Hogs Defeat No. 2 Florida, 9-5 to Earn Highest-Ranked Series Win in Program History
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 12/13 Arkansas Razorbacks earned their highest-ranked series win in program history by defeating No. 2 Florida, 9-5, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Pressly Stadium.
With the series-clinching victory over the No. 2 Gators, the Razorbacks bested the previous highest-ranked series win in program history, which was accomplished on two occasions when Arkansas took the series against No. 3 Georgia in 2024 and No. 3 Tennessee in 2023 (ESPN/USA Softball Poll).
Trailing 4-3 after four innings, Arkansas took the lead for good courtesy of a three-run top of the fifth inning. Ella McDowell’s RBI double with one out in the inning tied the game at four before Kailey Wyckoff’s sacrifice fly and Atalyia Rijo’s double gave Arkansas a 6-4 advantage. Florida made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fifth on a home run from Jocelyn Erickson. With runners on first and second and two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Arkansas center fielder Reagan Johnson robbed the Gators’ Taylor Shumaker of a three-run home run to preserve the one-run lead and end the inning. The Razorbacks then added insurance with three runs in the top of the seventh courtesy of RBI singles from Rijo, Cam Harrison, and a fielder’s choice from Kennedy Miller, which made it the final, 9-5.
Harrison was magnificent in relief after inheriting a tough situation with no outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning. Following a grand slam from Florida’s Reagan Walsh, Harrison buckled down and allowed just one run on five hits and four walks while striking out five in 6.1 innings to record her fourth win of the season to improve to 4-1. Payton Burnham also earned a save after entering the game with two on and two outs in the bottom of the seventh and issuing a lineout for the game’s final out.
Freshman Ella McDowell had another huge game, going 3-4 with two RBI doubles and two runs scored. Both of McDowell’s RBI doubles came after intentional walks to Bri Ellis, who was intentionally walked three times and also hit by a pitch in the win while scoring twice and stealing a base. Kailey Wyckoff (1-2, 3 RBI, 2B, BB) drove in three runs during the victory, two of which came on a two-run double that accounted for the Hogs’ first runs of the game in the top of the first. Rijo (2-4, 2 RBI, 2B) also registered multiple hits and multiple RBI in the win.
Ava Brown (9-1) took the loss for Florida after allowing three runs on five hits and a walk in 2.2 innings pitched.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the circle, Reis Beuerlein made her sixth start of the season for Arkansas, while Florida turned to freshman Katelynn Oxley.
In the top of the first inning, Reagan Johnson worked a full count before reaching on an error to lead off the game. Bri Ellis was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Ella McDowell then fouled out to shallow right field, moving Johnson to third base and putting runners on the corners with two outs. Ellis stole second to move into scoring position before Kailey Wyckoff stepped to the plate and doubled down the right field line to clear the bases and give Arkansas the early 2-0 lead.
Kendra Falby led off the bottom of the first with a five-pitch walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball. Taylor Shumaker followed with a walk to put runners on the corners. Following another walk to load the bases, Cam Harrison entered the game in relief of Beuerlein. Harrison issued a foul out for the first out of the inning. Florida then took a 4-2 lead courtesy of a grand slam from Reagan Walsh. Following a walk to the ensuing batter, Harrison was able to escape the inning without further damage by registering a punchout and a foul out to end the inning.
Oxley retired the Razorbacks in order in the second inning. Harrison responded with a 1-2-3 inning, capped by a strikeout.
Johnson led off the top of the third with an infield single and advanced to second on Ellis’ second intentional walk of the contest. McDowell brought Arkansas within one with a double to left-center field, scoring Johnson to cut the lead to 4-3.
Harrison kept the Gators at bay in the bottom of the third, yielding a pair of singles and picking up her third strikeout in the frame.
Arkansas went down in order in the top of the fourth inning. Florida shortstop Rylee Holtorf robbed Jayden Ramos of a base hit with an impressive play up the middle. Harrison registered a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning, highlighted by a nice pair of plays from McDowell at third base.
Raigan Kramer walked with one out in the fifth inning before Ellis was intentionally walked for the third time in the contest. McDowell then delivered again with a double to the right-center field gap, which scored Kramer and tied the game. Arkansas took a 5-4 lead on a sacrifice fly by Wyckoff before Atalyia Rijo made it 6-4 with a double into the right-center field gap.
Florida cut the lead to 6-5 on a solo home run to right field from Jocelyn Erickson in the home half of the fifth.
Karlie Davison singled into left field for the Hogs’ lone hit of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Mia Williams singled into center field to lead off the inning before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Harrison struck out Holtorf for the second out of the inning. Falby legged out an infield single to put runners on first and second. Taylor Shumaker then stepped to the plate and crushed a 2-1 pitch to center field that looked to give the Gators a 8-6 lead until Johnson made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Shumaker of a home run while ending the inning and preserving the 6-5 lead.
Arkansas carried the momentum from Johnson’s robbery into the top of the seventh by plating three insurance runs courtesy of RBI singles from Rijo and Harrison and a pinch-hit fielder’s choice from Kennedy Miller, making it the final 9-5.
Erickson reached on a walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh before Harrison got Kobe Ortis to fly out to right field and Walsh to strike out swinging. Following a walk, Arkansas brought in Payton Burnham, who got Williams to line out to Ella McDowell at third base for the final out of the game to earn a save and clinch the series.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Courtney Deifel
On the win…
“Our team just fought all weekend, and for them to turn the page from yesterday, to show up and fight and throw a bunch of punches today, showed a lot of character. I am really proud of them. It is a tough place to come in and play, let alone come in and win the series. I am really proud of Cam (Harrison) for being ready for the moment and competing her butt off. Ella McDowell was exceptional today. It is a tough spot to be in behind Bri (Ellis) when they are obviously going around her and she handled it so well. Reagan Johnson was an absolute difference-maker for us all weekend. It was a big team win and a huge series win. I am really proud of the team.”
Freshman RHP/UTL Cam Harrison
On her performance and the defense…
“My defense had my back the whole way. Knowing who is behind me and knowing that we have the best defense in the country makes be comfortable to throw whatever and whenever. When they put it in play, we are going to get an out.”
NOTABLES
- With the victory, the Razorbacks earned their highest-ranked series win in program history (ESPN/USA Softball Poll). The previous best was No. 3 Georgia (2024) and No. 3 Tennessee (2023).
- Ella McDowell registered her fourth consecutive multi-hit game and 11th multi-hit game this season.
- The victory was head coach Courtney Deifel’s 80th over a ranked opponent at Arkansas. She has accounted for 65% of ranked wins in program history.
- Payton Burnham earned her second save of the season.
- Arkansas has now won 17 of its last 19 road SEC series dating back to the 2020 season, which is the best mark among all SEC members during that time span.
- Kailey Wyckoff recorded her eighth multi-RBI game of the season and her 24th multi-RBI game of her career.
- Arkansas has now won eight of their last nine games in Gainesville (2022 SEC Tournament included) and three straight series over Florida.
- Bri Ellis was intentionally walked three times for the second game this season. She previously accomplished the feat against Illinois on March 1.
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks will look to close out the road trip with a win tomorrow when they visit North Florida for a 4 p.m. midweek tilt. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
