Arkansas softball routed Duke 14-5 Friday evening at Bogle Park in the opener of their NCAA Super Regional series, moving one win closer to the program’s first-ever Women’s College World Series appearance.
The Razorbacks (46-11) used a pair of multi-run innings and three home runs — including a grand slam and a walk-off three-run shot — to end the game early via run rule after five innings. The victory gives Arkansas a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, with Game 2 scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Bogle Park and broadcast on ESPN2.
“It was a total team effort tonight,” said head coach Courtney Deifel, whose squad entered the postseason on a 21-game winning streak. “We’ve been talking all week about staying focused and not getting too high or too low. The energy from our fans was incredible, and our players responded.”
Duke (43-16) took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Arkansas answered with six runs in the bottom half. The Razorbacks added four more in the second, highlighted by Tianna Bell’s grand slam — the team’s first of the season — off Blue Devil starter Sydney Wagner.
Power surge delivers early separation
Karlie Davison’s three-run homer in the fifth inning, her 14th of the season, sealed the outcome and triggered the mercy rule. The blast also marked the third consecutive game in which Davison has homered, extending her team-leading total and giving her 58 RBIs on the year.
Arkansas outhit Duke 12-7 and drew eight walks, with six different Razorbacks driving in runs. Freshman Saylor Timmerman picked up the win in the circle, allowing three earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
“Saylor came in and gave us exactly what we needed,” Deifel said. “She competed well and settled in after a shaky start. Our defense backed her up and made some big plays.”
Arkansas will turn to senior pitcher Mary Hagan for Game 2 on Saturday. Hagan is 19-4 this season with a 1.56 ERA and 177 strikeouts in 157.1 innings pitched.
Duke will counter with sophomore right-hander Sarah Corley, who is 17-8 with a 2.19 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 143.1 innings.
If necessary, Game 3 will be played Sunday at 1 p.m. at Bogle Park, also on ESPN2.
Stakes are historic for Hogs
A trip to the WCWS would mark a first for Arkansas softball, which has advanced to super regionals in back-to-back seasons under Deifel. The program made its first super regional appearance in 2023 after claiming its first-ever SEC tournament title.
Friday’s win was Arkansas’ largest margin of victory in a super regional game and the most runs scored by the team in any NCAA tournament contest since 2019, when they beat Tulsa 15-0 in a regional opener.
Bogle Park was filled with a standing-room-only crowd of more than 1,600 fans, many clad in maroon and cheering loudly throughout the game. The Razorbacks are now 28-3 at home this season.
“Playing in front of our fans is always special,” said Davison. “They give us so much energy, and we want to play hard for them every time we step on that field.”
Tickets for Saturday’s game are available through the Arkansas Razorbacks athletics website. Reserved seating and general admission options are available.
Source: Fayetteville Flyer
