Hogs Blank Georgia, 6-0 to Win Series

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind a complete-game shutout from senior LHP Robyn Herron and a grand slam from sophomore INF Ella McDowell, the No. 7/9 Arkansas Razorbacks blanked No. 12/15 Georgia, 6-0, to win the SEC opening series on Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park.

With the victory, Arkansas has improved to 21-2 overall and 2-1 in SEC play.

Herron (9-1) struck out 10 batters while allowing just three hits and three walks on her way to her ninth victory of the season. The performance marked her sixth career seven-inning complete-game shutout and her 15th career double-digit strikeout game, which moves her into second place all-time among Arkansas pitchers, trailing only Mary Haff (16, 2018-2022).

Tianna Bell opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single up the middle that scored Brinli Bain, who reached on a single, extending her reached-base streak to 23 games. McDowell then broke the game open with a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning, increasing the Hogs’ lead to 5-0 before Tianna Bell added the Hogs’ sixth and final run in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run to center field.

At the plate, McDowell led the Razorbacks with four RBI, all coming on her grand slam, while Bell went 3-4 with her solo shot, a run scored and two RBI.

Randi Roelling took the loss for Georgia (19-7, 1-2 SEC), falling to 8-4 on the season after allowing four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one.

How it Happened

Herron pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning that featured a strikeout sandwiched between a pair of flyouts. In the home half, Brinli Bain extended her reached base streak to 23 games with a one-out single before advancing to second base on a groundout. Tianna Bell would then give Arkansas the early lead with an RBI single up the middle that plated Bain.

In the top of the second inning, Herron fanned her first two batters faced before Georgia catcher Marissa Miller doubled down the third-base line. Following the double, Herron struck out the next batter to end the frame.

Atalyia Rijo registered a leadoff single in the bottom of the second inning before advancing to second base courtesy of a bunt single from Reagan Johnson. Bain then drew her a walk to load the bases for Ella McDowell, who blasted a grand slam over the wall in left center field to give Arkansas a 5-0 lead. Dakota Kennedy later added a single in the inning.

Herron battled back from a 3-0 count to strike out the leadoff batter in the top of the third inning. Keirstin Roose would reach after being hit by a pitch with two outs, but that is all the Bulldogs would get as Herron issued a flyout to end the inning.

Atalyia Rijo and Kennedy Miller both registered one-out singles in the bottom half, but Fisher and the Bulldogs escaped unscathed courtesy of a fielder’s choice and a groundout.

In the fourth inning, Herron allowed two Bulldogs to reach courtesy of a single and a walk, but that would be the only obstacles she would encounter in her fourth scoreless frame of the day. Bell and Wyckoff both singled in the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, Georgia’s Emily Digby and Bailey Lindemuth would both reach to lead off the inning courtesy of a walk and a single, but Herron would be unfazed, retiring the next three batters faced courtesy of a strikeout, flyout, and groundout.  Kennedy Miller would reach in the bottom of the fifth inning courtesy of a Georgia error.

During the sixth inning, Herron would pick up her eighth and ninth strikeouts while allowing one batter to reach by way of a walk. Tianna Bell added insurance with a solo home run to center field with one out in the bottom of the sixth. The solo blast was Bell’s team-leading eighth round-tripper of the season.

Herron wrapped up the complete-game shutout by facing the minimum in the top of the seventh inning. She issued a groundout to Atalyia Rijo, who made a diving play at shortstop for the first out of the frame before Lindemuth reached first base on a dropped third strike. Rijo then ended the contest by snagging a line drive and throwing out the retreating Linedmuth at first for the final two outs of the contest as Arkansas improved to 21-2 overall and 2-1 in SEC play.

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

On the weekend…
“I am really proud of how the weekend played out and how we responded from Friday. The weekend played out exactly how we needed for us to grow and for us to be better coming out of it, so we needed Friday in that as well. Just to see them answer from Friday and yesterday, just to see them answer from a really back-and-forth, a lot of punches, just controlling our emotions to come out today, and really control the game and be really decisive. I love the character they showed and the mindset they showed. I am really proud of them.”

NOTABLES

• Robyn Herron registered her 15^th career 10+ strikeout game and sixth career seven-inning complete-game shutout.
• Reagan Johnson needs just 12 more hits to break Hannah McEwen’s all-time Arkansas career hits record of 261.
• Arkansas is now 679-105-1 when outhitting opponents since 1998.
• Freshman Brinli Bain extended her reached-base streak to 23 games. She has now reached safely in all 23 of her collegiate games. She is the first freshman to reach in the first 23 games of her career in program history. Her 23-game reached base streak is the second-longest in program history to open a season, trailing only Devon Wallace (31, 2013). Additionally, her reached-base streak is also the sixth-longest in program history.

Up Next

The Razorbacks will return to action tomorrow for a midweek contest at Missouri State at 5 p.m. on ESPN+.

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