Hogs get first Top 25 ranking of softball season

FAYETTEVILLE — Winner in nine of its last 10 games, Arkansas checked in at No. 23 in Tuesday’s release of the USA Today/NFCA Coaches’ Poll.

The Razorbacks stand at 25-6 overall with a 2-4 mark in SEC play after last weekend’s series win over Missouri.

Tuesday’s ranking release sets up a top-25 matchup with No. 20 Mississippi State at Bogle Park this weekend. The three-game series begins Friday at 6 p.m. with gates opening one hour prior to first pitch.

Arkansas was most recently ranked in the NFCA poll last season where it had a seven-week run in the top 25.

After a 4-1 week that featured a doubleheader sweep of UT-Arlington and a series win over Missouri, the Razorbacks were also up five spots to No. 25 in Monday’s release of the NCAA RPI.

The team sits just one spot shy of cracking the USA Softball Collegiate Top 25.

In their last outing, the Razorbacks rallied from a four-run deficit in their series finale against Missouri with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The outburst was punctuated by a game-tying, three-run shot by freshman Kayla Green and go-ahead double by senior Autumn Buczek.

Green’s home run was Arkansas’ 39th of the season which ranks second in the SEC and is tied for the seventh most in the nation.

The Razorbacks also carry top-50 national marks in slugging percentage (.502), team ERA (1.91) and scoring (5.77 runs per game).

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26TulsaW 34-6
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&ML, 34-7
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeL, 24-17
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltW 31-21
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriL, 34-10
Sat, Nov 7@ Auburn11:45 AM
SEC Network
Sat, Nov 14South Carolina6:45 PM
SEC Network
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasAfternoon
2:30-3:30 PM
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUEarly Kickoff
11:00 AM-Noon

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Conway (13)8-11801
2.Shiloh Christian (4)8-11542
3.Bentonville (2)8-11383
4.Joe T. Robinson9-01205
5.North Little Rock8-11096
6.Sheridan9-0807t
7.Bentonville West7-2737t
8.Springdale Har-Ber6-3664
9.Greenwood7-2519
10Van Buren8-119—
Others receiving votes: Bryant 17, Benton 8, LR Christian 8, Mountain Home 6, Stuttgart 5, Searcy 4, LR Mills 2, Nashville 2, Rogers 2, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Conway (13)8-1851
2.Shiloh Christian (4)8-1692
3.Bentonville (2)8-1554
4.North Little Rock8-1395
5.Springdale Har-Ber6-3183
Others receiving votes: Bentonville West 15, Bryant 4.
CLASS 6A
1.Sheridan (19)9-0951
2.Benton6-3563
3.Van Buren8-1544t
4.Searcy7-2394t
5.Mountain Home (2)7-2381
Others receiving votes: Sylvan Hills 2, Lake Hamilton 1.
CLASS 5A

1.
Joe T. Robinson (18)9-0941
2.Greenwood (1)7-2762
3.Little Rock Mills8-140
—
4.Farmington8-1294
5.Jacksonville7-2233
Others receiving votes: LR Mills 8, HS Lakeside 4, Greenbrier 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (17)8-0771
2.Nashville (2)8-0642
3.Ozark8-0373
4.Elkins7-1194
5.Lonoke7-114—
Others receiving votes: Southside Batesville 9, Fountain Lake 9, Gravette 5, Highland 4, Arkadelphia 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Mansfield (11)8-2771
2.Prescott (3)8-1664
3.Fordyce (2)6-232—
4.Atkins (1)8-128—
5.Smackover7-2233
Bismarck7-2235
Others receiving votes: Walnut Ridge 19, Newport (2) 14, Rivercrest 2, Lake Village 1.
CLASS 2A
1.Baptist Prep (9)9-0832
2.Mount Ida (10)9-0801
3.Earle8-1503
4.Gurdon7-2404
5.Marked Tree7-2265
Others receiving votes: Magnet Cove 2, Des Arc 2, Hazen 2.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (7)7-0291
Cedar Ridge (4)8-0292
3.Magazine (3)8-0223
Others receiving votes: Izard County 3.