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Razorbacks chosen to host five NCAA postseason championship events

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has been selected to host five NCAA postseason championships, including its first NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships and its 13th NCAA Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships, it was announced on Tuesday.

Arkansas will be host the 2019 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships (May 17-22, 2019 Women’s, May 23-29, 2019 Men’s) at The Blessings, marking the first time it will host the final round of an NCAA Championship, outside previous NCAA Championships hosted in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.

The Randal Tyson Track Center will welcome back the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships on March 12-13, 2021.

In addition, Arkansas will be home to a 2019 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Regional (Nov. 15, 2019), a 2019 NCAAA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Preliminary (May 23-25, 2019) and a 2022 NCAA Gymnastics Regional (April 2, 2022).

Since the Razorbacks entered the Southeastern Conference in 1992, Arkansas has hosted 92 SEC, regional and national competitions.

A recent study estimated the annual economic impact of Razorback Athletics to be more than $162.7 million annually.

Arkansas will host the 2019 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Regionals on Nov. 15, 2019 at the Razorbacks’ home course at AGRI Park. The regionals will mark the fifth time, the University of Arkansas has hosted an NCAA Cross Country regional at AGRI Park with the previous events coming in 2007, 2012, 2014 and 2016.

The Randal Tyson Track Center will host the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships for the 13th time in 2021.

Since the facility’s opening in 2000, Arkansas has hosted the event 12 times, including for nine straight seasons (2000-09) and 12 of the last 18 championships.

The Randal Tyson Center, home to the fastest indoor track in the world, will host the 2021 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships, March 12-13, 2021.

Barnhill Arena has quickly become a familiar stop on the way to the NCAA Gymnastics Championship.

For the sixth time in its history, Arkansas will host a NCAA Gymnastics Regional on April 2, 2022. Barnhill Arena served as a home site for regionals in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2017.

The first three times the Razorbacks hosted, they advanced to the NCAA Championship. In two of those years, 2009 and 2011, Arkansas reached the NCAA Super Six.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas begins postseason play this week traveling to Birmingham, Ala., for the 2017 Southeastern Conference Championship at Greystone Golf and Country Club.

Arkansas has one team title, two individual titles and four top-4 finishes this season. Although the Razorbacks have already gone toe-to-toe with some very talented fields, the SEC Championship will be one of the deepest that Arkansas faces all year.

However, the battle-tested Razorbacks return to the links with an experienced lineup, one that gives them the best chance to win a championship. Junior Alana Uriell leads the team with a 72.23 stroke average. The Carlsbad, Calif., native captured her first collegiate victory in the final event of the fall.

Sophomore Maria Fassi is next with a 73.41 stroke average. Fassi led Arkansas with a 1-under 215 at last year’s event finishing tied for fifth overall in her first SEC Championship.

Newcomer Kaylee Benton has given Arkansas a lift this season. The UNLV transfer grew up in Arkansas, returned to her home state, and is averaging 73.50 as a sophomore. She has been the Razorbacks’ low finisher in two events this season.

Sophomore Cara Gorlei has also played in all eight events this year and checks in with a 73.82 stroke average. Lone senior Summar Roachell rounds out the Razorback lineup. The Conway native is making her fourth SEC Championship appearance with the Razorbacks.

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Arkansas puts hot streak on line with games against Memphis

Game Notes (PDF)

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas looks to extend a four-game winning streak Tuesday when they host Memphis at Baum Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

The two teams will then play a single game on Wednesday in North Little Rock at Dickey-Stephens Park, as the Razorbacks have done annually for the last seven seasons. Game time for Wednesday is also set for 6:30 p.m.

Follow Live
Tuesday’s game can be seen on SEC Network+ via the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com. Alex Perlman (PXP) and Troy Eklund (Analyst) will be calling the action. Wednesday’s game will not have any television coverage. However, both games against Memphis will be on the radio via the Razorback Sports Network with Phil Elson (PXP) calling both games. Rick Schaeffer (Analyst) will join him for Tuesday’s game only.

