Arkansas Softball Schedule 2024: What To Know

Here's everything you need to know about Arkansas Razorbacks softball for the 2024 season.

Jan 19, 2024 by Briar Napier

Arkansas Softball Schedule 2024: What To Know

Is it only a matter of time before we hear hog calls at the Women’s College World Series?

Arkansas softball, which has been on the cusp of Oklahoma City for nearly a decade, certainly hopes its time to shine on the biggest stage in the sport is coming soon—and it finally might arrive, if the Razorbacks play their cards right.

The Hogs have some important pieces that need to be replaced, but an elite core and breakout stars from the 2023 season have Arkansas sitting pretty and once again among the national elites in preseason, with the only thing left to do being to tie it all together and finally break through in the postseason.

The current era of softball success at Arkansas is unparalleled in the program’s history, but for the Razorbacks to drive that point home, only a long-wanted spot at the WCWS will be satisfactory to most (if not all) involved with the program.

Here’s all you need to know about Arkansas softball ahead of the 2024 season.

How Did Arkansas Softball Do In 2023?

In 2023, the Razorbacks broke the 40-win barrier for the third consecutive season and qualified for their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament, finishing tied for fourth in a brutal Southeastern Conference, which saw 12 of a possible 13 teams play in a regional.

With regular-season highlights including a series win over then-No. 3 Tennessee and a strong 21-8 mark at home in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Razorbacks hosted a regional as the national No. 11 seed. Unfortunately, they missed out on a third straight trip to a Super Regional, losing twice to Oregon.

The 2022 SEC Pitcher of the Year, Chenise Delce, was the Hogs’ ace once again in 2023. She won 21 games and was the No. 9 overall pick in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch draft. She was chosen by the Oklahoma City Spark.

Meanwhile, at the plate, Reagan Johnson led the way for Arkansas with a .378 average while Rylin Hedgecock smashed 21 home runs. Both were team highs.

Who Coaches Arkansas Softball?

Courtney Deifel became the Hogs’ head coach in 2015 after a season at Maryland, and she has orchestrated their rise back to national prominence, leading Arkansas to qualification for every NCAA Tournament held since 2017. Their run has included three Super Regional appearances and two SEC regular-season titles.

Already the winningest coach in program history, the Cal alum (who won a national title with the Golden Bears as an All-American catcher) is a two-time SEC Coach of the Year and considered by many to be one of the best minds and recruiters in the sport, with 11 of Arkansas’ 12 NFCA All-America selections all-time garnered during her tenure in Fayetteville.

Has Arkansas Ever Won The Women’s College World Series?

No, Arkansas has never won the Women’s College World Series, nor has it ever qualified for the Women’s College World Series.

The closest the Razorbacks have ever been to Oklahoma City has been Super Regional appearances in 2018, 2021 and 2022, all of which saw Arkansas be eliminated and come up just short of the WCWS.

Notable Returning Players

Rylin Hedgecock, UTL

Coming out of nowhere to lead the Hogs in home runs and RBIs, 2023 was a breakout season for the Georgia native, who finished second in the SEC in long bombs and was the only player in the league to hit for at least 20 homers and 60 RBIs.

A NFCA first-team All-American, Hedgecock has turned into a star after her first three years in Fayetteville were ho-hum, and she’ll be aiming to follow up on her electric year last season by keeping the mojo going and helping the Razorbacks compete for a third league title in four years.

Robyn Herron, LHP

Without Chenise Delce in the pitching rotation, it’ll be up to a very young Arkansas staff to dominate in the circle and hold their own against the many monsters at the plate the Hogs will see this season.

Five of the six pitchers on the Arkansas roster are underclassmen, and Herron—impressive as a freshman as second fiddle to Delce with 107 batters in just 73 innings pitched—returns the most production as a Razorback from that group.

Likely bound for some more responsibility on the mound, is Herron up for the challenge against the always-loaded SEC?

Notable Newcomers

Nia Carter, OF

Last season’s Big Ten Conference batting champion at Iowa, Carter started all 62 of the Hawkeyes’ games in the outfield, while batting an eye-popping .479. That was third nationally, while she became just the second Big Ten player in history to record at least 100 hits in a season.

It was her second straight season with an average over .400, making her an easy target for Deifel and her staff as a proven, reliable contact hitter.

The SEC will be a step up in competition for Carter, but her level of instinct inside the batter’s box is something that is a rarity across college softball and should allow her to slide into the Razorbacks lineup.

Bri Ellis, INF

Ellis made life difficult for Arkansas for two years, and she now gets to make its life a little bit easier, starting with this year.

The 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year at Auburn, Ellis was a superb slugger in her two seasons with the Tigers. She made 117 career starts, while tallying 34 home runs, 96 RBIs and a .288/.685/.398 slash line.

Her offensive numbers did dip slightly during her sophomore season a year ago, but she still led Auburn in numerous offensive categories and kept her reputation as a reliable fielder intact, too.

Ellis will enter her first season with the Hogs with a .989 career fielding percentage, primarily at first base.

She and Hedgecock should be one of the most effective 1-2 power punches in the SEC—and, on that note, the country.