2021 Arkansas Razorbacks softball team

2021 Arkansas Razorbacks softball
NCAA Fayetteville Regional champion SEC regular season co-champion
NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional SEC tournament second round
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
Record	43–8 (19–5 SEC)
Head coach	Courtney Deifel (6th season)
Assistant coaches	Matt Meuchel Yolanda McRae
Home stadium	Bogle Park
Seasons ←  2020 2022 →

2021 Southeastern Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 9 Florida  ‍†‍‍y	19	–	5		.792			45	–	11		.804
No. 11 Arkansas  ‍†‍‍y	19	–	5		.792			43	–	11		.796
No. 3 Alabama  ‍‍‡‍y	18	–	6		.750			52	–	9		.852
No. 13 Missouri  ‍‍‍y	15	–	9		.625			42	–	17		.712
No. 16 Kentucky  ‍‍‍y	13	–	11		.542			43	–	16		.729
No. 15 LSU  ‍‍‍y	13	–	11		.542			35	–	22		.614
No. 22 Tennessee  ‍‍‍y	12	–	11		.522			42	–	15		.737
Ole Miss  ‍‍‍y	12	–	12		.500			36	–	22		.621
Mississippi State  ‍‍‍y	8	–	15		.348			35	–	25		.583
Texas A&M  ‍‍‍y	8	–	16		.333			32	–	23		.582
No. 8 Georgia  ‍‍‍y	7	–	17		.292			34	–	23		.596
Auburn  ‍‍‍y	7	–	17		.292			27	–	24		.529
South Carolina  ‍‍‍	4	–	20		.167			26	–	26		.500
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 7, 2021 [1] Rankings from NFCA/USA Today [2]

The 2021 Arkansas Razorbacks softball team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Razorbacks were led by sixth-year head coach Courtney Deifel and played their home games at Bogle Park.

Previous season

The Razorbacks had a record of 19–6 overall, and 1–2 in the SEC, when the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personnel

Roster

2021 Arkansas Razorbacks roster
	Pitchers 4 Mary Haff (RH) – RS Junior 5 Lauren Howell (RH) – Freshman 9 Autumn Storms (RH) – RS Senior 72 Jenna Bloom (RH) – RS Freshman Catchers 12 Abby Gordon – Freshman 13 Kayla Green – RS Junior		Infielders 2 Valerie Ventura – RS Sophomore 3 Larissa Cesena – RS Sophomore (OF) 16 Keely Huffine – RS Senior 18 Marlene Friedman – Freshman 24 Nicole Duncan – RS Junior (C) 25 Braxton Burnside – RS Senior 41 Danielle Gibson – RS Junior 66 Aly Manzo – RS Senior 99 Audrie LaValley – RS Sophomore		Outfielders 1 Ryan Jackson – RS Senior 22 Linnie Malkin – RS Junior 23 Hannah McEwen – RS Junior 42 Sam Torres – RS Sophomore Utility players 00 Kaitlyn Howard – Freshman 6 Cally Kildow – Freshman 20 Hannah Gammill – Freshman 21 Lauren Graves – RS Senior 28 Rylin Hedgecock – RS Freshman 31 Allie Light – Freshman

