Hogs Fall in Series Finale to No. 7 Tennessee, 3-2
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 14 Arkansas Razorbacks fell to No. 7 Tennessee, 3-2, in the final game of a three-game series on Monday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium as the Lady Vols spoiled the Razorbacks’ chance for a sweep.
Hits were few as both teams combined for just five hits, and all runs were scored in the first inning.
Arkansas opened the scoring on a two-run blast from Bri Ellis with two outs in the top of the first inning. Tennessee would then plate three runs in the bottom of the first with the aid of three walks, a sacrifice fly and a two-run double from Laura Mealer.
Arkansas junior right-handed pitcher Reis Beuerlein was impressive in her relief outing. The Cave Creek, Ariz., product threw 5.1 no-hit innings while striking out six batters and allowing just two walks.
Kailey Wyckoff (1-3, 1 R) and Ella McDowell (1-3) also recorded hits in the loss for Arkansas in addition to Ellis’ (1-3, HR, 2 RBI, 1 R) two-run home run.
Cam Harrison (3-1) took the loss for Arkansas after allowing three runs on two hits and three walks in 0.2 innings pitched. Karlyn Pickens earned the win for Tennessee to move to 11-4 after pitching 4.1 innings of no-hit ball with six strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Freshman Cam Harrison made her sixth start in the circle for the Razorbacks this season, while Tennessee turned to right-hander Sage Mardjetko.
Kailey Wyckoff singled up the middle with two outs in the top of the first inning. Bri Ellis followed with a two-run home run to center field to put Arkansas up, 2-0. The two-run shot was her 17th of the season and extended her hitting streak to six games.
Tennessee loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first courtesy of a leadoff single from Saviya Morgan, followed by back-to-back walks. Following the free passes, Harrison fanned McKenna Gibson for the first out of the inning. Tennessee then cut the Hogs’ lead to 2-1 on a sacrifice fly from Sophia Nugent. Laura Mealer gave the Lady Vols a 3-2 lead with a double off the wall in right field. Reis Beuerlein relieved Harrison with two outs and runners on the corners in the stanza and registered an inning-ending strikeout.
Ella McDowell legged out an infield single to lead off the second inning and advanced to second base on a wild pitch with two outs but would be stranded. Beuerlein spun a scoreless bottom of the second, highlighted by an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play from Karlie Davison and Atalyia Rijo.
Wyckoff reached on an error by Tennessee center fielder Kinsey Fielder in the top of the third inning. Following the error, Tennessee went back to their Saturday starter Karlyn Pickens.
Neither team got on the board in the third inning, as each side had a runner reach on an error. Beuerlein fanned three Lady Vols in the bottom half.
Beuerlein highlighted a scoreless fourth inning with a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom half that was capped with a strikeout.
Pickens and Beuerlein exchanged 1-2-3 innings in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Arkansas nearly mounted a two-out rally in the seventh inning. Karlie Davison hit a hard ground ball to second base to reach on an error and Kennedy Miller followed with a walk to put the potential winning run on first base, but Pickens would end the contest and give Tennessee a 3-2 win with a strikeout.
NOTABLES
- Despite the loss in the series finale, Razorbacks became the first team to win an SEC series in Knoxville since they accomplished the feat previously on March 18-20, 2022, when they took the first two games of the three-game set. Tennessee entered the series having won 17 of their last 18 league series, including 11 straight at home.
- Arkansas has now won 16 of its last 18 road series in SEC play since 2021, which is the best mark among all SEC members during that time span.
- Bri Ellis hit her 17th home run of the season with a two-run shot to center field in the first inning. She now has 65 career home runs, which leads all active DI players.
- Arkansas is now 23-1 when out-hitting opponents this season and 272-26 when doing so under head coach Courtney Deifel.
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks will return home to Bogle Park next weekend (March 28-30) for a three-game league series with the Kentucky Wildcats.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
