Ellis’ Career Day Lifts Hogs to 12-4 win over Southern Miss

RUSTON, La. – Behind a career-high five RBI and two home runs from senior first baseman Bri Ellis, the No. 13 Arkansas Razorbacks improved to 8-0 with a 12-4 (6 inn.) run-rule triumph over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second day of the LA Tech Classic on Saturday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

Ellis paced the Razorbacks’ offense with a 2-3 day at the plate while driving in five runs courtesy of a three-run homer in the bottom of the first and a two-run shot in the third inning. It was Ellis’ first multi-home run game as a Razorback and the fourth of her collegiate career. In addition to leaving the yard twice, she also drew a walk in the contest.

The victory also marked the 350th career win for Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel.

The 8-0 start is the Razorbacks’ third in program history, all of which have come under Deifel. Arkansas previously started 8-0 in both 2017 and 2018.

For the third straight game, the Razorbacks reached double-digits in the hit column en route to a run-rule victory as five Hogs collected multiple hits in the contest. Kailey Wyckoff (2-5, 1 R), Ella McDowell (2-4, HR, RBI, 2 R), Courtney Day (2-2, R, 2 HBP) and Raigan Kramer (2-2, 2 R, BB) also collected multiple hits in addition to Ellis.

Lexi King earned the win for Arkansas by tossing 2.1 scoreless innings of relief and retiring eight out of nine batters faced, with the only blemish being a fifth-inning double from Jana Lee and a hit batter. Reis Beuerlein (3.2 IP, 4 K, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 BB) started the contest for Arkansas and exited with a lead but did receive credit for the victory as the starting pitcher must throw four or more innings in a game of six or more innings to be eligible for a win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Reis Beuerlein made her second start of the season for Arkansas, while Southern Miss went with its left-handed ace, Jana Lee.

The Golden Eagles scored in the first to take the early 1-0 lead courtesy of a hit batter and an infield single from center fielder Natalie Taylor.

Reagan Johnson led off the bottom of the first inning with a perfectly executed drag bunt and then advanced to second on a single by Kailey Wyckoff before moving to third on a flyout by Ella McDowell. Wyckoff would put herself in scoring position with a stolen base one pitch later. Bri Ellis gave Arkansas a lead they would not relinquish with a three-run home run to centerfield, her fifth of the season.  Back-to-back singles by Courtney Day and Raigan Kramer put two on for Atalyia Rijo, who promptly doubled into left-center field to drive in both Day and Kramer, extending the Arkansas lead to 5-1.

Lee only recorded one out before being pulled from the game. She would be credited with the loss after allowing five runs on six hits.

Ella McDowell added insurance with a solo home run to straight-away center field in the top of the second. Following McDowell’s second homer of the year, Ellis, Day and Kramer all reached by way of a walk, hit-by-pitch and a walk sequentially. Rijo followed with a bases-loaded walk to increase the Hogs’ lead to 7-1.

Beuerlein spun a 1-2-3 third inning courtesy of a strikeout and a pair of groundouts.

In the bottom half, Wyckoff went with the outside pitch and doubled into the left-center field gap for her second hit of the game. McDowell grounded into a fielder’s choice to replace Wyckoff at first.  Ellis then stepped to the plate and blasted a line drive over the wall in left field for her second home run of the contest and team-leading sixth round-tripper this season.

Southern Miss answered for three runs in the fourth inning courtesy of a two-run home run from Maddie Weeks and an RBI single from Claire Ginder to make it 9-4. Lexi King entered the circle in place of Beuerlein with two outs in the inning.

Both teams were kept off the board in the fifth inning. McDowell was the lone baserunner for the Hogs after doubling to left field.

Day was hit by her second pitch of the contest to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Spencer Prigge pinch-ran for Day and advanced to third on a double from Kramer. A groundout from Rijo increased the Razorbacks’ lead to 10-4 before Ava Carter brought home Kramer with a triple to right-center field. Arkansas completed the run-rule courtesy of an error by Southern Miss left fielder Shelby Allen on a fly ball off the bat of Wyckoff to make it the final 12-4.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

On Bri Ellis’ career day…
“My first reaction is that I am very surprised she’s has never had a 5 RBI game with how productive her career has been. She is swinging it very confidently right now and is absolutely dialed in. It also says a lot about the hitters in front of her to give her that opportunity.”

On earning her 350^th career win…
“I’m really proud of the players that I’ve had the opportunity to coach that have won 350 games. I’m also incredibly lucky that I get to come to work everyday with people I love working with.”

NOTABLES

• Arkansas has a 8-0 start for the third time in program history. The Razorbacks previously accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2018.
• Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel recorded her 350^th career victory. Her career record now stands at 350-192 in 11 seasons while owning a 323-165 mark at Arkansas (10 seasons).
• Bri Ellis set a new career high with five RBI against Southern Miss, courtesy of a three-run home run and a two-run home run. It also marks Ellis’ fourth career multi-homer game and first as a Razorback. She now has 54 career home runs which leads all active DI players.
• Kailey Wyckoff extended her reached-base streak to 11 games dating back to her time at Texas Tech with a first-inning single.
• The Razorbacks are 122-41 in daytime contests since 2021. A first pitch prior to 5 p.m. constitutes a daytime contest.
• Atalyia Rijo tied a career-high with 4 RBI.
• Arkansas is now 142-21 when hitting two or more home runs as a team under Deifel.
• The Razorbacks are on a 32-game win streak when having a player hit multiple home runs in a single game, dating back to Feb. 20, 2021, when Linnie Malkin started the streak by belting a solo home run and a two-run shot in a 6-4 14-inning win at McNeese.
• Arkansas is 56-7 all-time when a Razorback player hits multiple home runs in a single game, including a 41-2 mark in the Courtney Deifel era.
• Arkansas is now 8-0 this season 257-25 when outhitting opponents under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present).

UP NEXT

The Razorbacks conclude the LA Tech Classic with Southern Miss (10 a.m.) and ULM ( 1 p.m.) tomorrow.

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