Herron Tosses No-Hitter, Razorbacks Improve to 10-0
RUSTON, La. – In a day that featured junior Robyn Herron tossing the 12th no-hitter in program history, the No. 13 Arkansas Razorbacks improved to 10-0 with a pair of run-rule victories over Southern Miss (12-3, 5 inn.) and ULM (10-0, 5 inn.) during the final day of the LA Tech Classic at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field on Sunday afternoon.
Herron struck out a season-high 11 batters during her no-hit performance against ULM to improve to 3-0 on the season. The southpaw struck out the side to open and end the game. Only three ULM batters reached base during the contest, two by way of walks in the second and fourth inning, respectively, in addition to a dropped third strike with two outs in the fourth.
Arkansas’s 10-0 start is the best in program history, bettering the previous best of 9-0 in 2018.
Herron’s run support in the 10-0 no-hit win over ULM came courtesy of an eight-run bottom of the second inning, highlighted by a pair of two-run doubles from Kailey Wyckoff and Atalyia Rijo and a two-RBI single from Raigan Kramer. Arkansas added two more in the third due to a ULM throwing error and a Bri Ellis sacrifice fly that accounted for her 15th and final RBI of the weekend. Wyckoff (3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI), Rijo (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R) and Ellis (2 RBI, BB, SF) led the way offensively for the undefeated Hogs.
In the day’s opener against Southern Miss, the Razorbacks and Golden Eagles were tied 3-3 heading into the fourth before Arkansas used a nine-run fourth inning to put the game away. Ellis’ clinic at the plate resumed with a 2-3 effort that featured a grand slam, a double and a walk. Reagan Johnson scored a run and recorded a hit in two of her three trips to the plate, highlighted by a leadoff triple to open the game. Karlie Davidson (2-2, 2B, 2 R, 1 BB) and Wyckoff (2 RBI, 1 R, SF, BB) also had strong offensive showings in the win.
Freshman pitcher Cam Harrison (1-0) earned her first collegiate win by striking eight and allowing three runs on three hits and five walks in 3.2 innings of work before turning it over to Payton Burnham, who registered 1.1 no-hit innings while fanning three to wrap up the five-inning triumph over the Golden Eagles.
ULM
Robyn Herron got the start for Arkansas and struck out the side to open the game.
In the bottom half, Wyckoff extended her reached-base streak to 13 games with a one-out double into left-center field.
Herron picked up her fourth punchout in the top of the second while spinning a hitless inning and walking one.
Raigan Kramer walked to lead off the home half and advanced to third on a single from Rijo before Davison was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Wyckoff roped a double down the right-field line to drive in two and give Arkansas a 2-0 lead. Back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Ellis and Day made it 4-0 Razorbacks. Kramer drove in two with an RBI single increasing the lead to 6-0 before Rijo doubled to left-center to bring home two more.
Following a 1-2-3 inning from Herron in the top-half, the Razorbacks increased their lead to 10-0 in the bottom of the third courtesy of a ULM error and a sacrifice fly from Ellis.
Two Warhawks reached courtesy of a walk and a dropped third strike in the top of the fourth. Cam Harrison collected a pinch-hit double in the bottom half to become the lone Razorback to reach base in the frame.
Herron stepped out of the dugout and carried a no-hitter with her to the circle in the top of the fifth. She wasted no time recording the first out of the frame, fanning the Warhawks’ Layla Thompson on just three pitches before getting pinch hitter Kennan Nunamaker to strike out swinging for out No. 2. Herron then wrapped up the no-hitter and run-rule victory by striking out ULM right fielder Carys Platt as Arkansas improved to 10-0.
Dakota Lake took the loss for ULM to fall to 2-2 after allowing seven runs on three hits and three walks in 1.2 innings pitched.
SOUTHERN MISS
Johnson led off the game with a triple over Southern Miss left fielder Carrie Green’s head and would score one batter later courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Wyckoff to give Arkansas the early 1-0 lead.
Southern Miss answered with a three-run home run from Maddie Weeks in the home half to go in front 3-1. Harrison registered three strikeouts in the frame.
Arkansas tied the game with two runs in the second courtesy of a double to left-center by Davison, which scored Rijo, who reached on a double to center field. Davison then scored on a bloop single from freshman Ava Carter to make it 3-3.
Harrison kept the Golden Eagles off the board while adding two more strikeouts in the second inning.
Ellis extended her hitting streak to six games with a one-out double to left field in the top of the third inning.
Rijo doubled for the second time in the game to lead off the fourth inning before advancing to third on a single from Davison. Carter followed with a walk to load the bases. Arkansas went ahead 5-3 courtesy of a bases-loaded walk by Wyckoff and a fielder’s choice RBI which featured an error on a ball hit by Ella McDowell. Ellis then stepped to the plate and delivered again, this time with a grand slam to center field to make it 9-3. The long ball was her fourth of the weekend and seventh this season. Arkansas added three more following the grand slam from Ellis, courtesy of an error and a pinch-hit RBI single from Jayden Ramos.
Following a pair of walks, Payton Burnham relieved Harrison with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Burnham would issue a walk to load the bases before escaping unscathed courtesy of a strikeout.
Ellis was the only baserunner to reach from either side in the fifth courtesy of a walk as the Razorbacks completed the 12-3 victory.
Natalie Herrington (0-2) was credited with the loss for Southern Miss after allowing four runs on seven hits in three innings of work.
QUOTABLES
Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel
On Robyn Herron’s no-hitter…
“It was really really nice to wrap up the weekend with that. She was just really dialed in. It was a really good matchup, but then her stuff was working, and she was in really good control. It was a really good ending to a really great weekend.”
On having a strong weekend…
“We were pretty intentional about wanting to maintain our level of play throughout the weekend and I think that we did that for the most part. There are moments where each area could be better, but overall, it was a pretty complete weekend.”
On Bri Ellis…
“She can just do damage every time she steps in the box and that is the mindset that she is in right now. It is just getting in the box and hunting for her pitch and putting a big swing on it. She is obviously seeing the ball really well right now, but she’s worked for this and this is who Bri is. It is just nice to see her do that.”
Arkansas Junior Left-handed Pitcher Robyn Herron
On her no-hitter…
“It was really exciting. I love to compete and I love that my defense backed me up and I had so many runs to just pitch freely. It was very fun.”
NOTABLES
- Arkansas has a 10-0 start for the first time in program history.
- Robyn Herron threw the 12th no-hitter in program history in a five-inning run-rule win over ULM. It was Herron’s second as a Razorback, as she previously registered a perfect game in a 7-0 win over Illinois State on Feb. 24, 2024. Herron is the third Arkansas pitcher to register a five-inning no-hitter in program history, joining Mary Haff (Feb. 26, 2021 vs. Texas Tech) and Grace Moll (Feb. 21, 2014 vs. Eastern Michigan). She now joins Haff (3) as the only pitcher in program history to have multiple no-hitters.
- With a grand slam in the win over Southern Miss, Bri Ellis now has 55 career home runs, which leads all active DI players.
- Kailey Wyckoff extended her reached-base streak to 13 games dating back to her time at Texas Tech.
- The Razorbacks are 124-41 in daytime contests since 2021. A first pitch prior to 5 p.m. constitutes a daytime contest.
- Arkansas is now 10-0 this season and 259-25 when outhitting opponents under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present).
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks are back in action this Thursday when they open the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic by facing Rutgers (11:30 a.m.) and Cal State Fullerton (2 p.m.)
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
