Explosive Offense and Dominant Pitching Lead No. 9 Hogs to Run-Rule Victories Over Wichita State, No. 18 Clemson
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks improved to 6-1 with a 10-2 (5 inn.) win over Wichita State before demolishing No. 18 Clemson, 12-0 (5 inn.) in the nightcap during the first day of the States Up! Invitational on the campus of Texas State University on Friday.
Arkansas extended its streak of run-rule victories to four as all six of the Razorbacks’ victories this season have come by way of run-rule. The Hogs are outscoring opponents 82-12 this season.
The Razorbacks’ 12-0 five-inning triumph over No. 18 Clemson was the Hogs’ third-largest margin of victory in a five-inning run-rule over a ranked opponent in program history and the most since March 26, 2023, when they trounced No. 10 Florida 14-1. Senior left-handed pitcher Robyn Herron pitched a masterclass in the win over the Tigers. The Tampa, Fla., product struck out a season-high 11 batters during her five-inning complete game shutout while allowing just one hit and two walks on 76 pitches. It marked Herron’s second double-digit strikeout game this season and the 12th of her career. Ella McDowell paced the Hogs’ offense in the win with a 3-3 night at the plate, which featured two runs scored and four RBI, three of which came courtesy of a tape-measure home run in the bottom of the first inning. Tianna Bell (1-2, 2-run HR, 2 R) capped the Hogs’ 12-run performance with a two-run blast, her first in an Arkansas uniform. Dakota Kennedy (2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, BB) also registered multiple hits and stolen bases in the win.
Cam Harrison was magnificent in the Hogs’ 10-2 five-inning thumping of Wichita State. The Brookshire, Texas product struck out seven Shockers while allowing just one run on one hit, a solo shot from WSU’s Chloe Rhine, in addition to two walks in 4.0 innings of work. Dakota Kennedy (3-4, 2 2B, R, RBI, SB) and Reagan Johnson (3-3, BB, 2 SB) set the tone atop the Razorbacks lineup, combining for six of the Hogs’ 14 hits. Atalyia Rijo led Arkansas with a game-high four RBI, courtesy of an RBI double and a three-run home run. Karlie Davison added a solo shot and an RBI single during a 2-3 showing at the plate, and Kailey Wyckoff (2-3) also registered two hits with a double and a single in the win.
GAME TWO
The Razorback’s game against No. 18 Clemson did not start until 6 p.m. instead of the initially planned 4:45 p.m. first pitch due to the BYU-Texas State game running long.
Senior left-handed ace Robyn Herron made her third start of the season for Arkansas, while Clemson went with right-handed senior Abby Dunning.
Herron wasted no time getting to work in the circle, striking out the side to start the game, catching her first Tiger looking before punching out the next two swinging.
In the bottom of the first, Dakota Kennedy led off the game with a base hit for the third consecutive contest, this time by way of a single up the middle before advancing to second on a four-pitch walk from Reagan Johnson. Ella McDowell then stepped to the plate and blasted a no-doubt three-run home run to left field to put the Hogs in front 3-0.
In the top of the second inning, Herron fanned her fourth consecutive Clemson batter, with the victim being Marian Collins. Kiley Channell followed with a one-out walk to become the first Clemson baserunner. Channel’s walk was all the Tigers would muster, though as Herron retired the next two batters courtesy of a 5-4 fielder’s choice and her fifth strikeout of the night.
Atalyia Rijo led off the bottom of the second with a walk. Clemson then turned an 8-3 double play a batter later. Kennedy reached base for her second time in as many tries by drawing a two-out walk, but Dunning would keep the Hogs off the board.
Herron struck out the side again in the third inning, registering her sixth, seventh, and eighth strikeouts of the game.
McDowell singled up the middle to lead off the third inning before being replaced at first base after Tianna Bell grounded into a fielder’s choice for the first out of the stanza. Brinli Bain then singled on a high-chopping ground ball over the third baseman’s head and Kailey Wykcoff was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A batter later, Kennedy Miller extended the Arkansas lead to four with an RBI single. Atalyia Rijo gave the Hogs a 5-0 lead after battling back from a 0-2 count to draw a bases-loaded walk. Arkansas then poured it on by adding seven more runs by way of a Karlie Davison RBI single, Dakota Kennedy two-run single, a RBI groundout from Johnson and a RBI single from Ella McDowell before Tianna Bell smashed her first home run as a Razorback, with a line-drive three-run shot over the wall in center field bringing the advantage to 12-0 in favor of Arkansas. Clemson’s Dunning was relieved by Olivia Duncan with one out in the third, who would pitch 0.2 innings while allowing five runs on four hits and two walks before Lexi Hames threw a scoreless bottom of the fourth.
