Arkansas Sweeps First Day of Wooo Pig Classic

Fayetteville, Ark. – The No. 11/12 Arkansas Razorbacks earned a pair of run-rule victories by defeating Iowa (9-0, 5 inn.) and Illinois (12-4, 6 inn.) on the opening night of the Wooo Pig Classic at Bogle Park.

Arkansas has earned run-rule victories in 12 of its 16 games this season, marking just the fourth time in program history that the Hogs have earned 12 or more run-rule wins in a season. The Razorbacks previously accomplished the feat in 2014 (16), 2022 (15) and 2023 (14).

Both contests ended with home runs. Kailey Wyckoff wrapped up the 9-0 win against Iowa with a two-run shot to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning, while Courtney Day’s grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning completed the 12-4 thumping of the Fighting Illini.

Robyn Herron (6-0) was masterful once again during the win over Iowa. Herron allowed just one hit while striking out six and walking one during the abbreviated complete-game shutout. It marked the fourth consecutive start in which Herron took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Kailey Wyckoff led the Hogs’ at the plate with a 2-3 day that featured a game-ending two-run home run, three runs scored and two walks.

In the win over Illinois, Courtney Day went 2-4 with a career-high six RBI, courtesy of a game-clinching grand slam and a two-run double. Reis Beuerlein earned her second win of the season after striking out a season-high 10 batters and allowing two earned runs over four innings of work.

IOWA

Pitching was dominant in the early innings of the Hogs’ and Hawkeyes’ matchup, as neither team recorded a hit in the first two innings of the game.

Herron retired her first nine batters faced while striking out three, highlighted by a diving catch from Johnson in deep left-center field followed by Raigan Kramer making an over the shoulder grab in nearly the same spot a batter later.

Reagan Johnson led off the bottom of the third with a walk before stealing second. Wyckoff and Bri Ellis followed with walks to load the bases for Day, who gave Arkansas a 1-0 lead with a bloop single to shallow center field. Atalyia Rijo and Ella McDowell extended the lead to three, courtesy of a sacrifice fly and RBI single, respectively.

Iowa got two runners on in the top of the fourth by way of a walk and hit batter, but that is all the Hawkeyes would muster off of Herron.

In the home half of the fourth, Arkansas loaded the bases with one out due to back-to-back singles from Johnson and Wyckoff and Ellis being hit by a pitch. Iowa starter Talia Tretton exited the game after taking a screaming line drive from Wyckoff off her left shoulder. Tretton was replaced by Jaylee Ojo, who issued three consecutive bases-loaded walks, which extended the Hogs’ lead to six before Raigan Kramer made it 7-0 with an RBI single down the left-field line.

Ojo faced just four batters before being replaced by Haley Downe, who would take it the rest of the way for Iowa.

Iowa would spoil Herron’s no-hit bid in the fifth inning with a one-out single up the middle from Tatianna Roman. Johnson walked in the bottom half before Wyckoff belted a two-run homer over the right-field wall to make it the final, 9-0 in favor of Arkansas.

Tretton (3-1) took the loss for Iowa after allowing five runs on four hits and five walks in 3.1 innings of work.

ILLINOIS

Reis Beuerlein struck out the side to open the game before Arkansas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead courtesy of Br Ellis hitting a mammoth two-run home run into the left-field parking lot in the bottom of the first inning.

Illinois (8-7) answered with a two-run home run in the top of the second from designated player Ella Cushing.

In the bottom of the second, Arkansas regained the lead courtesy of Karlie Davison’s RBI triple that scored Raigan Kramer, who reached previously on an infield single.

Following a 1-2-3 top half from Beuerlein, Kailey Wyckoff singled through the right side to lead off the bottom of the third before the Illini intentionally walked Bri Ellis, which ultimately backfired as Courtney Day laced a double into the left-center field gap to score two. Ella McDowell drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2 in favor of the Hogs.

Illinois added two runs courtesy of an Arkansas error with two outs in the fourth inning.

The Razorbacks (16-1) then put the game away by exploding for six runs in the bottom of the six. Kailey Wyckoff hit into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to drive in a run, while Reagan Johnson was able to reach second safely courtesy of an Illini error on the play. Ellis then drew her third walk of the contest to increase the Razorbacks’ lead to 8-4 before Courtney Day ended the game by hitting her first career grand slam to left field to make it the final, 12-4.

Beuerlein earned the win for Arkansas, improving to 2-0 on the season after collecting 10 strikeouts and allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk. Lauren Wiles fell to 4-2 for Illinois after allowing 12 runs (10 earned) on eight hits and five walks while striking out two.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

On the day…
“I was really happy with the day. Robyn (Herron) competed really well. We were kind of feeling it out in the beginning and it took us awhile to get things going. Robyn and our defense gave us that freedom to stay the course and let our offense start flowing. Raigan Kramer and Reagan Johnson made two outstanding catches in the outfield. Reagan Johnson’s may have been the best I have seen. It was incredible. That was the difference maker for us and then we just kinda stayed the course and took what they gave us. In game two we battled really well. I thought Reis Beuerlein was really good. Her stuff was electric today. She missed one pitch and I will put that on me more so than Reis. I thought she competed really well. Then Payton (Burnham) came in and shut the door. We made some flubs on defense, which is really not who we are … Our offense really got going at the end. Courtney Day was outstanding, she had six RBI. I am really pleased with the day. There are things we can do better and a lot of things we did really well.”

NOTABLES

• Arkansas is now 9-1 in season openers under Courtney Deifel and 25-4 all-time with an 18-3 mark at Bogle Park.
• Courtney Day had a career-high six RBI in the win over Illinois, four of which came on her first career grand slam.
• Reis Beuerlein’s 10 strikeouts in the win over Illinois were her most as a Razorback.
• Robyn Herron improved to 6-0 and has not allowed an earned run in her last 22 innings pitched.
• Arkansas is now 16-0 this season and 265-26 when outhitting opponents under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present).
• Reagan Johnson now ranks fifth in program history in career stolen bases with 38.

UP NEXT

The Razorbacks will face Iowa (3 p.m.) and Illinois (5:30 p.m.) again tomorrow. Both games will be televised on SEC Network+.

For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.