The Arkansas Razorbacks (42-12) look to clinch the Fayetteville Regional against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (34-19) at Bogle Park on Sunday.
Arkansas, the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Softball Tournament, took down the Cowgirls 6-5 in eight innings on Saturday thanks to a late rally. It was the first NCAA Tournament extra-inning win in program history. Another victory over the Cowgirls, who are having to grind their way through the loser's bracket, will advance Arkansas to its fourth Super Regional in program history, while a loss will force a ‘if necessary’ matchup Sunday night.
The Razorbacks rested on Saturday evening and got a chance to watch Oklahoma State fight to keep its season going and the Pokes did so with authority, run-ruling Indiana 16-8 in six innings. Oklahoma State has heavily relied on ace pitcher Ruby Meylan all season and the Nebraska native has endured up and downs over the weekend.
Meylan was chased in the opening round against Indiana after surrendering three runs in as many innings and threw 162 pitches in Saturday's two games, including 5.1 innings of nine-hit ball against the Razorbacks and also issued six walks.
10th-year Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel, the winningest coach in program history, said the comeback against the Cowgirls was one of the best she has ever been a part of.
“I am just so incredibly proud of this group. It is one of the most resilient and grittiest performances that we have had in my time here and that I have seen in general," Deifel said. "We stayed the course and let the game come back to us in the unwavering belief that this group has in themselves and each other is incredible.
"Our work is not done, and we know we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but today was huge."
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