Who is Arkansas softball catcher Taylor Ellsworth? 3 facts to know about Texas transfer

Arkansas softball catcher Taylor Ellsworth will have a reunion of sorts in the NCAA Tournament super regional in Fayetteville. The No. 4-seed Razorbacks are facing Ellsworth's former team, the Texas Longhorns.

Ellsworth came to Arkansas before the 2022 season after five seasons at Texas. A native of Georgetown, Texas, just outside of Austin, she was instrumental on a Texas team that made the NCAA Tournament in all four years it was held during her time there.

After graduating with a degree in applied movement science, Ellsworth opted to spend her final year of eligibility at Arkansas. In her lone season with coach Courtney Deifel and the Razorbacks, Ellsworth has become one of the team's best hitters.

Here are three facts to know about the star catcher:

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Star freshman season at Texas

Ellsworth's success started long before she arrived in Fayetteville. In her five seasons at Texas, Ellsworth started 162 games and batted.320, with 144 hits, 16 home runs and 89 RBIs.

Her freshman season was particularly stellar. In 2017, Ellsworth led the Longhorns and the Big 12 conference in batting average (.394). She was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region first team, as well as the All-Big 12 first team and Big 12 All-Freshman team.

2022 draft pick

In the middle of Arkansas' regional game against Princeton, Ellsworth was selected in the United States Specialty Sports Association draft.

She was taken 10th overall by USSSA Pride as a catcher and utility player. The team is based in Viera, Florida, and is a member of the Women's Professional Fastpitch League.

Ellsworth joined first baseman Danielle Gibson as the second Razorback drafted this season. Gibson was one of 13 players taken in the Athletes Unlimited draft on May 4.

Thriving in the SEC

Ellsworth is one of the best hitters on an Arkansas team that leads the SEC in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and home runs.

Ellsworth appears frequently on the SEC's individual leaderboards. She was tied for seventh-most RBIs in the league with 53, behind teammates Gibson and Linnie Malkin, entering the super regional. Her 15 doubles were tied for fifth-most in the conference.

On the defensive side, Ellsworth had the third-most putouts in the league this season (382), and the eight runners she caught stealing put her at seventh in the SEC.

Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You can email her at clong@swtimes.com or follow her on Twitter @christinalong00.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas softball catcher Taylor Ellsworth: 3 facts on Texas transfer