FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Redshirt senior Rylin Hedgecock was named Preseason All-SEC by the league’s coaches and the Razorbacks were picked to finish fourth in the SEC this season, the conference office announced Wednesday. 

Earning NFCA First-Team All-America status and All-SEC honors in 2023, Hedgecock is poised for another breakthrough campaign in 2024. As a junior, Hedgecock hit .335 and led Arkansas with 21 home runs, 62 RBI, 127 total bases, a .459 on-base percentage and .774 slugging percentage. She was the only league player with at least 21 home runs and 62 RBI and tied for fifth nationally in home runs. The Valdosta, Ga., native slugged a clubhouse-best, three multi-home run outings, including a three-home run performance at No. 20 Kentucky on April 22. 

The preseason All-SEC Softball Team is voted on by the conference’s head coaches and consists of a minimum of 21 players to highlight the upcoming season. 

As a team, Arkansas was predicted to finish fourth in the SEC. Tennessee, which earned six first-place votes, was predicted to win the league followed by Georgia and LSU.  

2023 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll 

(First-Place Votes in Parentheses) 

Place – School – Points 

1 – Tennessee (6) – 137 

2 – Georgia (6) – 136 

3 – LSU – 106 

4 – Arkansas – 103 

5 – Auburn – 100 

6 – Alabama – 88 

7 – Florida (1) – 77 

8 – Texas A&M – 75 

9 – South Carolina – 68 

10 – Kentucky – 53 

11 – Missouri – 28 

12 – Ole Miss – 24 

13 – Mississippi State – 19 

Arkansas is coming off its third consecutive 40-win season and a top-four SEC finish along with the program’s sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth in 2023. Receiving the No. 11 national seed, all four of the program’s national seeds have been accumulated under head coach Courtney Deifel. 

Arkansas opens its 2024 schedule at the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla., with opening day slated for Thursday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. against Marshall. The Hogs open their home slate on Thursday, Feb. 22 against Illinois State.