FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas softball team kicked down the door it had spent years knocking on Saturday night at Bogle Park.
After years of coming painfully close, the Razorbacks finally broke through with a 10-2 victory over Duke to punch the program’s first ticket to the Women’s College World Series. The game ended in the fifth inning due to a run rule.
It was a triumphant scene for the Razorbacks after the game’s final out — a ball caught in foul territory by third baseman Ella McDowell. When saw the ball in her glove, it became reality.
Arkansas (47-11) will play on college softball’s biggest stage at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
The Razorbacks will begin their WCWS stay with a game against Nebraska on Thursday at a time to be announced at the conclusion of all super regionals.
“We knew it was going to happen,” Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel said through tears postgame. “And it’s a really great feeling to know it’s going to happen. This team was poised for it and they’re ready. I’m just so proud of them.”
Deifel, who inherited a program stuck at the bottom of the SEC 11 years ago, was visibly emotional as she was swarmed by players and assistant coaches in celebration.
Fireworks blasted as players ran to pile around pitcher Payton Burnham in the circle and the full-capacity crowd erupted. After hoisting a trophy and calling the Hogs with fans, players ran up the bleachers and paraded around the concourse to celebrate with fans. They continued through the outfield berm through a sea of red that packed the park to see history made.
Celebrations continued well over an hour after the game ended.
“Those were some of the tightest hugs,” Deifel said. “Literally, my breath has been [tight] because of the embrace and the emotions. It’s everything. Seeing our players go through our fans … they showed up for us. Our players have put on a show for them all year, and they brought it today. You could feel them at the end. They knew it was coming.”
The writing was on the wall when Karlie Davison, a senior, parked a 3-run home run over the wall in right-center field in a 6-run fifth inning. Her final at-bat at Bogle Park put the game within reach of a run rule, and Burnham shut the door in the bottom of the inning.
“That’s pretty cool,” Davison said. “Glory to God, truly, It was a really special moment.”
Arkansas second baseman Karlie Davison high-fives third-base coach Matt Meuchel while rounding the bases after hitting a 3-run home run, Saturday, May 23, 2026, during the fifth inning of the Razorbacks’ 10-2 run-rule win over Duke in the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional at Bogle Park. (Hank Layton/WholeHogSports)Arkansas became the first team since Arizona in 1995 to win its first five games of the NCAA Tournament by run rule. The Wildcats finished as the national runner-up that season.
“You’ve just got to be plus one,” Deifel said. “That’s always our goal. It’s great because the team that we were being compared to … that team was incredible.”
Fans had to wait a little longer to get the clinching game underway due to a rain delay that caused first pitch to be delayed 65 minutes to 5:05 p.m. It didn’t deter them from staying, and they got something to cheer about early.
Tianna Bell got the party started with a 2-run home run to left field in the top of the first inning. The Razorbacks batted first due to NCAA postseason procedures.
Bell’s homer was her second in as many days against the Blue Devils, and was her team-leading 18th of the year. It was a no-doubter that landed in the parking lot.
“It’s all of ours to share,” Deifel said. “When we got here, we knew that if we gave them a product they were proud of, they’d show up for us. Razorback fans are the best, and they’ve continued to prove that. I mean, they beat me to the field this morning.”
Arkansas had early opportunities to further the damage but left the bases loaded in both the first and third innings. The Razorbacks had 5 hits against Duke starting left-hander Cassidy Curd, who was replaced by right-hander Mallory Wheeler to begin the fourth inning.
Atalyia Rijo gave Arkansas some extra breathing room when she delivered a 2-out double down the first-base line with the bases loaded. It grew the lead to 4-0.
Burnham, a sophomore right-hander, carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning.
She gave up a 1-out single to Jessica Oakland and a 2-run homer to left field by Tyrina Jones that trimmed the lead to 4-2. Those were some of the only mistakes she made.
Burnham (14-3) tossed a 3-hit gem and kept a powerful Duke offense guessing all night with 6 strikeouts, 5 groundouts and 4 flyouts.
“P wants the moment,” Deifel said. “She thrived in that moment, and I’m just really proud of her.”
Arkansas pitcher Payton Burnham (center, left) and teammates celebrate, Saturday, May 23, 2026, following the Razorbacks’ 10-2 run-rule win over Duke in the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional at Bogle Park. (Hank Layton/WholeHogSports)The Razorbacks countered the Blue Devils’ runs with a big top of the fifth inning, which started with a Kennedy Miller double, Reagan Johnson bunt single, and Brinli Bain walk to load the bases with no outs.
McDowell then delivered a 2-run single up the middle to put Arkansas up 6-2, and a run-scoring groundout by Dakota Kennedy and Davison’s blast put the Razorbacks up 10-2.
Her home run gave Arkansas the 8-run margin needed to enforce a run rule with a scoreless bottom of the inning.
“I was just trying to just find a way on base,” Davison said. “It was kind of in the back of my mind, but I knew I wasn’t trying to do too much. I realty just surrendered that at-bat to the Lord, and was just like, ‘OK, whatever I have to do, just get a good strike. And if I don’t get it done, [Rijo] is going to get it done right behind me.’”
Burnham put the finishing touches on her performance with a pair of strikeouts and the game-ending out in foul territory. It made her the winning pitcher for the most impactful victory in program history.
“This is why I came to be a Razorback, to play for Coach [Deifel], and to do this for the first time” Burnham said. “I just could not be more grateful to play for her.”
The Razorbacks had won two super regional games in program history prior to this weekend. They doubled that total within a 26-hour span.
Arkansas and Nebraska are among four teams that have clinched a WCWS berth, joining Tennessee and Alabama. Others with a chance to clinch Saturday include Arizona State and UCLA.
“We’ll get locked back in, but we are going to enjoy this,” Deifel said. “This is really hard to do.”
Box Score
Arkansas 10, Duke 2.pdf
Highlights
Ethan Westerman
Ethan Westerman is a reporter for WholeHogSports covering Arkansas football, men’s and women’s basketball and softball. He has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and marketing from the University of Arkansas.
