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College Softball Star Bri Ellis Reacts to Barry Bonds Post
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Arkansas Razorbacks women's softball team had a tremendous 2024-25 season, going 43-12 with a 14-10 record in the conference.

The Razorbacks were fueled by senior first baseman Bri Ellis, who had early success, including SEC Freshman of the Year honors with Auburn in 2022. 

Ellis, however, reached new heights this season, becoming the first Razorbacks player to win the 2025 Softball America Player of the Year award, as a result of her nearly alien statline from this season.

Ellis posted a .457 batting average, 26 home runs and 72 RBIs as well as an absurd 1.142 slugging percentage that leads the nation.

The Razorbacks social media team likened Ellis' season to Barry Bonds' 2001 MVP season, showing that she had less at bats per home run, less plate appearances per walk, and a higher percentage of home runs per game.

Ellis' 26 home runs and 72 RBIs are both single-season program records, and she's on pace to set program records in batting average and on-base percentage. 

She finished the regular season ranked second nationally in home runs (0.51) and walks (1.42) per game, becoming the first player to do so since Georgia Tech's Jenn Yee in 2010

"It's crazy to even be in the same sentence as a legend like Barry Bonds," Ellis said. "I would never think to compare my stats to Barry Bonds, but they figured it out, and people love to see it, it's a great perspective."

Ellis made headlines a few weeks ago when she hit a walk-off grand slam in her fourth at-bat of the day against No. 12 Georgia, which was the first strike she saw all game after two walks and a hit by pitch.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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