Beuerlein Tosses Perfect Game as Hogs Record Doubleheader Sweep of Colorado State
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.– Highlighted by the third perfect game in program history from junior Reis Beuerlein in the nightcap, the No. 10/11 Arkansas Razorbacks earned a pair of run-rule victories to sweep a doubleheader against Colorado State, 14-1 (5 inn.) and 8-0 (5 inn.) on Friday evening at Bogle Park.
Beuerlein etched her name into the history books alongside Mary Haff (March 11, 2022, vs. Maryland) and Robyn Herron (Feb. 24, 2024, vs. Illinois State) as the only pitchers to throw perfect games in program history. The Cave Creek, Ariz. native struck out two batters while using just 46 pitches to retire all of the 15 batters she faced. The final out of Beuerlein’s perfect game was highlighted by a diving catch from Arkansas second baseman Karlie Davison on a screaming line drive off the bat of Colorado State third baseman Kyra Smith.
Arkansas provided the scoring in Beuerlein’s perfect game by plating four runs in both the third and fifth innings. A two-run single from Kailey Wyckoff, in addition to an RBI fielder’s choice from Atalyia Rijo and an RBI single by Davison, provided runs in the third. Arkansas then completed the run-rule courtesy of Kennedy Miller walking with the bases loaded, an RBI single from Reagan Johnson and a sacrifice fly from Raigan Kramer that featured a throwing error, allowing the final two runs to score in the 8-0 triumph. With the win, Beuerlein improved to 3-0.
Wyckoff highlighted the Hogs at the plate in game two by going 2-2 with two RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Atalyia Rijo (2-3) also registered multiple hits in the win with a pair of singles, a run scored, and an RBI.
In game one, the Bogle Bombers lived up to their namesake by crushing three home runs while pounding out 10 hits, four of which came by the extra-base variety. Bri Ellis smashed her 22nd homer of the season to open the scoring in the first inning, moving into a tie with Linnie Malkin for the second most in a single season in program history. Kennedy Miller and Courtney Day highlighted a seven-run bottom of the second inning by smashing three-run home runs. Day’s was her 13th of the season, setting a new single-season career high. Miller led Arkansas with two hits in the victory, courtesy of a 2-2 day with two runs scored and three RBI, while Day drove in a game-high four runs.
Robyn Herron improved to 14-4 in the circle after striking out four and allowing just one run on two hits and a walk in three innings pitched. Cam Harrison then took it the rest of the way, striking out three and allowing two hits over two scoreless frames.
Arkansas improved its program record of run-rules in a season to 21 with the pair of victories.
Following the conclusion of game two, Bri Ellis was honored with the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) Golden Ticket, which is presented to players who will be selected in the upcoming AUSL draft on May 3.
GAME TWO
Reis Beuerlein made the start for Arkansas, while Colorado State went with Giselle Bentley.
Beuerlein retired Colorado State in order by way of a foul out and back-to-back strikeouts. Bentley responded with a 1-2-3 inning herself in the bottom half.
In the second inning, Beuerlein made it six straight retired. During the home half, Arkansas loaded the bases courtesy of walks from Wyckoff and Courtney Day and a single to center field by Rijo. However, Colorado State and Bentley would escape with a foul out and a pop out.
With one out in the bottom of the second, Raigan Kramer walked and then advanced to second on a single to shallow left field from Ellis. A walk by McDowell loaded the bases for Wyckoff, who would give Arkansas the early lead with a two-RBI single up the middle. Rijo increased the lead with an RBI fielder’s choice before an infield single from Karlie Davison made it 4-0.
Beuerlein disposed the Rams in order in the top of the fourth inning, running her streak of batters retired to a perfect 12. Bentley had a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half.
In the fifth, Beuerlein made it 15 consecutive batters retired, highlighted by Karlie Davison making a diving catch at second base for the final out of the frame.
Wyckoff singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth before Day walked and Atalyia Rijo singled to load the bases. Jayden Wells entered as a pinch runner for Day following the walk. Kennedy Miller then drew a one-out walk to drive in a run. Reagan Johnson made it 6-0 with an RBI single up the middle a batter later. Arkansas earned the run-rule walk-off on a sacrifice fly from Raigan Kramer that scored the seventh run before Colorado State center fielder Autumn Rutherford threw the ball away trying to throw out Jayden Wells at third on the same play, which allowed Wells to scamper home and score the eighth and final run of the game to complete the doubleheader sweep and Beuerlein’s perfect game.
