Hogs Complete Sweep of Auburn With 4-1 Series Finale Win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 6/9 Arkansas Softball team used dominant pitching and an offensive performance that featured three home runs to complete a series sweep of Auburn with a 4-1 series finale victory over the Tigers on Monday evening at Bogle Park.

With the win, Arkansas is now 33-5 this season and 8-4 in SEC play. The Hogs have won six consecutive SEC home series dating back to 2025, with the last home series loss coming to No. 1 Oklahoma on March 15-16, 2025. It also marked the Hogs’ first SEC series sweep since March 28-30, 2025, when they swept Kentucky.

Arkansas used three solo home runs from Dakota Kennedy, Atalyia Rijo and Tianna Bell and a perfectly executed squeeze bunt from Karlie Davison to account for the four runs scored in the win. Rijo led Arkansas with a 2-3 day at the plate that featured a solo home run and two runs scored. Kailey Wyckoff doubled in the win while Reagan Johnson, Brinli Bain, and Kennedy Miller also recorded singles. Johnson stole her 66th career stolen base while swiping second in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Saylor Timmerman turned in another impressive start while improving to 8-0 on the season. The Minocqua, Wis. Native pitched four innings while striking out two and allowing just one unearned run on two hits. She became the first Arkansas freshman to start a season 8-0 since Mary Haff accomplished the feat in 2018. Robyn Herron collected her third save of the season after striking out two and allowing just one hit and a walk in three shutout innings of relief.

Ella Harrison took the loss for Auburn (23-16, 2-10 SEC) after allowing three runs on five hits while striking out two in three innings of work.

Following the game, Arkansas senior OF Dakota Kennedy claimed the prestigious AUSL (Athletes Unlimited Softball League) Golden Ticket, which is presented to players who will be selected in the upcoming AUSL draft on May 4. Kennedy is the second Razorback to receive the prestigious honor during its two years of existence, alongside Bri Ellis (2025).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Freshman Saylor Timmerman got the ball for Arkansas, while Auburn went with Saturday starter Ella Harrison.

Auburn took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kylie Shaw walked to lead off the game before Alyssa Hastings singled to left field. Both would advance on a groundout before Shaw was thrown out trying to score on a ground ball from Karlie Davison. Auburn got on the scoreboard courtesy of an Arkansas throwing error. Following the errant throw, the Tigers loaded the bases courtesy of Ma’Naia Womack being hit by a pitch before Timmerman issued an inning-ending strikeout to escape further damage.

Harrison retired the Hogs in order in the bottom of the first with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.

In the top of the second inning, Timmerman tallied a scoreless frame, allowing only Shaw to reach after being hit by a pitch with two outs.

Dakota Kennedy tied the game in the bottom of the second inning courtesy of a leadoff home run to center field, her team-leading 13th round-tripper of the season. Atalyia Rijo put Arkansas ahead two batters later with a solo shot to left-center. Rijo’s round-tripper was her seventh of the season.

Timmerman faced the minimum in the top of the third inning courtesy of a flyout and a 5-4-3 double play. Brinli Bain singled up the middle in the bottom of the third inning for Arkansas.

Timmerman made it five straight retired in the top of the fourth inning, courtesy of a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tianna Bell increased the Hogs’ lead to 3-1 with a leadoff solo home run to center field. Atalyia Rijo then singled to shortstop and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch with one out. Kennedy Miller walked to put runners on the corners before Rijo came around to score on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt from Karlie Davison, increasing the Hogs’ lead to 4-1.

Robyn Herron entered the circle in relief of Timmerman in the fifth inning. She would pitch a scoreless frame in her first inning of action while picking up a strikeout and yielding a single. Kailey Wyckoff made the defensive play of the game for the final out of the inning by robbing the Tigers’ McKaela Walker of a two-run home run with a leaping grab at the wall in right field. Bain and Kennedy both drew walks in the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the top of the sixth, Herron retired Auburn in order courtesy of a strikeout and consecutive flyouts. Wyckoff doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth before being pinch-ran for by Kyler Del Duca, who would showcase elite baserunning to move to third on a 5-3 groundout from Kennedy Miller. Reagan Johnson singled to shortstop with two outs in the inning and then stole her 66th career base by swiping second.

Herron closed the door and earned her third save of the season by spinning a scoreless top of the seventh inning, yielding only a two-out walk.

NOTABLES

• Dakota Kennedy claimed the prestigious AUSL (Athletes Unlimited Softball League) Golden Ticket which is presented to players who will be selected in the upcoming AUSL draft on May 3. Kennedy is the second Razorback to receive the prestigious honor during its two years of existence, alongside Bri Ellis (2025)
• Saylor Timmerman became the first Arkansas freshman pitcher to start their career 8-0 since Mary Haff accomplished the feat in 2018.
• Arkansas is 169-25 under head coach Courtney Deifel when hitting 2+ home runs as a team in a game. Since 1998, the Hogs are 266-58 when hitting two or more round-trippers.
• Reagan Johnson registered her 200th start batting leadoff, which is the second-most in program history, trailing only Devon Wallace, 205 (2012-2015). Johnson also stole her 66^th career base which ranks third in program history, trailing only Dana Gulick (73, 1997-2000) and Rachel LeMaster (75, 2004-2007)

Up Next

The Razorbacks will begin a six-game road trip by traveling to Starkville, Miss. for a three-game series at Mississippi State this weekend (April 10-12)

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