Schedule and results

Legend
	Arkansas win
	Arkansas loss
	Postponement
Bold	Arkansas team member

2021 Arkansas Razorbacks softball game log
Regular season
February (11–2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SEC record Best on the Bayou Classic February 11 vs. No. 11 Oklahoma State* No. 18 Ouachita Sportsplex Monroe, Louisiana L 11–12 K. Maxwell (1–0) M. Haff (0–1) 0–1 February 12 vs. Lipscomb* No. 18 Ouachita Sportsplex Cancelled due to inclement weather related to the February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm. [3] [4] February 12 vs. Jacksonville State* No. 18 Ouachita Sportsplex February 13 vs. No. 11 Oklahoma State* No. 18 Ouachita Sportsplex February 13 at Louisiana–Monroe* No. 18 Ouachita Sportsplex Cowgirl Classic [a] February 20 (DH) at McNeese State* No. 20 Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond Lake Charles, Louisiana W 6–4 (14) M. Haff (1–1) A. Vallejo (0–2) 1–1 February 20 (DH) at McNeese State* No. 20 Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond L 4–7 S. Flores (2–0) J. Bloom (0–1) 1–2 February 21 (DH) vs. No. 23 Baylor* No. 20 Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond W 7–2 M. Haff (2–1) G. Rodoni (0–1) 2–2 February 21 (DH) at McNeese State* No. 20 Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond W 3–1 M. Haff (3–1) S. Flores (2–1) 3–2 Maverick Classic February 22 (DH) at UT Arlington* No. 20 Allan Saxe Field W 10–6 L. Howell (1–0) K. Hines (0–1) 4–2 February 22 (DH) at UT Arlington* No. 20 Allan Saxe Field W 4–3 J. Bloom (1–1) G. Bumpurs (1–1) M. Haff (1) 5–2 February 22 at Abilene Christian* No. 20 Allan Saxe Field Cancelled due to inclement weather. [b] February 23 at Wichita State* No. 21 Allan Saxe Field Razorback Invitational February 25 (DH) North Dakota State* No. 21 Bogle Park Fayetteville, Arkansas W 9–0 (5) A. Storms (1–0) P. Vargas (0–1) 6–2 February 25 (DH) North Dakota State* No. 21 Bogle Park W 5–0 M. Haff (4–1) L. Lyle (0–1) 7–2 February 26 (DH) Texas Tech* No. 21 Bogle Park W 9–0 (5) M. Haff (5–1) E. Edmoundson (2–1) 8–2 February 26 (DH) Southeast Missouri State* No. 21 Bogle Park W 9–3 J. Bloom (2–1) P. Holman (0–3) 570 9–2 February 27 Southeast Missouri State* No. 21 Bogle Park W 6–3 A. Storms (2–0) R. Rook (2–4) 574 10–2 February 28 Texas Tech* No. 21 Bogle Park W 8–0 M. Haff (6–1) M. Hornback (0–1) 555 11–2
March (17–1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SEC record Woo Pig Classic March 4 (DH) Drake* No. 20 Bogle Park W 6–3 J. Bloom (3–1) N. Timmons (1–3) SECN+ 525 12–2 March 4 (DH) Drake* No. 20 Bogle Park W 6–4 M. Haff (7–1) A. Timmons (1–4) SECN+ 528 13–2 March 5 (DH) Kansas* No. 20 Bogle Park W 8–3 M. Haff (8–1) T. Goff (2–1) SECN+ 564 14–2 March 5 (DH) Northwestern State* No. 20 Bogle Park W 13–5 (6) L. Howell (2–0) B. Rhoden (1–1) SECN+ 578 15–2 March 6 Northwestern State* No. 20 Bogle Park W 13–2 (5) M. Haff (9–1) J. Howell (3–3) 590 16–2 March 9 at Central Arkansas* No. 19 Farris Field Conway, Arkansas W 4–1 M. Haff (10–1) J. Johnson (3–4) Cox Sports Television/ESPN+ 755 17–2 March 12 at No. 20 South Carolina No. 19 Beckham Field Columbia, South Carolina W 4–1 M. Haff (11–1) K. Oh (1–3) SECN+ 400 18–2 1–0 March 13 at No. 20 South Carolina No. 19 Beckham Field W 7–5 (10) M. Haff (12–1) K. Ochs (2–2) SECN+ 400 19–2 2–0 March 14 at No. 20 South Carolina No. 19 Beckham Field W 3–2 J. Bloom (3–2) K. Oh (1–4) M. Haff (2) SECN 400 20–2 3–0 March 16 Liberty* No. 17 Bogle Park L 0–2 (10) E. Kirby (5–3) M. Haff (12–2) SECN+ 582 20–3 March 19 Ole Miss No. 17 Bogle Park W 5–1 M. Haff (13–2) A. Borgen (6–1) 691 21–3 4–0 March 20 Ole Miss No. 17 Bogle Park W 3–2 (8) M. Haff (14–2) S. Diederich (6–6) 704 22–3 5–0 March 21 Ole Miss No. 17 Bogle Park W 3–2 (8) A. Storms (3–0) A. Borgen (6–2) SECN+ 