Arkansas didn’t make its home fans sweat out Friday’s Fayetteville Super Regional opener.
Instead, the fifth-seeded Razorbacks made things rather easy with an offensive onslaught that produced a 14-5 run-rule victory in 5 innings that pushed the Hogs to the doorstep of a trip to the Women’s College World Series. It would be Arkansas’ first ever trip to Oklahoma City, but there is work still left to do for the Razorbacks, who will return to their home field on Saturday for Game 2 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Another win on Saturday would book that elusive first trip to the WCWS that Arkansas got a head start on Friday with a lot of offense packed into those five turns at the plate. The offensive showcase was nothing new for the Razorbacks (46-11), who have now won in run-rule fashion in all 4 of their NCAA Tournament games during this run.
No. 12 seeded Duke (43-16) was Arkansas’ latest victim. The Blue Devils twice grabbed early leads after scoring once in the first inning and twice in the second frame, but after a multi-hour rain delay it was all Razorbacks.
Arkansas, the only team in the NCAA Tournament that went 3-0 with 3 run-rule victories during last weekend’s regionals, was right back at it on Friday in the super regional opener. A grand slam by Tianna Bell in the second inning put the Hogs in front for good, part of a 5-run frame that gave Arkansas a 7-3 cushion.
The Razorbacks also got home runs from Dakota Kennedy and Karlie Davison, the latter of which was a 3-run shot in the fifth that gave Arkansas the run-rule margin and ended the game.
Robyn Herron and Saylor Timmerman took care of things on the mound, combining to cover all 5 innings for the Razorbacks. They got plenty of run support on Friday, as Arkansas pitchers have gotten during the entire NCAA Tournament so far.
The Hogs will try to finish off their home super regional on Saturday and make a little program history in the process.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
