Utah’s Davison becomes Arkansas softball’s second portal pledge

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas’ newest softball addition, who comes from a family of those who have excelled on the diamond, will be seeing a familiar face at her new home.

Utah shortstop/third baseman Karlie Davison committed to the Razorbacks on Thursday where she will be reunited in Fayetteville with former Utes hitting coach/assistant and current Arkansas assistant coach DJ Gasso.

The right handed Davison made the declaration via her social media and joins Texas Tech utility player Kaylie Wyckoff as the two Razorback portal pledges this offseason.

“God writes the best stories,” Davison wrote. “He gets all the glory! I could not be more grateful to call Fayetteville home for the next two years.

Davison is the daughter of Scott Davison, who was a fourth-round draft pick by the Montreal Expos in 1988 and played professionally for 11 years.

She is the daughter of both Ralph Davison and Dave Marsden, who both played professional baseball.

Davison hit .294 in her sophomore season at Utah with 3 homers and 5 doubles among her 25 hits, a .459 slugging percentage, a .384 on-base percentage and also stole 5 bases.

The former Terrance, Calif., prep star played two seasons at Utah with a career .239 batting average, 14 homers, 8 doubles and 44 RBI.

Playing under Gasso’s tutelage as a freshman, Davison hit 11 homers while starting 56 games at shortstop.

The two transfer portal additions join Arkansas eight freshmen signees, a class ranked fifth nationally by Softball America, as newcomers to the 2025 roster.

Former Razorbacks who entered the transfer portal include twins Hanna and Laura Camenzind and Kacie Hoffman – all who Nebraska natives who have committed to the University of Nebraska.

The other three to leave the program are outfielder Nyjah Fontenot, who has pledged to McNeese State as well as catcher Kylie Brockman and pitcher Nikki McGaffin, the latter two who have not committed anywhere as of yet.

Photo courtesy of Utah athletics