694 23–3 6–0 March 23 at Kansas City* No. 15 Urban Youth Academy Softball Complex Kansas City, Missouri W 9–3 J. Bloom (5–1) M. Hoveland (7–5) 50 24–3 March 24 at Kansas* No. 15 Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park Lawrence, Kansas W 7–4 M. Haff (15–2) K. Hamiltonf (3–4) A. Storms (1) ESPN+ 254 25–3 March 26 Mississippi State No. 15 Bogle Park W 2–0 M. Haff (16–2) A. Willis (6–3) A. Storms (2) SECN+ 690 26–3 7–0 March 27 Mississippi State No. 15 Bogle Park W 8–7 J. Bloom (6–1) A. Wesley (2–4) M. Haff (3) SECN+ 704 27–3 8–0 March 28 Mississippi State No. 15 Bogle Park W 4–3 M. Haff (17–2) A. Willis (7–4) SECN+ 701 28–3 9–0
April (10–4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SEC record April 1 at Auburn No. 13 Jane B. Moore Field Auburn, Alabama W 6–1 M. Haff (18–2) M. Penta (6–4) SECN 370 29–3 10–0 April 2 at Auburn No. 13 Jane B. Moore Field W 3–0 A. Storms (4–0) S. Lowe (8–3) SECN 370 30–3 11–0 April 3 at Auburn No. 13 Jane B. Moore Field W 2–0 J. Bloom (7–1) M. Penta (6–5) A. Storms (3) SECN 370 31–3 12–0 April 6 Missouri State* No. 10 Bogle Park W 9–1 (5) A. Storms (5–0) M. Hunsaker (6–4) 621 32–3 April 9 No. 4 Alabama No. 10 Bogle Park L 3–5 M. Fouts (12–2) M. Haff (18–3) SECN+ 1,100 32–4 12–1 April 10 No. 4 Alabama No. 10 Bogle Park W 4–0 A. Storms (6–0) L. Kilfoyl (11–3) ESPN2 1,221 33–4 13–1 April 11 No. 4 Alabama No. 10 Bogle Park L 0–2 M. Fouts (13–2) A. Storms (6–1) SECN+ 1,236 33–5 13–2 April 16 at No. 20 Georgia No. 10 Jack Turner Stadium Athens, Georgia W 10–3 A. Storms (7–1) M. Avant (14–5) M. Haff (4) SECN+ 314 34–5 14–2 April 17 at No. 20 Georgia No. 10 Jack Turner Stadium W 5–2 M. Haff (19–3) A. Cutting (6–3) SECN+ 387 35–5 15–2 April 18 at No. 20 Georgia No. 10 Jack Turner Stadium W 5–2 J. Bloom (8–1) A. Cutting (6–4) M. Haff (5) SECN+ 400 36–5 16–2 April 20 Central Arkansas No. 8 Bogle Park W 7–6 (8) M. Haff (20–3) J. Johnson (9–6) SECN+ 873 37–5 April 24 No. 18 Missouri No. 8 Bogle Park L 3–6 J. Weber (9–2) M. Haff (20–4) E. Nichols (7) 1,340 37–6 16–3 April 25 No. 18 Missouri No. 8 Bogle Park L 1–10 L. Krings (7–2) J. Bloom (8–2) SECN 1,358 37–7 16–4 April 26 No. 18 Missouri No. 8 Bogle Park W 8–4 M. Haff (21–4) J. Weber (9–3) A. Storms (4) SECN 1,154 38–7 17–4
May (2–1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SEC record May 1 at No. 16 LSU No. 10 Tiger Park Baton Rouge, Louisiana W 1–0 M. Haff (22–4) S. Sunseri (7–6) ESPNU 1,732 39–7 18–4 May 3 (DH) at No. 16 LSU No. 10 Tiger Park L 1–2 A. Kilponen (13–6) M. Haff (22–5) SECN 2,246 39–8 18–5 May 3 (DH) at No. 16 LSU No. 10 Tiger Park W 4–1 M. Haff (23–5) M. Gorsuch (2–2) SECN 2,246 40–8 19–5
Postseason
SEC Tournament (0–1) Date Opponent Rank (Seed) Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SECT Record May 13 No. 19 (7) Tennessee No. 6 (2) Rhoads Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama L 0–1 A. Rogers (25–8) M. Haff (23–6) SECN 40–9 0–1
NCAA Fayetteville Regional (3–0) Date Opponent Rank (Seed) Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record NCAAT record May 21 (4) Manhattan No. 6 (1) Bogle Park W 8–0 (5) M. Haff (24–6) N. Williams (13–3) SECN 1,862 41–9 1–0 May 22 (3) South Dakota State No. 6 (1) Bogle Park W 4–0 M. Haff (25–6) G. Glanzer (19–5) SECN 2,166 42–9 2–0 May 23 (2) Stanford No. 6 (1) Bogle Park W 7–3 M. Haff (26–6) A. Vawter (22–11) SECN 2,604 43–9 3–0
NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional (0–0) Date Opponent Rank (Nat'l Seed) Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record NCAAT record May 27 (11) Arizona (6) Bogle Park May 28 (11) Arizona (6) Bogle Park May 29 (11) Arizona (if necessary) (6) Bogle Park *Denotes non–conference game • Schedule source • Rankings based on the teams' current ranking in the NFCA/USA Today poll

