Super Regionals on the Road: A White-Out at Bogle

Arkansas. Texas. Bogle Park. Super Regionals.

Those six words alone fairly effectively set the scene for Thursday night’s game in Fayetteville. One of just two Division 1 softball games taking place on Thursday, the Hogs against the Horns also served as the primetime leadoff for the Super Regional round that will determine the eight teams that head to Oklahoma City.

Both teams sent their aces to the circle – Hailey Dolcini for Texas, Chenise Delce for the home team. The batting order for both teams had the usual offensive weapons. Few superlatives were needed – the best team would undoubtedly win.

While their on-field talent are certainly capable of getting the job done on their own, Arkansas had the benefit of the presence of 3,100 of their closest friends. The Bogle Park faithful showed up and made themselves heard.

The official attendance checked in at 3,100 even – and it’s a fair bet that roughly 2,999 of those fans were wearing Hogs gear. The home crowd planned a white-out for the game and white shirts were seen all throughout the crowd. The very energetic, never-quiet crowd, that is.

For four innings, the game was quiet – even uneventful. A handful of jams were quickly disposed of.

In the top of the fifth, it looked like Texas was on the verge of a breakthrough. Two runners in scoring position led Arkansas to decide to walk Janae Jefferson and load the bases. Delce went on to strike out Mia Scott and force Bella Dayton into an inning-ending groundout to get out of the threat.

The bottom of the fifth was where the magic started for Arkansas. A leadoff double by Hannah McEwen led to a sacrifice bunt by 3-hole hitter Taylor Ellsworth. At that point in the game, even one run seemed like it might be enough, but for the Hogs offense, it didn’t have to be.

Three singles, a couple of defensive miscues, and an intentional walk combined to give Arkansas their first three runs of the game in the frame. One inning later, the Hogs added four more – this time, it was four single and another defensive miscue that brought the Razorback runs across the plate.

Texas scored one run in the top of the 7th inning, but it was too little, too late.

A 7-1 win belonged to Arkansas. It was the first Super Regional win in program history. The Hogs have only played in the Supers under Courtney Deifel and the victory also marked her first career win this deep into the postseason.

The seven runs scored on Thursday night were the most to ever cross the plate in a single Super Regional game for the Hogs. In fact, one step further, Thursday’s scoring total matched the combined totals of every previous Super Regional game in program history.

Following a regular season full of history-making offense, new achievements at the plate seem like old hat for the Razorbacks. With another win on Friday, though, the Hogs will make a difference kind of history: The kind that leads to playing at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City with a “Women’s College World Series” patch on your jersey.