Reagan Johnson (Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas)
ATHENS, Ga. – Behind a grand slam from senior outfielder Raigan Kramer and a complete-game outing from junior pitcher Robyn Herron, the No. 6/7 Arkansas Razorback softball team defeated Tennessee, 6-1, on Thursday afternoon during day three of the SEC Tournament at Jack Turner Stadium.
With Arkansas ahead 2-1 and the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, Kramer stepped to the plate and crushed the first pitch she saw from Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens over the wall in right-center field to give the Hogs a 6-1 lead that they would not relinquish. The grand slam was Kramer’s second of her collegiate career and first since May 19, 2023, when she hit one in an NCAA regional triumph over Harvard.
Herron outdueled Pickens for the second time this season by throwing her 22nd career complete game. The Tampa product struck out nine while allowing just one unearned run on six hits during her seven innings of work to improve to 17-5.
Kramer (2-4, GS, 4 RBI, 2 R), Ellis (2-4, 2B, R) and Johnson (2-4, R) all registered multiple hits while Karlie Davison (1-3, R) singled in the victory for Arkansas.
Pickens (20-8) took the loss for Tennessee (40-14) after allowing seven runs on six hits while striking out 10 during a complete-game effort.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams went with their aces as Robyn Herron got the ball for Arkansas and Karlyn Pickens started for Tennessee.
In the first inning, Pickens retired Arkansas in order while registering two strikeouts. Herron struck out two while facing the minimum in the bottom of the first.
Courtney Day became the game’s first baserunner by reaching on a leadoff walk in the top of the second.
Herron made it six straight Lady Vols retired with a 1-2-3 bottom of the second that featured an inning-ending strikeout.
The Lady Vols’ Alannah Leach reached on an infield single in the bottom of the third inning, accounting for the game’s first hit. Leach would then be thrown out attempting to steal second base by Kennedy Miller before Herron would fan the next two batters to end the frame.
Arkansas struck first with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Raigan Kramer led off the inning with an infield single before advancing to third on a double by Bri Ellis. Kailey Wyckoff smashed a ground ball to second base that the Lady Vols’ Ella Dodge fielded and threw to the plate to catch Kramer in a rundown. Tennessee catcher Sophia Nugent then overthrew third base, trying to throw out Kramer, which allowed both Kramer and Ellis to score, giving Arkansas a 2-0 lead.
Taylor Pannell reached on a fielding error for Tennessee in the bottom of the fourth, becoming the lone baserunner of the stanza.
Reagan Johnson singled with two outs in the top of the fifth. Laura Mealer reached on an infield single in the bottom half for Tennessee.
In the sixth inning, Arkansas went down in order during the top half. Tennessee added a run in the bottom of the frame courtesy of an infield single from Taylor Pannell. With one out and a runner on second, Johnson made a phenomenal leaping catch at the wall in center field to rob Nugent of a likely extra-base hit to preserve the Razorbacks’ lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, Ella McDowell reached on an error and was replaced by Miller at first base by way of a fielder’s choice. Ava Carter then entered the game as a pinch runner for Miller. Arkansas loaded the bases due to back-to-back singles from Karlie Davison and Johnson. Kramer then stepped to the plate and put the game away by crushing the first pitch she saw from Pickens over the wall in right-center field for a grand slam, making it the final 6-1.
Herron wrapped up the complete game by tossing a scoreless seventh inning in which she allowed one single.
UP NEXT
Arkansas (40-11) will be back in action Friday against Oklahoma (44-7) at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.
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