Clemson’s Mac Pavese broke up Herron’s no-hit bid with a line drive up the middle that Herron nearly snagged to lead off the top of the fourth. Following a lineout, Pavese reached second on a groundout for the second out of the frame, but that is as far as she would get as Herron issued an inning-ending flyout to right field.
Ashtyn Reichardt became the Hogs’ lone baserunner of the home half of the inning courtesy of a one-out pinch-hit walk.
Herron completed the abbreviated complete game shutout in the bottom of the fifth by striking out three in the inning in addition to allowing a one-out walk. The Tampa, Fla., product improved to 3-0 with the complete-game shutout while fanning a season-high 11 batters and allowing just one hit and two walks on 76 pitches. Dunning (3-2) took the loss for Clemson (4-4) after surrendering seven earned runs on five hits and four walks during 2.1 innings of work
GAME ONE
Arkansas was the visitor in game one against Wichita State. Sophomore right-hander Cam Harrison made her first start for the Hogs while Wichita State went with Jade Sanders.
For the second consecutive game, Dakota Kennedy led off with a double to left field. She then moved to third on an infield single by Reagan Johnson, her 229th of her career. A batter later, Arkansas took a 1-0 lead courtesy of an Ella McDowell sacrifice fly to right field. Sanders and Wichita State would escape without any further damage, however, courtesy of a popout and strikeout.
In the bottom of the first, Harrison faced the minimum. The Shockers’ Johnna Schroeder led off the inning with a walk before Harrison registered a strikeout and induced a textbook 6-4-3 double play.
Kailey Wyckoff singled up the middle to lead off the Arkansas half of the second inning before being replaced at first base by Kennedy Miller, who hit into a fielder’s choice. Miller moved to third on a double from Atalyia Rijo, before coming around to score on an RBI single from Kennedy. Rijo then increased the Hogs’ lead to 3-0 after racing home on a wild pitch.
Harrison pitched another scoreless inning in the second, registering a strikeout while surrendering only a two-out walk.
Arkansas added four more runs in the top of the third inning. Brinli Bain doubled down the left field line with one out. Miller followed with a two-out walk to put two runners on for Rijo, who crushed a line-drive over the wall in left field, plating three and giving the Hogs’ a 6-1 advantage. Karlie Davison followed up Rijo’s at-bat with a towering solo shot to left-center field, marking the second time this season that the Razorbacks have hit back-to-back home runs while extending the lead to seven.
The Shockers got a run back on a lead-off solo home run to right field off the bat of Chloe Rhine in the bottom of the third to get WSU within six. Following Rhine’s round-tripper, Harrison retired her next three batters faced courtesy of a lineout and consecutive strikeouts.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Hogs plated three more runs, courtesy of a Harrison RBI single, a groundout from Rijo, and an RBI single from Davison, increasing the Razorbacks’ lead to 10-1. Wyckoff (double) and Bain (walk) also reached base in the inning.
Harrison fanned three more in a scoreless home half of the fourth inning after surrendering a lead-off walk to start the frame.
Johnson was the lone Arkansas baserunner in the top of the fifth inning courtesy of her third hit of the game, an RBI single up the middle. Lexi King closed out the contest by pitching the bottom of the fifth. The Shockers’ Mackenzie Rooney homered to left field to lead off the bottom of the fifth, followed by a walk from Rhine, but that was all the Shockers would be as King issued a 4-6-3 groundout double play followed by a groundout to preserve the run-rule win.
Harrison improved to 1-0 with the win after striking out seven and allowing just one run and one hit, courtesy of a solo homer and two walks. Sanders fell to 0-2 after surrendering seven runs on eight hits and two walks in 2.2 innings of work.
QUOTABLES
Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel
On the day…
“I thought we were excellent in every facet today, from the first pitch to last. I’m just really pleased with the collectiveness that this group played with today, and just the execution across the board.”
On Robyn Herron…
“That’s what she does. She sets a really good tone. She trusts her stuff. It was a good matchup, for one, but there are a lot of good matchups when you have Robyn in the circle. She trusted herself, and she set a really good tone.”
NOTABLES
- The Razorbacks’ 12-0 five-inning triumph over No. 18 Clemson was the Hogs’ third-largest margin of victory in a five-inning run-rule over a ranked opponent in program history and the largest since March 26, 2023, when they trounced No. 10 Florida 14-1.
- Robyn Herron recorded her 12th career double-digit strikeout game with 11 strikeouts in the victory over Clemson. Her 12 10+ strikeout games are the third-most in program history, trailing only Katy Henry (2005-08, 14) and Mary Haff (2018-22, 16).
- The Razorbacks are 89-18 when issuing no walks under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present).
- Arkansas is 673-105-1 when outhitting opponents since 1998 and 297-27 when doing so under Courtney Deifel.
Up Next
Arkansas continues play at the States Up! Invitational tomorrow with matchups against BYU (11 a.m.) and tournament host Texas State (1:15 p.m.).
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
