SEC expert says No. 5 Arkansas softball has what it takes to win the national championship

Before some in Razorback Nation begin to lose any confidence in the No. 5 Arkansas softball team (42-11, 15-9 SEC) after its 7-1 defeat yesterday in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament to the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (49-6, 19-5 SEC), the game was an uncharacteristic one for the Hogs, who are ranked No. 1 in RPI, and the Crimson Tide is ranked No. 2 in RPI. Few teams can say they have held this potent Razorbacks' offense to one run and three hits, as the Crimson Tide did yesterday.

Even in the previous three games against Alabama, for which the Hogs won one, the Crimson Tide did not have a game against the Razorbacks that ultimately became as dominant as yesterday's contest. In a pitcher's duel, where Courtney Deifel sent one of her two aces, Robyn Herron, to the circle, Arkansas scored the game's first run in the top of the fourth inning. However, in the bottom of the fourth, one swing not only tied the game, but it also captured the momentum, and it never moved back to the Hogs' favor.

The present writer made an interesting observation no one is discussing about Herron and the Razorbacks' defense in the bottom of the fourth inning. Given that this was a pitcher's duel, and a game where it seemed like the first to score would win, Herron and the Hogs appeared to believe this in the bottom of the fourth, and the team lost its focus when it shared smiles and celebrations in the circle as Herron continued to roll the Crimson Tide until she no longer did after one swing.  

That moment, along with the three careless errors the Hogs committed, serves as a critical lesson. Those mistakes, however, do not define these ladies. If used as motivation to improve, those mistakes become the catalyst for something far greater than what a win over Alabama would have meant. This lesson can teach the Razorbacks to stay focused until the final out, no matter how well the game is going.

SEC expert believes Arkansas softball can win the national championship

Although Arkansas did not have its typical offensive explosion against No. 19 Mississippi State, winning 3-0 in the second round of the SEC Tournament, its ability to shut out a team like the Bulldogs with its best pitcher in the circle is more revealing of who the Razorbacks are than the latter half of the game against Alabama. During the regular season, the Hogs have defeated all top-seeded teams in the SEC Tournament, including No. 1 Oklahoma (48-8, 20-4 SEC) and No. 3 Alabama.

Therefore, the Razorbacks are a far better team than we witnessed in the latter half of the game against the Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament. Haylie McCleney, ESPN softball expert and analyst, Olympic softball medalist, and veteran professional softball player, argued that Arkansas softball is the true contender from the SEC to win the Women's College World Series.

McCleney contended that the Razorbacks' pitching, led by Payton Burnham and Robyn Herron, overall talent, offensive firepower, timely hitting from top to bottom of the lineup, and excellent fielding make Deifel's team the best fit from the SEC to win the national championship.

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