Arkansas softball players Ella McDowell and Robyn Herron were named first-team All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Wednesday, marking the sixth straight year the Razorbacks have placed multiple players on the NFCA All-America teams.
The announcement came during a press conference at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, ahead of the Women’s College World Series, where Arkansas is scheduled to begin tournament play Thursday against Oklahoma.
McDowell, a sophomore from Roswell, Georgia, earned first-team honors at third base. She’s batting .364 this season with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs through 63 games. Her 19 home runs rank fifth in the SEC, while her slugging percentage of .655 is sixth-best in the conference. McDowell previously earned second-team All-America honors in 2025.
“Ella’s consistency and leadership have been critical to our success,” said Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel in a statement. “She’s improved every year and continues to be one of the top defenders and hitters at her position in the country.”
Herron, a senior from Tampa, Florida, claimed her first career All-America award after posting a 2.09 ERA in 113.2 innings pitched. She recorded 173 strikeouts against 39 walks, striking out 10.7 batters per seven innings — a mark that ranks fourth nationally. Herron’s strikeout total is the second-highest single-season total in program history.
The last time Arkansas placed more than one player on the first team was in 2022, when the Razorbacks earned a pair of first-team selections. This year’s dual recognition underscores Arkansas’ continued strength in recruiting and player development under Deifel, who is in her fourth season with the program.
Back-to-back success
McDowell and Herron’s selections continue a streak of national recognition for Arkansas softball. Since 2019, the Razorbacks have placed at least one player on an All-America team every season. The program’s consistency at the plate and in the circle has helped Arkansas reach the Women’s College World Series for the third time in five years.
Arkansas (48-15) enters the WCWS as the No. 3 overall seed and posted a 22-8 record in Southeastern Conference play. The team advanced to the series after sweeping through the Fayetteville Regional and Super Regional, outscoring opponents 34-7 across four games.
McDowell’s performance this season included a .535 slugging percentage and a .439 on-base percentage. She’s started all 63 games at third base and has committed just six errors in 134 total chances. Herron, meanwhile, made 19 starts and appeared in 23 games, allowing two earned runs or fewer in 15 of her starts.
“Robyn has been a difference-maker for us all season,” Deifel said. “She’s got one of the best strikeout rates in the country and has pitched in every big moment we’ve had this year.”
The NFCA All-America teams are voted on by the association’s membership and are considered among the most prestigious individual honors in collegiate softball. First-team selections are typically reserved for players who have demonstrated elite performance in both statistical output and leadership.
For Arkansas, the dual recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for the 2026 season. Earlier this month, Herron was named SEC Pitcher of the Year, while McDowell made the All-SEC first team for the second consecutive season.
The Razorbacks open WCWS play Thursday against top-seeded Oklahoma at 2 p.m. CT. A win would mark Arkansas’ first victory over the Sooners since 2021 and advance the team closer to a potential national championship.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
