Herron Tosses No-Hitter as Hogs Open Razorback Invitational With Wins Over Northwestern, SEMO

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind a no-hitter from senior LHP Robyn Herron in the nightcap and a complete-game shutout from freshman RHP Saylor Timmerman in the home opener, Arkansas blanked Northwestern (6-0) and SEMO (6-0) on Friday evening at Bogle Park during the first day of the Razorback Invitational.

In the 6-0 triumph over Northwestern, Herron became just the third Arkansas pitcher in program history to toss three no-hitters during their Razorback career, alongside Heather Schlichtman (3, 2001-2004) and Mary Haff (3, 2018-22). The Tampa, Fla., product struck out 12 of her 22 batters faced while allowing only two Northwestern batters to reach, courtesy of a one-out second-inning walk from the Wildcats’ Kansas Robinson and Avery Garden being hit by a pitch with one out in the third inning. Garden was later thrown out attempting to steal second for the final out of the frame by Arkansas catcher Brinli Bain. Following the hit batter, Herron retired her final 14 batters faced. With 12 strikeouts, she also recorded her 13th career double-digit strikeout game, which ranks third in program history, trailing only Katy Henry (2005-08, 14) and Mary Haff (2018-22, 16). With the win, she improved to 5-0 on the season.

Offensively, Arkansas belted six doubles against Northwestern, including two apiece from Kailey Wyckoff (2-3, 2 2B, RBI, R) and Karlie Davison (2-3, 2 2B, RBI, R). Bain also recorded multiple hits in the win with a 2-3 performance that featured an RBI and a run scored.

Timmerman highlighted the victory over SEMO by going the distance and striking out 11 while yielding just two hits and three walks on 103 total pitches, to improve to 2-0. The Minocqua, Wisc., product became just the fifth Arkansas freshman in program history to strikeout 11 or more batters during a complete-game shutout and was the first to accomplish the feat since Herron did during a 4-0 win over Iowa State on March 2, 2023, on the first day of the Wooo Pig Classic.

Wyckoff led the Hogs at the plate against SEMO by going 2-4 with two runs scored. Atalyia Rijo also drove in a pair of runs courtesy of a second-inning single through the right side that opened the scoring.

GAME TWO

Senior left-hander Robyn Herron earned the start for Arkansas against Northwestern while the Wildcats went with freshman Marina Mason.

Herron spun a scoreless first and second inning while picking up a pair of strikeouts in both frames. Dakota Kennedy and Tianna Bell reached by way of an error and a walk in the bottom of the first.

Kailey Wyckoff led off the bottom of the second inning with a double down the right-field line. Karlie Davison scored Wyckoff with a double down the right-field line to put the Hogs in front 1-0.

Herron garnered her fifth and sixth strikeouts in the third while allowing Northwestern left fielder Avery Garden to reach after being hit by a pitch with one out. She would be the last Northwestern player to reach in the contest, as Herron would retire her final 14 batters faced

In the home half of the third, the Hogs extended their lead to 3-0, courtesy of back-to-back two-out doubles by Brinli Bain and Wyckoff.

In the fourth inning, Herron retired the Wildcats in order with consecutive groundouts followed by a strikeout. Karlie Davison doubled with one out in the home half and then came around to score on a double by Reagan Johnson, who later scored on a wild pitch, combined with a throwing error from Northwestern catcher Emma Raye, increasing the Arkansas advantage to 5-0.

Herron made it eight consecutive batters retired in the top of the fifth by way of a strikeout, lineout, and strikeout. Tianna Bell and Bain led off the bottom of the fifth with a pair of singles before Ramsey Walker drove in the Hogs’ sixth and final run of the game by smashing a comebacker at Northwestern pitcher Emma Blea that allowed pinch runner Kasey Wood to score from third. Atalyia Rijo added a walk later in the inning, but Northwestern would escape without further damage.

In the sixth inning, both sides were held at bay. Herron fanned two and issued a flyout while facing the minimum in the top half, while Dakota Kennedy reached on a walk for Arkansas in the bottom half.

In the top of the seventh, Herron put a stamp on her third career no-hitter by issuing a groundout to first base and a flyout to center field before she got the Wildcats’ Emma Raye to strikeout swinging for the final out of the contest.

The Wildcats’ Marina Mason fell to 1-4 on the season after allowing four runs (two unearned) on five hits and a walk in 3.1 innings of work.

GAME ONE

Timmerman pitched a scoreless first inning, highlighted by a pair of strikeouts for the first two outs of the frame. The RedHawks Madison Winkler became the game’s first baserunner courtesy of an infield single.

