Arkansas softball begins its NCAA Tournament run Friday against Fordham at Bogle Park in Fayetteville. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
The Razorbacks (42-11) enter the regional as the No. 7 overall seed, while the Rams (27-26) arrive on a four-game winning streak after finishing second in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament.
Arkansas is coming off a series loss to Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament, its first defeat in its last three conference tournament appearances. The Razorbacks went 6-4 in their final 10 games.
Fordham, by contrast, has been one of the hottest teams in the country down the stretch. The Rams went 8-2 over their last 10 games, including a run to the Atlantic 10 championship game.
This is the fifth meeting between the programs. Arkansas leads the all-time series 4-0, including a 2-0 record in NCAA Tournament games. The last matchup came on Feb. 19, 2018, when the Razorbacks topped Fordham 4-2 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California.
On the mound, Arkansas will lean on its pitching staff that has carried the team throughout the season. The Razorbacks’ rotation has been a strength, posting a team ERA under 2.50 in conference play.
Fordham’s offense has heated up at the right time. The Rams scored 30 runs over their final five regular-season games and continued that production into the conference tournament.
Arkansas is making its 12th NCAA Tournament appearance under 11th-year head coach Courtney Deifel. She holds a 401-190 record at Arkansas and a 428-217 career record across 12 seasons.
Fordham is led by Melissa Inouye, who is in her eighth season with the Rams. She owns a 205-180-1 record at Fordham and a 317-353-1 career record across 14 seasons.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Krista Blunk on play-by-play. Fans can watch on WatchESPN.com or through the ESPN app with a subscriber login.
Bogle Park, with a capacity of 3,200, is expected to host a strong crowd for the regional. Arkansas has historically performed well at home during NCAA Tournament play.
If Arkansas advances, the Razorbacks would play the winner of Texas vs. Texas State on Saturday at a time to be determined.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
