Hogs Fall to Ole Miss 9-7 in First Game of Super Regional
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 3/4 Arkansas Razorbacks dropped the opening game of their Super Regional to Ole Miss, 9-7, on Friday afternoon at Bogle Park.
Nine Ole Miss runs over the course of the first four innings of play were too much for the Hogs to overcome in the loss. Arkansas threatened with two outs and runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh as Kailey Wyckoff crushed a 2-1 pitch from the Rebels’ Aliyah Binford that Ole Miss right fielder Lair Beautue caught against the wall in right field for the game’s final out.
Wyckoff drove in three of the Razorbacks’ seven runs in the contest courtesy of a three-run home run to left-center field in the bottom of the first inning. For the second consecutive game, Karlie Davison paced the Hogs’ offense with a 2-3 day at the plate, which featured a double and a solo home run in the fifth inning, in addition to two runs scored. Courtney Day (2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB) also tallied multiple hits in the loss.
Cam Harrison was magnificent in relief for Arkansas, throwing four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and two walks. Reis Beuerlein took the loss for Arkansas, falling to 3-2 on the season.
Binford (1-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB) and Ashton Lansdell 1-2, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB) both homered for Ole Miss, while Lansdell posted a game-high three RBI. Miali Guachino (15-12) earned the win in relief after pitching 2.2 innings in which she allowed three hits, two runs and four walks while striking out one. Binford earned her fourth save of the season after striking out three and allowing just one unearned run on two walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the circle, Arkansas started Robyn Herron for the 24th time this season, while Ole Miss went with Brianna Lopez.
Herron issued a flyout and a groundout to open the game before the Rebels’ Aliyah Binford homered to right-center field to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Karlie Davison snagged a line drive at second base for the final out of the frame.
In the bottom of the first inning, Bri Ellis drew her 65th walk of the season. Courtney Day followed with a walk to put two on with two outs. Kailey Wyckoff then crushed a three-run blast to left-center field to put the Hogs ahead, 3-1. The three-run round-tripper was her seventh long ball of the season.
Lexi Brady walked to lead off the top of the second before she was retired courtesy of a 4-6 fielder’s choice. A walk by Ashton Lansdell would put two on with one out. Ole Miss tied the game on a pinch-hit two-out double from Taylor Roman that brought home Brady and Lansdell.
Arkansas threatened with one out in the bottom of the second. Kennedy Miller singled up the middle, and Karlie Davison doubled down the left-field line to put runners on second and third, but Lopez would escape the jam with a 5-2 fielder’s choice and a 4-3 groundout to keep the game tied.
The Razorbacks made a pitching change and went with Reis Beuerlein in the third inning. Ole Miss took a two-run lead courtesy of a pair of two-out RBI doubles from Brady and McKenzie Pickens. A three-run home run from Ashton Lansdell then gave the Rebels a 7-3 lead. Lexi King recorded the final out in the frame after entering the circle following Lansdell’s homer.
Day singled up the middle in the bottom of the third and Ella McDowell walked. With two outs, Atalyia Rijo capped a nine-pitch at-bat by singling into center field to drive home Day and cut the Rebels’ lead to 7-4. Ole Miss went to the bullpen with two outs and brought in freshman Miali Guachino.
After back-to-back singles by Ole Miss to lead off the top of the fourth inning. Arkansas made a pitching change and went to Cam Harrison. Following the pitching change, Ole Miss loaded the bases due to a fielding error. Davison made an impressive leaping catch at second base for the first out of the inning. Ole Miss increased its lead to 8-4 on a sacrifice fly from Brady for the second out. Reagan Johnson made an impressive diving catch on the play to save additional runs from scoring. A bases-loaded walk pushed the lead to 9-4.
Johnson and Kramer drew walks with one out in the home half. Day then singled to left-center field to bring home Johnson and put the Hogs to within four. Wyckoff drew a walk to load the bases, but Guachino and the Rebels escaped with a flyout.
Harrison spun a 1-2-3 top of the fifth inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Davison smashed a solo home run to left-center field to cut the guests’ lead to 9-6. Arkansas loaded the bases courtesy of a double by Johnson, Kramer walking and Ellis being hit by a pitch. However, Guachino and Ole Miss would escape the bases-loaded jam with an inning-ending strikeout.
In the top of the sixth inning, Harrison retired the Rebels in order again. McDowell was the lone Hog to reach base in the bottom of the sixth after being hit by a pitch. Following the walk, Binford entered the circle to pitch the final 1.2 innings of the game.
In the top of the seventh inning, Mackenzie Pickens led off with a single to shortstop. She would later be called out for leaving second base early on a steal attempt. Johnson made the final out of the frame with an impressive catch at the wall in center field.
Davison walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh, then advanced to second on a throwing error on a fielder’s choice which allowed Johnson to reach base. Following consecutive strikeouts, Courtney Day walked to load the bases. Davison then came around to score on a wild pitch that advanced all three runners a base, putting the tying run on second. Wyckoff stepped to the plate and crushed a 2-1 pitch that Ole Miss right fielder Lair Beautae caught against the fence for the game’s final out as Arkansas fell, 9-7.
QUOTABLES
Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel
Opening statement…
“What a game. At the end, when it does not go your way. We were just kind of reflecting on what we can do better, adjustments you can make. What I will say is I am just so incredibly proud of this team and their fight. They battled until the end. Everyone in the stadium and I felt like it was going to get don,e but it did not get done today. We have not done anything easily all year, so I am looking forward to our response.”
NOTABLES
- Arkansas broke a single-season program record with 429 runs scored and 393 RBI, both of which were previously held by the 2022 Razorbacks.
- The Razorbacks are 23-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 16-15 mark under Courtney Deifel. She is the only coach in program history with a winning record in NCAA Tournament contests.
- Bri Ellis scored her 65th run of the season which is the second-most in program history trailing only KB Sides who scored 67 in 2022.
- Courtney Day extended her career-best reach-based streak to 19 games with a first-inning walk.
- Karlie Davison registered her 12th multi-hit game this season and 21st multi-hit game of her career.
- Reagan Johnson increased her reached-base streak to 15 games with a sixth-inning double.
UP NEXT
Arkansas (43-13) will look to bounce back against Ole Miss (41-18) at 8 p.m. tomorrow night in game two of the Super Regional.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
