Arkansas’ late-game heroics set up Thursday SEC Tournament clash with Tennessee

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

In its first game as Softball America’s top-ranked team in college softball, Arkansas brought the theatrics.


Courtney Day’s fifth-inning solo home run tied it and Bri Ellis’ record-setting, walk off grand slam ended the Razorbacks’ 5-1 victory over host Georgia at the SEC Softball Tournament.

The win advances fifth-seeded Arkansas (39-11, 14-10) into a Thursday quarterfinal game at around 12:30 with No. 3 seed Tennessee (40-13, 5-9).

The Razorbacks took two of three from the Volunteers in Knoxville earlier in the season by a combined score of 17-6.

“This is a great start to the SEC Tournament for us,” Arkansas ged coach Courtney Deifel said. “ I’m proud of our team for finding a way to get that. Even though we had a slow start, I felt like we had some good contacts early. Outfield play was sensational. We stayed the course.”

Day’s fifth-inning homer – her 16th of the season – broke up the no-hitter being thrown by Georgia starting pitcher Randi Roelling (9-8).

“I was just trusting myself and staying the course,” Day said. “Coach Deifel preaches that and has all season, staying within myself and not making a moment too big. I was trusting my ability to find a pitch, hit it, and take advantage of it.”

Deifeld thought her team relaxed and got confidence on Day’s blast.

“We had a big swing from Courtney Day that allowed us to take a breath,” Deifel said. “In that moment, it felt like we were going to do it.

“We had some really big at-bats that led up to Bri’s at-bat. When you get one swing in the day, and you hit a grand slam, I’d say that’s pretty stinking good. I’m really proud of the team for finding a way to win. Whatever it takes.”

Ellis’ dramatic round tripper was her school-record 26th, breaking a tie with former Razorback Braxton Burnside.

It also tied her with Auburn’s Bailey Hemphill and MississippI State’s for the SEC record.

The four RBIs gave her 72 – two more than then Arkansas single RBI mark of set by former Razorback player and currebt assistant coach Danielle Gibson Whorton.

“I was saying all game that it was just a matter of time, a matter of time and we were going to win it,” Ellis said.

Ellis noted she stayed calm after her team loaded the bases in the seventh.

“I can’t like hype myself up like that and it doesn’t matter what the situation is,” Ellis said. “…I talk to myself and I accept the situation and I accept the task at hand. It’s not to big for me. Never too big.”

“I’m like we have a job, let’s just go do it.”

Arkansas only had three hits entering the seventh inning.

The fourth was Reagan Johnson’s bunt single in the seventh that helped extend the inning to Ellis.

Georgia (31-20) had walked Ellis in her first two at bats on a combined eight pitches and she was hit her next time up.

“I’m just so proud of my teammates, their patience and the know the situation,” Ellis said. “They know of they get on that they have no chance but to pitch to me.

“So just proud of them for being gritty and finding a way to get on.”

Robyn Herron (16-5) got the win on the mound for Arkansas by pitching three scoreless innings of relief.

Razorback starting pitcher Payton Burnham allowed one run on five hits, including Marissa Miller’s RBI single that put her team up 1-0 in the fourth.