Hogs Fall to Alabama, 4-1 in Series Opener

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite a two-hit performance from OF Dakota Kennedy, the No. 8/9 Arkansas Razorbacks fell to No. 4/6 Alabama, 4-1, during the series opener on Friday evening at Rhoads Stadium on the campus of the University of Alabama.

After four scoreless innings, Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Atalyia Rijo that brought home Dakota Kennedy, who led off the inning with a double off the right-field wall. Alabama then responded in the bottom of the fifth by plating three runs on a one-out bases-clearing double from Alexis Pupillo. The Crimson Tide followed with an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Lauren Johnson, making it the final, 4-1.

Dakota Kennedy led the Razorbacks at the plate by going 2-3 with a double and a run scored, while Karlie Davison (1-1, HBP) also added a single in the loss.

Robyn Herron took the loss in the circle, falling to 9-2 on the season despite allowing just one earned run in her 4.1 innings of work while striking out five and allowing three hits and three walks.

Jocelyn Briski went the distance for Alabama to earn the win. She improved to 9-0 after allowing one earned run and three hits while striking out 14 and surrendering no walks.

With the loss, Arkansas moved to 22-3 overall and 2-2 in SEC play while Alabama improved to 25-0 and 4-0 in league contests.

How it Happened

Both teams rolled out their aces as Robyn Herron of Arkansas and Jocelyn Briski of Alabama both made their ninth starts of the season.

Briski opened the game by striking out the side in the top of the first inning. In the bottom half, Herron struck out her first two batters before the Crimson Tide’s Alexis Pupillo singled through the right side for the game’s first hit. Pupillo’s single would be all Alabama would get, however, as Herron issued a flyout to right field for the final out of the frame.

In the second inning, Briski made it six consecutive batters retired by way of a groundout, flyout, and strikeout. In the bottom of the second, Ana Roman led off the inning with a single up the middle, then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Following Herron issuing her third strikeout of the night, Roman stole third and then tried to advance home on a throw that rolled into left field, but Dakota Kennedy threw her out at the plate for the final out of the frame.

Karlie Davison became the Hogs’ first baserunner of the night by being hit by a pitch with two outs in the top of the third inning. Davison’s hit-by-pitch would be all the Hogs would get as Briski completed the inning with a strikeout.

Alabama threatened in the bottom of the third inning. Lauren Johnson reached on a one-out walk and stole second. Following Herron’s fourth strikeout of the night, Arkansas elected to walk Brooke Wells to put two runners on with two outs. Herron then registered a huge punchout for the final out of the inning.

Briski used a flyout, strikeout, and groundout to retire the Hogs in order in the top of the fourth inning.

Herron issued a lineout to Reagan Johnson in center field for the first out of the home half. Roman followed with a single with one out in the frame before Herron issued a flyout to shallow center field for the second out of the inning before completing the scoreless stanza with a popout to third base.

Dakota Kennedy doubled off the right-field wall to lead off the fifth inning. She then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kailey Wyckoff before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Atalyia Rijo, giving Arkansas a 1-0 lead.

Mari Hubbard drew a pinch-hit walk to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. She would later advance to second on a sacrifice bunt, then take third on an error that also allowed Audrey Vandragriff to reach first. Following the error, Arkansas made a pitching change and brought in Payton Burnham before electing to intentionally walk Wells. Pupillo then gave Alabama a 3-1 lead with a bases-clearing double into right-center field. Following Pupillo’s double, Burnham issued a flyout and a strikeout to end the frame.

Davison led off the top of the sixth inning with a ground ball single through the left side of the infield. Briski would keep the Hogs at bay, however, by striking out the next three batters faced.

Alabama added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Lauren Johnson, increasing the hosts’ lead to 4-1.

With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Kennedy smashed a single through the left side for her second hit of the night. Following Kennedy’s single, Briski struck out her next two batters faced to finish the complete game performance.

NOTABLES

• Dakota Kennedy recorded her ninth career assist by throwing out a Crimson Tide runner at the plate to end the bottom of the second inning.
• Robyn Herron has now reached 499 career strikeouts. She is one strikeout away from becoming just the seventh pitcher in program history to reach the 500 career strikeouts milestone.
• Freshman Brinli Bain’s reached-base streak ended at 24 games, which is a freshman record. Her 24-game reached base streak was the second-longest in program history to open a season, trailing only Devon Wallace (31, 2013). Additionally, her reached-base streak was also the seventh-longest in program history.

Up Next

The Razorbacks will look to even the series tomorrow with the Crimson Tide at 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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