The No. 12/14 Arkansas Razorbacks set a new program milestone with their 17th run-rule victory of the season, securing a dominant 10-2, five-inning win over Kentucky at Bogle Park on Saturday afternoon. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 16 run-rule wins set by the 2014 Razorbacks. With the series-clinching victory, Arkansas has now won back-to-back SEC series and will aim for a sweep against Kentucky in the finale on Sunday at noon.
The Razorbacks’ offense came out strong for the second consecutive game. In the first inning, Bri Ellis put Arkansas on the board with a sacrifice fly, followed by a two-run home run from Courtney Day—her 12th of the season. The momentum continued into the second inning as Kailey Wyckoff drove in a run with an RBI single, Ella McDowell added a two-run single, and Atalyia Rijo contributed a sacrifice fly, extending the lead with a four-run frame. Ellis provided further insurance in the fourth inning with her 18th home run of the year, a towering solo shot that cleared the left-field gate and landed in the parking lot.
Arkansas sealed the run-rule win in the fifth when Karlie Davison launched a solo homer, and Raigan Kramer capped off the game with an RBI single to right field.
Ellis (1-for-2, SF, HR, 1 R), Day (1-for-2, HR, 2 R), and McDowell (1-for-2) each drove in two runs, while Reagan Johnson (2-for-4, 2 R) and Raigan Kramer (2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) fueled the lineup with multi-hit performances.
Junior left-hander Robyn Herron improved her record to 10-3 after striking out five and allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk over four innings. Reis Beuerlein pitched a clean fifth inning, retiring the side without allowing a hit and notching a strikeout.
For the second straight game, Arkansas (25-7, 5-6 SEC) forced Kentucky’s starting pitcher out of the game in the first inning. Sarah Haendiges took the loss for the Wildcats (21-14, 5-6 SEC), dropping to 7-3 after surrendering three runs on three hits and two walks in just 0.2 innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Arkansas’ Robyn Herron made her 13th start of the season, while Kentucky countered with Sarah Haendiges in the circle.
Herron needed just five pitches to retire the Wildcats in the top of the first, recording a lineout, popout, and groundout.
In the bottom half, Reagan Johnson led off with a single through the left side and advanced to third on a throwing error. A batter later, Raigan Kramer drew her 99th career walk. Bri Ellis then brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly before Courtney Day crushed a two-run homer to center field, giving the Razorbacks a 3-0 advantage.
For the second consecutive game, Kentucky’s starting pitcher didn’t make it out of the first inning. Haendiges was pulled after Day’s home run and replaced by Sydney Langdon, who lasted 0.2 innings before Julie Kelley took over for the final 3.1 innings.
Kentucky responded in the second inning with an RBI single from Karissa Hamilton to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, Arkansas answered back with a four-run bottom half. Kailey Wyckoff drove in a run with an RBI single, Ella McDowell followed with a two-run single, and Atalyia Rijo added a sacrifice fly, extending the Razorbacks’ lead to 7-1. Johnson and Kramer both singled earlier in the inning and later crossed the plate.
Herron continued to dominate, tossing scoreless third and fourth innings while recording three strikeouts and allowing just two hits and a walk.
Arkansas added another run in the fourth when Ellis launched her 18th home run of the season, sending the first pitch she saw from Kelley deep into the left-field parking lot.
Kentucky threatened in the fifth with back-to-back singles from Ally Hutchins and Allie Blum, forcing Arkansas to bring in Reis Beuerlein in relief of Herron. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Beuerlein notched a strikeout for the second out. Peyton Plotts then made it an 8-2 game with a sacrifice fly to left field, but Beuerlein minimized the damage by inducing a groundout to McDowell at third to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Karlie Davison belted her second home run of the season, sending a 2-2 pitch over the left-field fence. Carlee Ratcliff followed with a pinch-hit single and was replaced by pinch-runner Kasey Wood. With two outs, Kramer delivered the final blow, ripping an RBI single to right field to secure the 10-2 run-rule victory.