Probable Starters
Tue. | 6:30 p.m. | (ARK) RHP Barrett Loseke (3-0, 2.95 ERA, 25/12 K/BB) vs. (UM) RHP Jonathan Bowlan (3-4, 4.15 ERA, 43/19 K/BB)

Wed. | 6:30 p.m. | (ARK) TBA vs. (UM) TBA

Hogs Get Memphis For a Two-Game Midweek Series
With a series sweep of Georgia behind it, Arkansas will go for its 10th-straight midweek win on Tuesday when it hosts Memphis at Baum Stadium. The Hogs won their lone game against the Tigers last year in Memphis, and have been winners of eight of their last nine in the series. This will be the first meeting between the two teams in Fayetteville since 1994, but Wednesday’s game at Dickey-Stephens Park will be third between the two teams in North Little Rock, Arkansas since 2011.

Bonfield Named SEC Player of the Week
Junior outfielder Luke Bonfield was named the SEC Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .400 over the last four games with two home runs and 11 RBIs. The New Jersey native was a tough out over the weekend against Georgia, going 5-for-14 (.357) at the plate with four of those hits coming with runners on base and three with two outs. His two-out home run in the seventh inning of game two against Georgia completed a two-run comeback to give the Hogs their first lead of the game, which they would go on to win, 5-4, in 10 innings.

Lethal With Two Outs
Arkansas has been one of the SEC’s best hitting teams with outs this year. In just the series against Georgia, Hog hitters hit .409 with two outs and .385 with runners on base. In Friday’s 5-4, 10-inning victory, all of the Razorbacks’ runs except the winning run were scored with two outs, including Luke Bonfield’s go-ahead home run in the seventh. Overall, Arkansas is hitting .289 with two outs as a team and Jake Arledge leads all players with 16 hits in 33 at-bats (.485) with two outs.

Rankings Check
Arkansas continues to move up in the national rankings after a perfect 4-0 weekend that included wins over Missouri State and a series sweep against Georgia. The Razorbacks are as high as No. 9 in the nation according to Collegiate Baseball magazine this week, its highest in any poll this season. The Hogs also moved up to No. 18 in the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), the fifth-highest team in the SEC.

Pairone named SEC Freshman of the Week after pair of wins

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After helping No. 18 Arkansas to road wins at Alabama and No. 11 Auburn, Giulia Pairone has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday.

“Giulia is having a very special freshman season, and this honor is very well deserved,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “While her level of play has obviously made a big difference to our season, it is her positive Razorback spirit that I am most proud of.”

Pairone swept her singles matches and split doubles with partner Léolia Jeanjean to help the Razorbacks beat the Crimson Tide 4-3 on Friday and top the Tigers 4-2 on Sunday.

She turned in the highest ranked doubles win of her career against Auburn, defeating No. 16 ranked Alizee Michaud and Taylor Russo 6-1.

Arkansas is joined by No. 1 Florida and No. 5 Vanderbilt as the only schools to earn multiple SEC Player of the Week awards and at least one SEC Freshman of the Week honor.

Senior co-captain Shannon Hudson was named SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 8 and March 15.

Pairone owns a five match win streak and ranks second on the team with a 15-3 record this spring, including an astounding 9-3 mark in SEC action.

Up Next
Arkansas and Auburn will square off again in the second round of the SEC Tournament as the No. 7 and 10 seeds, respectively, at approximately noon CT Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Portis showing poise, confidence, swagger in leading Bulls

By Sam Smith, Bulls.com

Bobby Portis never lost confidence, never doubted.

And as a result, the Bulls suddenly are in position with a 1-0 series lead to shock the Boston Celtics in their first round playoff series.

Sure, Jimmy Butler was clutch with 15 fourth quarter points and the clinching free throws and Robin Lopez was dominant with 11 rebounds, eight offensive in the Bulls 53-36 rebounding advantage.

But it was a Bulls 35-22 bench edge led by Portis’ eight for 10 shooting and 19 points that proved decisive.

Portis’ poise was enviable, if also unlikely given what he’s endured in a season of rarely playing, 18 DNP-coach decisions, including the home opener against Boston, another 15 games of so called garbage time, playing fewer than 10 minutes in mop up, late game situations.

Yet, the humble 6-11 forward who still says, “Sir” when answering questions from media, worked and worked, competed and competed, was a model of effort despite the disappointment and frustration.

Continue reading on Bulls.com