GAME ONE
Robyn Herron made her 17th start of the season for Arkansas, while the Rams started Reagan Wick for the 20th time this season.
Herron opened the ballgame with a pair of strikeouts before Ataylia Rijo made an impressive 6-3 putout deep in the hole at shortstop to complete a 1-2-3 inning.
Reagan Johnson led off the bottom of the first with a single. Following a double play, Bri Ellis stepped to the plate and crushed a solo home run to center field, marking her team-leading 22nd of the season, to put Arkansas ahead 1-0. Ella McDowell followed with a walk before Kailey Wyckoff drove her home with a double to right-center field.
The Rams’ Jailey Wilson doubled to lead off the second inning, but that was all CSU would get as Herron retired the next three, capping the frame with her third strikeout of the day.
Atalyia Rijo singled to lead off the home half of the second before advancing to second on a walk by Karlie Davison. Kennedy Miller then gave the Hogs a 5-0 lead with a three-run round-tripper to left-center field. McDowell added insurance with an RBI single up the middle before Courtney Day extended the lead to 9-0 with a three-run home run to center field.
Bri Ellis highlighted the top of the third with a diving play at first base for the first out of the inning. Colorado State would get on the scoreboard with two outs in the stanza courtesy of an RBI double from Autumn Rutherford.
Walks by Davison and pinch-hitter Carlee Ratcliff and a single from Miller loaded the bases for Arkansas with no outs in the bottom of the third. Jayden Ramos hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track to make it 10-1 in favor of the hosts. Following a McDowell Walk, Ramsey Walker singled to right field to drive in a run and push the lead to 12-1. The single was Walker’s first career hit. Arkansas then added two more on a bases-loaded walk from Day and a sacrifice fly to the shortstop in shallow center field from Ava Carter.
Cam Harrison relieved Herron in the fourth inning and threw a scoreless inning while allowing one to reach after hitting a batter.
The Rams kept the Razorbacks off the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Harrison and Ellis both walked in the frame.
Harrison closed out the contest with a scoreless fifth inning that featured two Rams reaching by way of a single and an error.
QUOTABLES
Arkansas Pitcher Reis Beuerlein
On her perfect game…
“It was really exciting seeing Jayden (Wells) score that final run once the ball got past the third baseman. I was really excited for my team another run-rule win was huge for us to take the two from them today. It was exciting in all facets to have a win but also to know that I threw a perfect game.”
On the defense…
“Our defense is lights out. We have the best defense in the country so I am blessed to be able to play with a bunch of girls behind me who are lights out all the time. That perfect game does not happen without them. You can tell by the numbers it is not like I pitched a bunch of strikeouts it was a lot of balls in play where they made plays behind me.”
NOTABLES
- Reis Beuerlein threw the third perfect game in program history joining Mary Haff (March 11, 2022, vs. Maryland) and Robyn Herron (Feb. 24, 2024, vs. Illinois State) as the only Arkansas pitchers to accomplish the feat.
- Bri Ellis hit her league-leading 22nd home run of the season. The first-inning solo homer was the 70th of her career which leads all active NCAA players. Her average currently sits at .490.
- Bri Ellis moved into a tie for second place in single-seasons home runs (22) with Linnie Malkin (2022) she is three homers away from tying the single-season program record which is 25 set by Braxton Burnside in 2021. She also moved into a tie with Rylin Hedgecock for the third most RBI in a single season with 62. She is eight RBI away from the program record of 70 set by Danielle Gibson in 2022.
- Courtney Day recorded her 40th career multi-RBI game with four RBI in the 14-1 win while setting a new single-season career high in homer with 13.
- Kennedy Miller hit her third home run this season and the 11th of her career.
- Kennedy Miller became the first catcher in program history to catch multiple perfect games as she was behind the plate for Robyn Herron’s perfect game against Illinois State on Feb. 24, 2024.
- Arkansas is now 33-2 when outhitting opponents this season and 282-27 when outhitting opponents under Courtney Deifel (since 2016).
- The Razorbacks have earned 21 run-rule victories this season.
- The Razorbacks have not committed an error in 29 of their 43 games this season. Arkansas is 169-46 when not committing an error under Courtney Deifel.
UP NEXT
Arkansas (34-9, 10-8 SEC) will be back in action next weekend when the Razorbacks travel to College Station, Texas for a three-game SEC series with No. 1 Texas A&M. Game times are set for 6 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday and Noon on Sunday. The first two games of the series will be broadcast on SEC Network+ while the series finale will be televised on SEC Network.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
