Hogs Conclude Road Swing by Demolishing North Florida, 14-0
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.– The No. 12/13 Arkansas Razorbacks wrapped up their four-game road trip with a dominant 14-0 (5 inn.) run-rule victory over North Florida on Monday evening at the UNF Softball Complex.
The Razorbacks (29-8, 8-7 SEC) scored runs in all five innings of the drubbing, courtesy of three in the first, two in the second, a run each in the third and fourth and seven runs in the fifth, improving their single-season record of run-rule victories to 18.
Five Razorbacks registered multiple hits and four Razorbacks drove in multiple runs during the victory. Reagan Johnson extended her team-best hitting streak to seven games while going 2-4 with three runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI. Raigan Kramer (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB), Bri Ellis (2-2, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB), Ella McDowell (2-4, 2 RBI, 2B, 1 R), and Kennedy Miller (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R). In addition to the multi-hit performances, Jayden Ramos drove in two runs with a pinch-hit double in the top of the fifth inning.
Arkansas once again got impressive outings from its freshmen class in the circle as Payton Burnham and Lexi King combined for five innings of shutout ball while allowing just three hits and no walks. Burnham improved to 9-2 after striking out four and yielding two hits in three innings. King then took it the rest of the way, retiring seven of her eight batters faced on 34 pitches with a strikeout.
UNF starter Cameron Ponich (3-3) took the loss for Ospreys (32-11) after allowing six runs on six hits, an error, and three walks. North Florida (32-11) received votes in the most recent NFCA/GoRout Coaches Poll on April 1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Payton Burnham made her 11th start of the season for Arkansas while the Ospreys turned to Cameron Ponich.
Reagan Johnson extended her hitting streak to seven games with a single to second base to open the game. Johnson then stole second and advanced to third on a single from Raigan Kramer, who stole second an at-bat later to put herself in scoring position. Ellis would then draw a bases-loaded walk. Ella McDowell gave Arkansas the early 1-0 lead courtesy of a fielder’s choice to shortstop, which Johnson scored on by beating the throw to the plate. The Razorbacks then added two more runs from Ataylia Rijo’s RBI fielder’s choice, followed by a throwing error, which brought home Kramer and Ellis.
Burnham breezed through the bottom of the first with a 1-2-3 inning by way of a pair of groundouts and a fly out to Kramer in deep left field.
Kennedy Miller smashed a one-out double to the right-center field gap in the second inning. Johnsons then reached on an error before Kramer cleared the bases with a double into right-center field, extending the Hogs’ lead to 5-0. Ellis walked again following the Kramer double. Kramer advanced to third on a flyout for the first out of the inning. Ellis then stole second base for the second consecutive game.
Burnham made it six-straight Ospreys retired with a 1-2-3 bottom of the second, capped by a strikeout.
Karlie Davison reached on a one-out walk in the top half of the third and then advanced to second on an opposite-field line-drive single from Carlee Ratcliff. Johnson would then hit a blooper that would fall in shallow center field, allowing Davison to race home from second, increasing the Arkansas lead to 6-0 with two outs in the frame.
The Ospreys’ Mackenzie Woods broke up Burnham’s no-hit bid with an infield single to lead off the home half of the third before Burnham fanned the next two batters. Lauren Brock then reached on a single that dropped in shallow center field with two outs. However, that would be the only damage North Florida would inflict as Burnham picked up her fourth strikeout to end the frame.
North Florida went to Ashley Connor in relief to pitch the fourth inning. Ellis singled to third base to lead off the inning for Arkansas, Kasey Wood then entered as a pinch runner for Ellis. McDowell doubled to left-center field to move Wood to third. Wyckoff then smashed a sacrifice fly to deep right-center field, scoring wood and increasing the Hogs’ lead to 7-0.
Lexi King entered in place of Burnham in the bottom of the fourth and pitched a scoreless inning, allowing just one hit in the frame.
The Razorbacks poured it on in the fifth inning by batting around and adding seven runs in the stanza. Ellis made it 8-0 courtesy of a base hit to third base. McDowell then added another run on a single to right-center field. Following McDowell’s base hit, Wykcoff hit a bloop single to load the bases. Cam Harrison drew a bases-loaded walk, increasing the Hogs’ lead to 10-0. Jayden Ramos smashed a two-run double to left-center field, making it 12-0 Arkansas. Kennedy Miller then singled off the wall in right field to bring in the game’s final two runs.
King shut down the Ospreys with a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth inning courtesy of a groundout, popout, and a strikeout as Arkansas improved to 29-8 and earned its 18th run-rule victory of the season.
NOTABLES
- Reagan Johnson improved her hitting streak to a team-best seven games. Johnson also recorded her 60th career multi-hit game and 10th career multi-steal game.
- Arkansas earned its 18th run-rule victory this season.
- Bri Ellis recorded her 43rd career multi-hit game while extending her reached-base streak to 13 games.
- Arkansas is now 25-4 when scoring first and 19-1 when not allowing a homer this season.
- The Razorbacks earned their ninth shutout victory this season.
- Arkansas is 150-1 when scoring 8+ runs under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present).
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks return home to Bogle Park for a likely top ten SEC series with South Carolina this weekend (April 11-13).
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
