Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind a herculean complete-game effort in the circle from Robyn Herron and multiple individuals stepping up throughout the lineup, the No. 10/12 Arkansas Razorback softball team earned a series victory by defeating No. 10/11 South Carolina in a 5-4 thriller on Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park.
Herron finished what she started in one of the wildest endings to a Razorback Softball game in recent memory. With one out and Arkansas leading 5-4 in the top of the seventh inning and runners on first and second base for South Carolina, Herron snagged a screaming line drive off the bat of the Gamecocks’ Arianna Rodi before immediately throwing to first base to catch the retreating base runner and complete a game-ending 1-3 double play.
Arkansas scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Bri Ellis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home Kasey Wood, who entered as a pinch runner after Cam Harrison’s pinch-hit single with two outs in the inning. In addition to Harrison’s single, Reagan Johnson singled and Raigan Kramer drew a walk to set the table for Ellis’ hit-by-pitch.
The Razorbacks’ previous four runs came off a two-run home run from Atalyia Rijo in the bottom of the second inning, her fifth of the season, a wild pitch that scored Ella McDowell in the third and a solo home run from Karlie Davison in the bottom of the fourth. South Carolina’s four runs came courtesy of a two-run homer from Ella Chancey in the top of the second inning, in addition to a fielder’s choice RBI from Lexi Winters and an RBI single from Chancey in the top third inning.
Herron used a gutsy 122-pitch performance to go the distance after throwing a six-inning complete game on Friday and 1 2/3 innings of relief on Saturday. The left-handed ace stuck out seven and allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks. After allowing a pair of runs in the second and third innings, the Tampa, Fla., product spun four consecutive frames to finish the game and improve to 13-4 on the season.
Johnson led Arkansas at the plate and extended her team-best hitting streak to 10 games with a 3-4 day. McDowell also registered multiple hits in the win with a 2-4 effort and a run scored. Rijo, Davison, and Harrison rounded out the hit column for Arkansas (31-9, 10-8 SEC) courtesy of a two-run home run, a solo shot, and a pinch-hit single, respectively. Kramer and Courtney Day both registered a pair of walks each in the victory.
Sam Gress (5-4) took the loss for the Gamecocks (32-10, 7-8 SEC), allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Robyn Herron made her 16th start of the season for Arkansas, while Gamecocks went with Jori Heard.
Herron used just four pitches to get through the first inning, retiring the Gamecocks with a pair of lineouts and a flyout.
Reagan Johnson led off the bottom half with a bunt single for Arkansas. Ella McDowell then singled down the third-base line to move Johnson to third base, but South Carolina would escape the inning without damage courtesy of a foul out near the left-field warning track.
South Carolina struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning. Lexi Winters was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Ella Chancey smashed a two-run home run over the wall in center field. Following a walk, Ataylia Rijo and Karlie Davison turned an impressive 6-4-3 double play. Herron then issued a strikeout to end the inning.
Arkansas tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning courtesy of a two-run home run to left field from Atalyia Rijo. Courtney Day scored on Rijo’s two-run shot after leading off the inning with a walk. With two outs, Johnson reached on an infield single, which prompted South Carolina to make a pitching change and bring in Nealy Lamb, who would issue a groundout to end the inning.
A pair of walks and a double loaded the bases for South Carolina in the third inning. The Gamecocks would then take a 4-2 lead courtesy of a fielder’s choice and RBI single from Chancey.
McDowell singled through the left side with one out in the home half of the third before coming around to score on a wild pitch with two outs, cutting the Gamecocks’ lead to 4-3. Following the wild pitch, Day drew her second walk of the game before South Carolina made a pitching change and brought in Sam Gress, who would take it the rest of the way.
In the fourth inning, Herron retired South Carolina in order while striking out two. Karlie Davison tied the game at 4-4 with a mammoth solo home run to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning. Raigan Kramer also walked during the frame.
Herron ran her streak of consecutive batters retired to six in the fifth inning, highlighted by her snagging a screaming line drive from South Carolina first baseman Arianna Rodi for the final out of the inning. Gress retired the Hogs in order in the bottom of the fifth.
South Carolina threatened with two outs in the top of the sixth inning courtesy of back-to-back singles followed by a stolen base to put runners on second and third, but Herron was able to strike out the Gamecocks’ Emma Sellers to end the inning.
Freshman Cam Harrison kickstarted Arkansas in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out pinch-hit single in center field. Kasey Wood entered as a pinch runner for Harrison following the base hit. Johnson slapped a single to through the left side to put two on before Kramer drew her second walk of the day to load the bases. B ri Ellis then stepped to the plate and was hit by a 1-2 pitch on the elbow to drive in the go-ahead run and give Arkansas a 5-4 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, Herron issued a 5-3 groundout for the first out of the frame. Back-to-back singles from Lilio and Shelton put runners on first and second for South Carolina. Herron then snagged a smoked line drive off the bat of Rodi and immediately threw out Shelton, who was retreating to first base, to complete the 1-3 double play and series win.
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Conway, Ark. for a 5 p.m. midweek battle with UCA.
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