. He picked up a pair of SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week accolades after helping Arkansas rush for 295 yards and gain 457 total yards in a win over South Carolina and a second for blocking for an offense that gained 503 total yards, including 335 rushing, in a victory vs. Ole Miss.
As a junior, Stromberg started all 13 games at center on his way to earning Second-Team All-SEC from the Associated Press and third-team honors from PFF and Phil Steele. He blocked for an offense that featured four players to gain 500+ rushing yards, a feat that had not happened at Arkansas since 1975. During the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, he played in nine games and started eight under first-year Head Coach Sam Pittman. Stromberg’s career started quickly in 2019 when he started his second career game at left guard as a true freshman. He started the final 11 games that season at guard before moving to center as a sophomore.
The NFL Draft continues Saturday with rounds 4-7 beginning at 11 a.m. on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks –
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.
FAYETTEVILLE– Behind Will McEntire’s eight-strikeout effort, No. 7 Arkansas (32-11, 13-7 SEC) clinched its fifth SEC series win of the season in a 10-4 victory over Texas A&M (25-18, 9-11 SEC) on Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
With the win, the Razorbacks improved to 27-3 at home on the year. The 27-3 home record is Arkansas’ best since the Hogs won 29 of their first 32 games at Baum-Walker Stadium in 2018.
Friday night’s game was headlined by Brady Tygart’s return to the mound. The Razorback right-hander threw 20 pitches and worked around a two-out walk in his first outing since suffering a sprained UCL against Illinois State on March 1.
McEntire took over for Tygart to begin the second inning and spun 5 2/3 innings of three-run ball on 91 pitches. The veteran right-hander struck out a season-high eight and earned the win, improving to 6-2 on the year.
Offensively, the Razorbacks would score plenty of runs in support of their pitching staff. Jace Bohrofen’s RBI double in the bottom half of the third inning broke a 1-1 tie before Arkansas put up a three-spot in the fourth inning.
Parker Rowland drove in a run with his RBI bunt single, before Kendall Diggs, who extended his team-leading reached base streak to 34 games, collected an RBI single of his own. Peyton Stovall’s sac fly to left would give the Hogs a 4-1 lead.
Arkansas led 6-2 entering the seventh, but Texas A&M would cut its deficit to two with a two-run homer in the top half of the inning. Ben McLaughlin responded with his first homer as a Razorback, however, pushing the lead back to four.
The Golden, Colo., native clobbered a two-run home run to right with one out in the seventh to extend Arkansas’ advantage to 8-4. Diggs and Bohrofen would come through again with RBI singles in the bottom of the eighth, giving the Razorbacks a commanding six-run lead for closer Gage Wood.
The true freshman locked down his fourth save of the season with 2 1/3 strong innings in relief. Wood struck out a five to preserve the 10-4 win and secure Arkansas’ SEC weekend series clinch.
Bohrofen, meanwhile, finished with a team-leading three hits, his team-best 18th multi-hit game of the season. The Razorback captain, who also drove in two runs, raised his season slash line to a team-leading .380/.497/.697.
Arkansas goes for the sweep in tomorrow’s finale against Texas A&M. First pitch between the Razorbacks and Aggies is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, on SEC Network with Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Chris Burke (analyst) on the call.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks –
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
The Paris Eagles battled both their conference opponents and rainy weather conditions last week to finish fourth in the 3A-4 district tournament and qualify for the 3A Region 1 Tournament in Harrison. At press time for this story, Paris had just completed play in the district tournament and was looking forward to resting their starting pitching and getting ready for this week’s regional tournament.
The district tournament, hosted by Cossatot River High School, was moved up to start early last week due to the impending weather forecast that predicted rain for much of the week. On Monday, the weather was sunny and windy, but the playing surfaces were dry.
Rain moved into the Cossatot area on Tuesday along with temperatures in the mid to low 50s. Paris and Cossatot River completed their softball game with Cossatot River defeating Paris and earning a berth in the regional tournament. Danville came from behind to soundly defeat Subiaco Academy in a steady downpour that saw the field quickly become unplayable. Games were stopped after the Danville game and moved to Fort Smith’s Hunt’s Park on Wednesday.
Playing on artificial surfaces, teams played in light rain, but were able to avoid muddy fields that did not drain. The Paris baseball team, who traveled to Cossatot River on Tuesday only to see their game cancelled and to return home, played Hackett in Fort Smith on Wednesday. Paris defeated Hackett in an extra-inning marathon to advance to the semifinals. The win over Hackett gave Paris a berth in the regional tournament.
But on Thursday and Friday, Paris lost in late innings twice, first to Charleston and then to Booneville on Friday in the third seed consolation game. In the second game of the day last Friday, Charleston defeated Danville to win the 3A-4 district tournament championship.
Paris and Cossatot River played in the rain and on a muddy, all dirt infield during the district tournament (RNN Sports File Photo / Jim Best)
As a result of the games played in the 3A-4 baseball tournament, the Charleston Tigers, having defeated Danville last Friday afternoon, will go to the Region 1 Tournament as the top seed from the 3A-4 conference. The district tournament’s runner-up, Danville, will go as the number two seed. Booneville, having defeated Paris in the consolation game, will go to the regionals as the number three seed, and Paris will go as the four seed.
RNN Sports will be in Harrison on Thursday of this week to bring you coverage of the Eagles in the regional tournament. Good luck to all of the regional teams as they play for a berth in the 3A state tournament next week that will be held at Lincoln High School.
Stay with RNN Sports for the latest in high school baseball postseason coverage!
