Arkansas Falls to Oklahoma in SEC Tournament Semifinals
ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 6/7 Arkansas Razorbacks fell in their SEC semifinal matchup to No. 2 Oklahoma as a walk-off three-run home run from Sooner shortstop Gabbie Garcia provided the game’s final runs in an 8-6 loss to the Sooners on Friday afternoon during day four of the SEC Tournament at Jack Turner Stadium.
Arkansas raced out to a 6-2 lead through the first three innings, highlighted by a two-run home run from outfielder Kailey Wyckoff in the top of the third. Oklahoma would then hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning and add a solo shot in the sixth before Garcia walked it off with the three-run blast in the bottom of the seventh.
Wyckoff led the Razorbacks at the plate with a 3-4 day that featured a pair of singles in addition to her two-run blast. Karlie Davison also recorded multiple hits for the Hogs, including a double and a single, while playing stellar defense at second base (6 assists, 2 putouts).
Audry Lowry (6-0) earned the win for Oklahoma (45-7) after throwing three perfect innings in relief for Oklahoma, while Robyn Herron (2.0, IP 4 H, 4 R) took the loss for Arkansas, falling to 17-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the circle, Arkansas started freshman Payton Burnham for the 17th time while Oklahoma turned to left-hander Kierston Deal.
Reagan Johnson opened the game with a lead-off single into shallow left-center field. Raigan Kramer followed with a walk to put two on with no outs. Courtney Day then walked with one out to load the bases. Kailey Wyckoff singled through the right side a batter later to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead. Ella McDowell then brought home another run with a sacrifice fly on a line drive to center field.
Burnham kept Oklahoma off the scoreboard in the first inning, retiring three of her four batters. The only blemish was a bloop single from the Sooners’ Nicole McEnroe-Marinas.
Karlie Davison doubled off the wall in left-center field with one out in the top of the second before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt from Johnson. Arkansas then increased its lead to 3-0 on an infield single from Kramer. Isabella Smith entered in relief of Deal with two outs in the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Oklahoma got on the board courtesy of a solo shot from Sydney Barker.
In the top of the third, Arkansas answered with a two-run home run from Kailey Wyckoff off the scoreboard in right field, extending the lead to 5-1. Day scored on the round-tripper after leading off the inning with a walk. McDowell singled to center field and advanced to second on a groundout by Kennedy Miller. McDowell moved to third on a single from Atalyia Rijo before scoring on a passed ball. Davison then singled through the left side, which caused Oklahoma to make a pitching change and bring in Paytn Monticelli, who would escape the frame without further damage.
Oklahoma made it 6-2 on a solo homer from Ella Parker in the home half.
Wyckoff singled through the left side for her third hit of the game in the top of the fourth before moving to second on a walk by Ella McDowell. Wyckoff moved to third on a long flyout by Kennedy Miller, but Oklahoma would escape the inning and keep Arkansas off the board for the first time in the game with a flyout.
Davison turned an impressive 4-3 double play in the bottom of the fourth for the first two outs. Oklahoma then cut the Hogs’ lead to 6-4 with back-to-back home runs from Barker and Isabela Emerling. Reis Beuerlein entered in relief and issued a flyout for the final out of the inning.
In the fifth, Oklahoma brought in Audrey Lowry, who would pitch the rest of the game. Davison reached base for the third time in as many chances by walking to lead off the inning. In the bottom half, the Sooners’ Ella Parker doubled off the wall in left-center field and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. A walk then put runners on the corners before Arkansas made a pitching change and brought in Robyn Herron who would issue a strikeout before McDowell made a diving stop on smoked ground ball from the Sooners’ Cydney Sanders before firing a throw across the diamond that Bri Ellis picked from the dirt to record the out and end any chance of an Oklahoma rally.
The Razorbacks were retired in order during the top of the sixth inning. In the home half, Oklahoma cut the Hogs’ lead to 6-5 on its fifth solo home run of the day, this time from Aliana Agbayani to lead off the frame. Herron then issued a strikeout, groundout and strikeout to retire the next three Sooners and preserve the Arkansas lead.
Arkansas was retired in order during the top of the seventh inning. Kasidi Pickering led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single through the right side. Herron got Ella Parker to ground into a fielder’s choice at second base. A double by McEnroe-Marinas put runners on second and third with one out. Oklahoma then won it on a walk-off three-run home run by Gabbie Garcia, to make it the final 8-6.
QUOTABLES
Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel
Opening statement…
“I’m just proud of our fight today. It didn’t go our way. We had a lot of momentum early, gave it away, we didn’t really grab it back, and OU got the better of us today. But I’m proud of our fight. I know that today is going to make us even more ready for what’s to come and hungrier for what’s to come. And then I also just want to say thanks to Georgia. This has been a top-notch event, and it’s always fun to compete in the SEC, and they did it right. So, thank you.”
On the offensive game plan and how they were able to execute right away…
“We had a game plan for each pitcher, and I think that they committed to that and did an exceptional job and then made really quick adjustments as they started working through their arms. Our adjustability was great, and we ran into [Audrey] Lowry, and she had to shut us down there. But that was the plan. We have individual plans for each of their arms, and they did a really good job of executing that today.”
NOTABLES
- Kailey Wyckoff tied a career-high with three hits in the loss while hitting her sixth homer of the season and knocking in a season-high three runs.
- Courtney Day extended her career-best reach-based streak to 15 games courtesy of a walk.
- Karlie Davison recorded her 19th career multi-hit game.
UP NEXT
Arkansas (40-12) will find out its NCAA Regional pairings on Sunday at 6 p.m. during the NCAA Selection Show on ESPN2.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
