Burnham Tosses No-Hitter as No. 3/4 Hogs Down Saint Louis, 10-0
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind a no-hitter from freshman Payton Burnham and a career-high five RBI from junior Kailey Wyckoff, the No. 3/4 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Saint Louis, 10-0 (5 inn.) in the Hogs’ NCAA Regional opener on Friday night at Bogle Park.
Burnham was magnificent during her first collegiate no-hitter, using only 66 pitches to retire 15 of her 17 batters faced while striking out six and walking one during five innings of work. With the victory, Burnham improved to 14-2 on the season.
The 10-0 five-inning blanking marked the Razorbacks’ fifth-straight NCAA Regional opener victory and was the 22nd win by run-rule this season, which is a program record.
Arkansas jumped on Saint Louis early by pounding out five runs on four hits and four walks to take a 5-0 lead in the first. The Hogs would then add a run in the second inning and four runs in the bottom of the fourth, three of which came off a bases-clearing double from Wyckoff.
Wyckoff led the Razorbacks (41-12) at the plate with a 3-3 day that featured a double, two singles, two runs scored and a career-high five RBI. She tied an Arkansas NCAA Tournament record in both hits and RBI. She holds the single-game tournament hits record with 10 others while joining Danielle Gibson as the only Razorbacks to drive in five runs in an NCAA tournament game. Gibson accomplished the feat on May 20, 2022, in an 11-0 win over Princeton. Kennedy Miller also highlighted the Hogs’ offensive outburst with two RBI courtesy of a two-run single in the bottom of the first inning.
Taylor Hochman (16-8) took the loss in the Billikens’ (34-23) first NCAA Tournament contest in program history by allowing 10 runs on seven hits and seven walks in 3.1 innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the circle, Arkansas started freshman Payton Burnham for the 18th time while Saint Louis went with senior Taylor Hochman, who made her 31st start of the season.
Burnham fanned the Billikens’ Natalie Sullivan to open the game. She then completed the 1-2-3 inning by issuing a groundout and a strikeout.
Reagan Johnson singled down the third-base line to lead off the home half for the Razorbacks. Johnson then stole second with one out before Bri Ellis drew her 59th walk of the season. A batter later, Courtney Day walked to load the bases. After Day’s walk, Kailey Wyckoff gave the Hogs a 1-0 lead with a single through the right side. Ella McDowell followed with a bases-loaded walk, bringing in another run. A two-RBI single from Kennedy Miller made it 4-0 Arkansas with just one out in the inning. Karlie Davison brought home another with a line-drive single to left field. Following Davison’s single, Saint Louis ended the inning with a 6-5 double play.
Burnham made it six straight Billikens retired in the second inning courtesy of a strikeout, groundout and flyout.
Raigan Kramer singled through the right side to start the bottom of the second before coming around to score on a single by Wyckoff, making it 6-0.
Neither team got on the scoreboard in the third inning. The Billikens’ Allie Marietta was the lone baserunner in the frame after drawing a walk.
Burnham used three groundouts to retire Saint Louis in order during the top of the fourth.
Walks by Kramer and Ellis, in addition to an error, loaded the bases for Arkansas with no outs in the bottom of the fourth. Wyckoff stepped to the plate and crushed a bases-clearing double into left-center field before Atalyia Rijo made it 10-0 with a single up the middle that brought home Wyckoff with two outs.
In the top of the fifth, Burnham issued a groundout for the first out of the inning. Chloe Rhine was then hit by a pitch, becoming the second baserunner of the game for Saint Louis. Burnham wrapped up the victory by getting Anna Christ to strike out swinging for the second out before catching Marietta looking to complete her first collegiate no-hitter.
QUOTABLES
Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel
Opening statement…
“I am really proud of the team and the way they came out in their first game here. Payton (Burnham) and our defense set a really good tone in the first inning. Our offense carried that momentum and did an incredible job of taking what they gave us and being ready. It was a complete effort. I am really proud of Payton for a no-hitter. It is really exciting as a freshman to come into your first postseason game at Bogle and just really trust your stuff and defense. Kailey (Wyckoff) was incredible. I am really proud of our team.”
NOTABLES
- Payton Burnham threw her first collegiate no-hitter which was the 17th in program history and third this season. The Hogs’ three no-hitters this season are the most in program history. It was the first no-hitter in program history during the NCAA Tournament.
- Arkansas registered its 22nd run-rule win of the season, improving its program record.
- Kailey Wyckoff tied a career-high with three hits in the win while setting a single-game career-high with five RBI. Her three hits and five RBI tied an Arkansas NCAA Tournament program record. 10 others have registered three or more hits while Danielle Gibson is the only other player in program history to drive in five runs in a game, accomplishing the feat on May 20, 2022, in an 11-0 run-rule win over Princeton.
- Arkansas has now won five-straight NCAA Regional openers dating back to 2021. The Razorbacks are 21-26 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 14-14 mark under Courtney Deifel.
- Bri Ellis scored her 62nd run of the season which is tied for second-most in program history joining, Jessica Bachkora who accomplished the feat in 2010.
- Courtney Day extended her career-best reach-based streak to 16 games courtesy of a walk.
- Bri Ellis became just the second player in program history to record 60+ walks in a season, joining Devon Wallace who walked 79 times in 2013.
- Reagan Johnson increased her reached-base streak to 12 games with a first-inning single.
UP NEXT
Arkansas (41-12) will continue NCAA Regional play by facing Oklahoma State (34-18) on Saturday at Noon.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