SEC Tournament

SEC Tournament – Second Round
(7) Tennessee Volunteers	vs.	(2) Arkansas Razorbacks

May 13, 2021, 5:00 pm (CDT) at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
(7) Tennessee	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	0
(2) Arkansas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
WP: Ashley Rogers (25–8)   LP: Mary Haff (23–6) Home runs: TENN: Ally Shipman ARK: None

NCAA Fayetteville Regional

Fayetteville Regional – First Round
(4) Manhattan Jaspers	vs.	(1) Arkansas Razorbacks

May 21, 2021, 12:00 pm (CDT) at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
(4) Manhattan
(1) Arkansas

Record vs. conference opponents

Date m/dd is for last scheduled game of series. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.

2021 SEC softball records v t e Source: 2021 SEC softball game results, 2021 SEC softball schedule
Team	W–L	ALA	ARK	AUB	FLA	UGA	KEN	LSU	MSU	MIZZ	MISS	SCAR	TENN	TAMU	Team	SR	SW
ALA	18–6		2–1	3–0	1–2	3–0	1–2	.	.	.	3–0	.	2–1	3–0	ALA	6–2	4–0
ARK	19–5	1–2		3–0	.	3–0	.	2–1	3–0	1–2	3–0	3–0	.	.	ARK	6–2	5–0
AUB	7–17	0–3	0–3		.	.	2–1	1–2	.	1–2	1–2	.	0–3	2–1	AUB	2–6	0–3
FLA	19–5	2–1	.	.		2–1	2–1	3–0	3–0	2–1	.	2–1	.	3–0	FLA	8–0	3–0
UGA	7–17	0–3	0–3	.	1–2		2–1	.	0–3	2–1	1–2	.	1–2	.	UGA	2–6	0–3
KEN	13–11	2–1	.	1–2	1–2	1–2		1–2	.	.	.	3–0	1–2	3–0	KEN	3–5	2–0
LSU	13–11	.	1–2	2–1	0–3	.	2–1		.	2–1	2–1	.	2–1	2–1	LSU	6–2	0–1
MSU	8–15	.	0–3	.	0–3	3–0	.	.		0–3	0–3	2–1	2–0	1–2	MSU	3–5	1–4
MIZZ	15–9	.	2–1	2–1	1–2	1–2	.	1–2	3–0		.	3–0	2–1	.	MIZZ	5–3	2–0
MISS	12–12	0–3	0–3	2–1	.	2–1	.	1–2	3–0	.		2–1	.	2–1	MISS	5–3	1–2
SCAR	4–20	.	0–3	.	1–2	.	0–3	.	1–2	0–3	1–2		1–2	0–3	SCAR	0–8	0–4
TENN	12–11	1–2	.	3–0	.	2–1	2–1	1–2	0–2	1–2	.	2–1		.	TENN	4–4	1–0
TAMU	8–16	0–3	.	1–2	0–3	.	0–3	1–2	2–1	.	1–2	3–0	.		TAMU	2–6	1–3
Team	W–L	ALA	ARK	AUB	FLA	UGA	KEN	LSU	MSU	MIZZ	MISS	SCAR	TENN	TAMU	Team	SR	SW

Updated for entire regular season. ^{[6] [7]} Tiebrkrs: FLA>ARK ALA common. LSU>KEN hd–hd. UGA>AUB MIZZ common.

Rankings

Main article: 2021 NCAA Division I softball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
NFCA / USA Today	18	20	21	20	19	17	15	13	10т	10	8	10	8	6
Softball America [8]	16	19	18	17	15	14	14	12	10	11	10	10	7	6
ESPN.com/USA Softball	21	25	24	20	19	17	15	11	8т	10	6	7	6	6
D1Softball	16	17	16	15	12	13	12	9	8	9	7	8	8	7

See also

• 2021 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team

Notes

1. Arkansas added the Cowgirl Classic to their schedule after the initial cancellation of their Maverick Classic games, which were scheduled to be held February 22–23.
2. Arkansas originally had games scheduled against Abilene Christian, UT Arlington, and Wichita State, but all games were cancelled due to inclement weather. ^[5] A doubleheader was later scheduled against UT Arlington on February 22, as part of the tournament.

References

1. "Weekly Release" (PDF). ESPN. June 15, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
2. "National champs Oklahoma unanimous No. 1 in final USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coaches Poll". NFCA.org. June 15, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
3. Pavilack, Jacob (February 12, 2021). "Arkansas Softball Feb. 12 Schedule Update". Arkansas Razorbacks. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
4. Pavilack, Jacob (February 13, 2021). "Arkansas Softball Saturday Games Canceled". Arkansas Razorbacks. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
5. Pavilack, Jacob (February 17, 2021). "Softball's Four Maverick Classic Games Canceled". Arkansas Razorbacks. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
6. "2021 SEC Softball". ESPN. June 7, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
7. "2021 SEC Softball Schedule Announced". SEC Sports. January 16, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
8. "2021 D-I Top 25". SoftballAmerica.com. Baseball America Enterprises.