Ella McDowell was hit by a pitch with two outs in the bottom of the first inning for Arkansas, becoming the Hogs’ first baserunner.

In the top of the second inning, Timmerman faced the minimum while picking up another strikeout. During the home half, Brinli Bain increased her reached-base streak to 10 games with a lead-off walk. Kailey Wyckoff then singled before both advanced to second and third courtesy of a wild pitch. Kennedy Miller followed with a walk to load the bases before Atalyia Rijo singled through the right side to give Arkansas a 2-0 lead. Rijo later stole second and Reagan Johnson walked, but the Redhawks escaped without further damage.

SEMO threatened with a pair of baserunners in the top of the third inning by way of a lead-off walk and a one-out infield single, but Timmerman would be unfazed, issuing a fielder’s choice and an infield popout to end the stanza.

In the bottom of the third, Tianna Bell walked to leadoff the bottom of the third inning before being replaced at first by Bain, who grounded into a fielder’s choice. Wyckoff then moved Bain to second base with a single to right field. Miller stepped up to the plate and made it 3-0 with a single down the left-field line. Arkansas then added two more runs courtesy of Karlie Davison being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Dakota Kennedy driving in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Both teams were kept at bay in the fourth and fifth innings. Arkansas was retired in order during both innings while SEMO garnered one baserunner in the fourth and fifth innings courtesy of a walk and a dropped third strike.

Timmerman picked up another strikeout while only surrendering a two-out walk in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Reagan Johnson singled with one out and then scored from first on a two-out single off the base of the wall from Bell, making it the final 6-0. Kasey Wood entered as a pinch runner for Bell and swiped second base, and Bain walked, but SEMO would escape courtesy of a flyout.

In the top of the seventh, Timmerman wrapped up the complete-game shutout by retiring the Redhawks in a groundout bookend by a pair of strikeouts, her 10th and 11th of the contest.

Willow Van Haren (0-4) took the loss to the Redhawks (3-8) after allowing five runs on four hits and five walks in 2.1 innings of work.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

On Robyn Herron’s No-Hitter…
“I always love when our pitchers pitch themselves, and our defense works themselves into that position. It is crazy to think she has three because it feels like she has been knocking on the door of so many. It is kind of a running joke that she is the queen of one-hitters. She had really good stuff tonight, and it is always fun to get to celebrate Robyn or any pitcher and our defense in that situation. She was on it tonight. It was really fun to watch.”

On Saylor Timmerman…
“She was outstanding today, and really, she was two infield hits away from her own no-hitter. She was also really trusting her stuff today. She was really trusting her stuff through the zone and using all of her pitches. She has been working really hard for that. To see her get out there on her first home game and have that much composure and poise while going after it is cool to see. Saylor in her first home game and Robyn in her last first home game, it was cool to see them tag team the day and be in such good control and command. I am really proud of them.”

Arkansas Senior LHP Robyn Herron

On her no-hitter…
“I am really happy. It is just excitement, honestly. I feel like I have been wanting that for a while and I finally got it, so I am just very happy … After throwing my perfect game (Feb. 22, 2024 vs. Illinois State during the first of two games on the day) it was also fun to throw it and finish it on the field to really put the exclamation point on it.”

NOTABLES

• Robyn Herron became just the third Arkansas pitcher in program history to toss three no-hitters during their Razorback career, alongside Heather Schlichtman (3, 2001-2004) and Mary Haff (3, 2018-22). Herron previously tossed a perfect game against Illinois State (Feb. 22, 2024) and a six-inning no-hitter against ULM in Ruston, La., at the LA Tech Classic on Feb. 16, 2025.
• Robyn Herron registered her 13th career double-digit strikeout game, which ranks third in program history, trailing only Katy Henry (2005-08, 14) and Mary Haff (2018-22, 16). With the win, she improved to 5-0 on the season.
• Reagan Johnson recorded two more hits and now needs 25 hits to set the Arkansas career hits record currently held by Hannah McEwen (261).
• Arkansas is 677-105-1 when outhitting opponents since 1998 and 301-27 when doing so under Courtney Deifel.
• Freshman Brinli Bain extended her reached-base streak to 11 games. She has now reached safely in all 11 of her collegiate games. She is the first freshman to reach in the first 11 games of a season since Kayla Green in 2018.
• Arkansas is 82-10 all-time when an individual pitcher records 10+ strikeouts in a single game. Under Deifel (2016-present), Arkansas is 42-3 when an individual pitcher registers 10+ strikeouts in a game.

Up Next

The Razorbacks will return to Bogle Park tomorrow when Arkansas faces Northwestern (1:30 p.m.) and SEMO (4 p.m.).

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