CONWAY, Ark. – Playing what is possibly the biggest home game in Central Arkansas softball history, the Bears welcome the No. 8/12 Arkansas Razorbacks to Farris Field on Tuesday. After defeating Arkansas on the road back in March, the Bears will try to defend home turf against the Razorbacks in Conway this time, with first pitch at 6 p.m.
Last weekend's sweep of Florida Gulf Coast improved the Bears to 27-8 on the year with an 11-1 conference record. It marked the fourth series win of the year for Central Arkansas, and with the win, both series losses from last season have been avenged. The sweep, combined with a series loss by Jacksonville State, pushed Central Arkansas atop the ASUN standings, the lone team with one loss through 12 games.
Madi Young was sensational in the series, walking off both games on Friday, with a two-run home run in game one and an RBI single in game two clinching both wins. The junior shortstop hit .600 across three games, scoring three times and driving in five runs. Young is one of three batters hitting over .300 this year for the Bears, and has eight extra base hits and 21 RBI.
Like last time out against the Razorbacks, Central Arkansas' season story has been the dominant pitching combined with timely hits. The Bears have the eighth-lowest ERA in the nation, allowing just 1.65 earned runs per game, and combine that with the 18th ranked fielding percentage to hold the best winning percentage in the ASUN.
Kayla Beaver and Jordan Johnson have combined to throw 232.2 innings this season, allowing 54 earned runs and striking out 243 batters. With the duo in the circle, Central Arkansas is the only ASUN program to strike out 200 batters, the only school to allow fewer than 60 earned runs, and the only team with an ERA under 2.00. Beaver and Johnson are both top-five in the conference in basically every pitching statistic, and have combined for nine shutouts this season.
The Hogs and Bears have already faced off once this season, with Central Arkansas earning its first win against the SEC program back in early March. Johnson tossed the complete game, striking out seven batters and allowing just a single run to a team that has been consistently in the top-15 of national polls. Jenna Wildeman scored the tying run on a passed ball, and Mary Kate Brown drove in Tremere Harris for the game-winner on a double in the sixth inning. It marked the highest-ranked win in program history, and the first over the Razorbacks in six games.
Tuesday's game will mark the highest-ranked matchup between the Bears and Razorbacks ever, and according to most sources, the highest-ranked matchup between instate schools in Arkansas history. According to ESPN's RPI, or Rating Power Index, Arkansas is the 16th-ranked team in the nation, Central Arkansas is the 17th. While the Hogs have been consistently a top-15 team among softball polls, the Bears have received votes in two weekly polls this season, taking top-50 wins over the Razorbacks, South Dakota State and Utah.
Arkansas enters the week 28-11 overall, 9-6 in SEC play, and was ranked No. 12 in D1Softball's poll that came out on Monday, and last week's NFCA poll had the Razorbacks at eight. This past weekend, Arkansas lost two of three against No. 10 Georgia, winning game three to salvage a game and avoid the sweep.
Chenise Delce has been a workhorse for the Hogs this year, pitching 113.1 of their 253.1 innings; only one other Arkansas pitcher has eclipsed 50 innings in the circle, that being Robyn Herron at 55.2 innings. Delce holds a record of 15-5 with 12 complete games and three shutouts, striking out 124 batters. Delce was the pitcher of record back in March, throwing a complete game and striking out 10, but allowing two runs.
At the plate, Reagan Johnson holds the best batting average, hitting .358 and leading a lineup that has five batters that have played 30 games hitting .300. Rylin Hedgecock has been the power hitter of the lineup, ranking fifth in the country with 14 home runs and eighth in the nation with 44 RBI. The junior has a slugging percentage of .771, the highest on the team among batters with 100 at bats.
The Razorbacks have claimed eight ranked wins this season, including two against Arizona, ranked No. 19 at the time of competition, No. 13 Alabama and No. 10 Florida, with single wins against No. 10 Georgia and No. 22 Louisiana.
Tuesday against Arkansas is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Farris Field, and is a ticketed event. Fans can purchase tickets at our Ticket Site or at the gate. The game will be on ESPN+, with live stats available here. Bear fans are encouraged to wear purple as part of our Purple Out game. Fans can buy tickets at the gate starting at 4:00, and the gates will open at 4:30.
