Arkansas softball and baseball teams trending in different directions in polls

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON



FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas softball and baseball teams are trending in different directions in the polls.

The softball team finds itself No. 2 in Softball America – the highest ranking in the program’s history.

The Razorbacks (36-10, 12-9) are also third in the D1 Softball rankings, sixth by USA Today/NFCA Softball poll and eighth according to NFCA/Gorout.

Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel’s softball team has won its last six SEC series and gone from a 1-5 start to a tie for fifth in the standings with Florida.

No. 1 Oklahoma (42-5, 16-5) heads up the race while Texas A&M (41-8, 14-6), Tennessee (39-11, 14-7) and Texas (43-9, 13-8).

Arkansas host No. 10 LSU (39-11, 11-10) Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile all the college baseball polls still see the Diamond Hogs as one of the nation’s top dozen teams, but only two of the five see them as a top six one.

The USA Today coaches poll has Arkansas fifth, NCBWA sixth, Baseball America 10th, D1 Baseball 11th and Perfect Game 12th.

The Razorbacks were a consensus No. 1 on April 7, but have since dropped three straight SEC series for the first time since 2016.

Sunday’s 9-5 loss at Florida was the sixth league loss in nine games after Arkansas started the SEC slate 12-1.

After starting the season 31-3 overall, the Diamond Hogs have large just 6-6 in their last 12 games.

A scheduled Tuesday game against Missouri State in Springfield, Mo., was canceled due to expected inclement weather.

The SEC slate doesn’t get any easier this week as Arkansas hosts No. 1 Texas (37-5, 19-2) Thursday night at 6 p.m, Friday at 7 and Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Longhorns leads the league race by 5 games over Arkansas and LSU (36-9, 14-7) and six over Tennessee (35-9, 13-8).

Photo by John D. James