Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas
RUSTON, La. – The No. 13 Arkansas Razorbacks improved to 7-0 courtesy of a pair of run-rule victories over ULM (11-2, 6 inn.) and Louisiana Tech (9-1, 5 inn.) on Friday evening at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field on the Hogs’ opening day of the LA Tech Classic.
The 7-0 start is the Razorbacks fourth in program history and third under head coach Courtney Deifel. Arkansas previously started 7-0 in 2013, 2017 and 2018.
In the win over ULM, Freshman right-hander Payton Burnham improved to 3-0 by allowing just two hits and a run while striking out four and walking three in four innings of work. Courtney Day led the Razorbacks with three RBI courtesy of a three-run shot to left field and Atalyia Rijo hit her first round-tripper of the year, both of which highlighted a six-run third inning. Reagan Johnson (2-5, 2 R), Kailey Wyckoff (2-4, RBI, 1 R), Ella McDowell (2-3, 2 RBI) and Bri Ellis (2-2, 2B, RBI, 1 R, 2 BB) all registered two hits each in the win. Cam Harrison and McDowell also drove in two runs apiece.
In the nightcap against LA Tech, the Razorbacks took full advantage of a Bulldog error with one out in the first by plating five runs after the miscue on four hits, an additional error and a walk. Offensively, Ellis (2-3, HR, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI), Miller (2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R), Day (2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI) and Rijo (2-2, RBI) highlighted the Razorbacks efforts. Robyn Herron was magnificent in the circle, throwing an abbreviated complete game and fanning seven batters while allowing only one run on three hits and a walk during her five innings pitched.
GAME ONE
Outside of a McDowell single and walks from Ellis and Day for Arkansas and a walk from Brooklin Lippert and a single from Morgan Brown of ULM, offense was at a premium in the first two innings of play with the Warhawks.
The Razorbacks bats came alive in the top of the third inning. Rijo led off the inning with a towering solo home run to right field. Johnson followed with a single and then scored on an RBI double from Ellis after stealing second and moving to third on a groundout to make it 2-0. Miller added a run with an RBI single to third base. Day then extended the Razorbacks’ lead to 6-0 courtesy of a mammoth three-run home run into the parking lot well beyond the left field fence.
The Hogs added two more in the top of the fourth by way of RBI singles from Wyckoff and McDowell, respectively.
A steady downpour made conditions tough for pitchers on both sides in the fifth inning.
Rylee Cloud walked to lead off the top of the fifth before the game was halted for nearly seven minutes due to a rain delay. Following the quick break in action, Rijo drew a walk and Wyckoff loaded the bases with a single to right field. A bases-loaded sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of McDowell scored Cloud to give Arkansas a 9-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth, Cam Harrison entered in relief of Burnham following a walk from Kelsey Kovar and a single by Layla Thompson to put a pair of runners on for ULM with no outs. The Warhawks would extend the game for the time being later in the inning courtesy of an RBI single and a throwing error on the same play, which made it 9-2 in favor of Arkansas.
In the top of the sixth, Raigan Kramer and Karlie Davison reached courtesy of a walk and being hit by a pitch. Cam Harrison then helped her cause by ripping a two-run double into the right-centerfield gap to make it the final 11-2 before allowing just one runner to reach during the bottom of the sixth to wrap up the victory.
GAME TWO
The Razorbacks took full advantage of a Bulldog throwing error with one out in the top of the first inning on a ground ball that allowed Kailey Wyckoff to reach.
Following the error, Ellis drove in Wyckoff with a double down the left-field line before scoring herself on a single up the middle from Day. Kramer drew a walk to put two on with two outs for Miller, who singled to left field to load the bases. All runners advanced as Day came across to score on a wild pitch from LA Tech freshman Ryleigh Shull, which gave the Hogs a 3-0 lead. Following the wild pitch, Rijo delivered with a ground ball single through the right side which scored two, extending the lead to five.
LA Tech first baseman Reagan Marchant blasted a solo shot to center field to lead off the bottom of the second, trimming the Hogs’ lead to 5-1.
The home run would be the only damage that Herron and Arkansas would encounter as the Razorbacks added a run in the third on a Kennedy Miller ground out before plating two in the fifth on a Bri Ellis home run that brought home Wyckoff who reached on a single and one in the sixth courtesy of a solo home run from Kennedy Miller.
Herron retired the Bulldogs in order in the first and fourth innings while fanning seven on her way to her second win of the season. Shull took the loss for LA Tech in her first career collegiate start despite allowing five unearned runs on four hits, two errors and a walk in her one inning of action.
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks will be back in action Saturday at the LA Tech Classic against Southern Miss at 11 a.m.
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