Hogs Fall to No. 10/11 South Carolina 5-4

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.– South Carolina first baseman Arianna Rodi’s three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning proved to be the difference-maker in the No. 10/12 Arkansas Razorbacks’ 5-4 loss to No. 10/11 South Carolina on Saturday evening at Bogle Park.

Arkansas jumped out to an early four-run lead after two innings. A bases-loaded walk from Ella McDowell and an RBI fielder’s choice from Kailey Wyckoff, combined with a throwing error, gave Arkansas a 3-0 lead in the first inning before Raigan Kramer’s RBI single made it 4-0 in the second. South Carolina then cut the Hogs’ lead in half in the top of the third by way of an RBI groundout and wild pitch. Rodi gave the Gamecocks a 5-4 lead that would prove to be the final with a three-run homer to center field in the top of the fifth inning.

Raigan Kramer highlighted the Arkansas efforts at the plate with a 3-4 night, including an RBI and run scored. Reagan Johnson increased her hitting streak to a team-best nine games by going 2-4 with a run scored. Courtney Day (1-4), Wyckoff (1-4, 2B, RBI), Kennedy Miller (1-2, R) and Carlee Ratcliff (1-1) also collected hits.

Cam Harrison took the loss for Arkansas after allowing four hits on three runs and a strikeout in one inning pitched. Robyn Herron was impressive in relief, allowing just one hit in 1.2 innings while escaping a bases-loaded jam with consecutive strikeouts in the sixth inning.

Nealy Lamb (9-0) took the win for the Gamecocks, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with a strikeout in 3.1 innings of relief. Sam Gress earned her fourth save of the season by throwing 2.2 shutout innings with a strikeout and three hits allowed.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Arkansas started freshman Payton Burnham for the 12th time this season while the Gamecocks went back to Friday starter Jori Heard.

Quincee Lilio led off the ballgame with a single up the middle for South Carolina before advancing to second on a ground ball through the left side from Karley Shelton. Burnham then buckled down and escaped the inning with a fielder’s choice and a 5-3 double play from Ella McDowell.

Reagan Johnson and Raigan Kramer both reached on infield singles to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Bri Ellis reached on a fielder’s choice that featured an error on South Carolina second baseman Karley Shelton, who was not on the bag when receiving the throw from shortstop Brooke Blankenship as the bases remained loaded. Ella McDowell then drew a walk to bring in the game’s first run. Arkansas went up 3-0 on an RBI fielder’s choice by Wyckoff that featured a throwing error that allowed Ellis to score from second.

Burnham retired the Gamecocks in order in the second inning courtesy of consecutive groundouts and a strikeout.

Nealy Lamb took over for South Carolina in the circle in the second inning. Arkansas added another run in the home half of the second inning on Raigan Kramer’s RBI single.

South Carolina added two runs in the top of the third on an RBI groundout from Shelton and a wild pitch that scored Emily Vinson, cutting the Razorbacks’ lead to 4-2. In the bottom half, Wyckoff collected her team-leading 13th double of the season with a line drive into the left-center field gap, but that was all the Hogs would get.

Burnham tallied her third scoreless inning in the top of the fourth, yielding just one hit during the stanza. Johnson recorded her second hit of the contest in the bottom of the fourth with an infield single to third base.

Cam Harrison relieved Burnham in the fifth inning.

Cam Harrison relieved Burnham in the fifth inning. Back-to-back singles from Lilio and Shelton put two on before South Carolina went ahead 5-4 courtesy of a three-run home run from first baseman Arianna Rodi with no outs in the frame.

Ellis led off the bottom of the fifth with her second walk of the game. Following the walk and a flyout, the Gamecocks made a pitching change and brought in Sam Gress.  Courtney Day then followed with a one-out single into shallow center field. After a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Atalyia Rijo stepped to the plate and hit a ground ball that went through Rodi’s legs at first base before hitting Day, who was running for second. Day was called out on the play and the inning ended.

In the sixth inning, Burnham came back into the game in place of Harrison following a lead-off single. A double put runners on second and third with no outs. Burnham then issued a groundout for the first out of the frame before Robyn Herron entered from the bullpen. Lilio layed down a bunt and reached on a fielder’s choice after Herron looked back the lead runner at third base, loading the bases. Herron then struck out the next two batters to escape a bases-loaded jam.

The Razorbacks threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning. Carlee Ratcliff reached on a pinch-hit single to center field with one out. Following a flyout, Kramer singled to center field, and Ellis reached on an error to load the bases, but Gress and the Gamecocks would escape unscathed with a flyout to right field to end the inning.

Herron kept the visitors at bay in the seventh, with a one-out single being the only damage she would incur. In the bottom of the seventh, Gress retired the Razorbacks in order courtesy of a groundout, flyout and groundout to wrap up her fourth save of the season and even the series.

NOTABLES

• Reagan Johnson improved her hitting streak to a team-best nine games with a 2-4 night with a run scored.
• The crowd of 3,535 was the 10^th largest in Bogle Park and program history.
• Bri Ellis extended her reached-base streak to 15 games by registering two walks.
• Raigan Kramer tied a season-high with three hits.
• The Razorbacks have not committed an error in 26 of their 39 games this season.

UP NEXT
The Razorbacks will look to take the series with a win in the series finale at 1 p.m. tomorrow on SEC Network+.

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