Razorbacks qualify third diver for NCAA Championships

FAYETTEVILLE — Senior diver Nicole Gillis became the third Arkansas diver to earn a trip to the NCAA Championships on Wednesday, finishing seventh in the platform at the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships in Minneapolis.

Gillis started the day with an ninth-place showing in the prelims out of 20 athletes, scoring a 247.40. In the finals, she dove personal-best 262.10 to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships with an overall score of 509.50.

It marks the first time in school history that Arkansas has sent three divers to the NCAA Championships and the first time since 1985 to send more than one diver.

Junior Marissa Green was the second Razorback that competed in the platform event on Wednesday. She finished 14th with a personal-best 219.40 in prelims to advance to the finals. In finals, she added 215.60 to finish with a total of 435.00, good for a 15th-place finish.

The NCAA Championships will take place will be held March 14-17 at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.

Schedule of Events/Results
Monday, March 5
One-Meter Prelim
4th – Brooke Schultz – 303.55
21st – Nicole Gillis – 258.85
23rd – Marissa Green – 257.50
30th – Maha Amer – 236.95
34th – Caroline Welch – 233.20

 One-Meter Final
4th – Brooke Schultz – 615.80*

Tuesday, March 6
Three-Meter Prelim
4th – Brooke Schultz – 336.25
6th – Maha Amer – 327.40 (personal best)
15th – Nicole Gillis – 301.00
22nd – Marissa Green – 282.35
40th – Caroline Welch – 229.95

Three-Meter Final
2nd – Brooke Schultz – 727.75*
9th – Maha Amer – 638.60*
13th – Nicole Gillis – 619.20

Wednesday, March 7
Platform Prelim
9th – Nicole Gillis – 247.40
14th – Marissa Green – 219.40

Platform Finals
7th – Nicole Gillis – 509.50*
15th – Marissa Green – 435.00

* NCAA Qualifier

Storey feeling more comfortable in new offense

Ty Storey ran the first team offense Tuesday and hit the winning pass to freshman wideout Mike Woods on Saturday and talked about it after practice.

Ramirez likes aggression, direction of Chavis’ defense

Hogs safety Santo Ramirez talked Tuesday about the new defense, especially the aggressive nature that is a change.

Kelley talks about new offense, weight, physicality

Razorbacks quarterback Cole Kelley talked Tuesday about the new offense, his weight and competing.

Patton likes tight end’s multiple roles in new offense

Hogs tight end Jeremy Patton talked with the media Tuesday about the expanded ways Chad Morris’ offense uses the tight end position.

Greenlaw on liking Hogs’ new defensive approach

Razorbacks linebacker Dre Greenlaw talking about how he likes the Hogs’ new 4-3 much better.

Wichita State knocks off Razorbacks in pitchers’ duel

WICHITA, Kan. — Senior Tori Cooper tallied her second multi-hit effort of the season but Arkansas stranded eight runners on base Tuesday afternoon in a 1-0 loss at Wichita State.

Freshman Mary Haff was the tough-luck losing pitcher, surrendering a solo home run in the second inning as the game’s only score.

The Razorbacks will carry a 16-2 record in the weekend’s SEC opener at No. 11 Georgia.

Arkansas and Wichita State were scheduled to play a doubleheader but the head coaches agreed to cancel game two due to windy conditions—gusts exceeding 40 miles per hours—and dropping temperatures.

Up Next

The Razorbacks travel to Athens, Ga., for their conference opener which begins Saturday at Turner Stadium and continues through Monday. All three games will be televised with Pam Ward and Carol Bruggeman handling the commentary duties during the weekend series.

FINAL: Wichita State 1, Arkansas 0 | Box Score

The Razorbacks loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, drawing a pair of walks sandwiched between an infield single off the bat of freshman Hannah McEwen. However, Wichita State starter Bailey Lange retired the next three and got out of the jam with a pop up to short.

After Haff retired the top of the Shockers’ lineup in order, Cooper led off the second with the first of her two hits on the day. Arkansas had two on when a groundout off the pitcher allowed both runners to move into scoring position. Lange responded with a pair of strikeouts to keep the Razorbacks off the scoreboard.

Haff struck out the first two hitters she faced in the home half of the second but Wichita State broke through in the next at-bat with a solo home run to right center.

Arkansas got a one-out single from junior Ashley Diaz in the third but put together another bases-loaded threat in the top of the fourth.

With the bases full of Razorbacks, McEwen was robbed of a would-be hit with a quick-reaction catch at third and flip to second for the frame-ending double play.

Sophomore Autumn Storms came in to relieve Haff in the fourth and kept Wichita State off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game but Lange retired the final 10 hitters she faced to hand Arkansas its’ first shutout loss of the season.