Hogs’ Season Comes to a Close in Super Regionals

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 3/4 Arkansas Razorbacks’ season came to an end with a 7-4 loss to Ole Miss in game three of the Fayetteville Super Regional on Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks finished their 2025 campaign with a 44-14 overall record while making their fourth Super Regional appearance in program history. The Hogs’ 44 wins were the most since 2022 (48) and tied for the third-most in program history.

Ole Miss built an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning courtesy of a two-run home run from Lair Beautae, a double steal and a delayed steal of home. Arkansas answered with a run in the bottom of the first from a bases-loaded walk from Ella McDowell before plating three in the second inning by way of a two-run single from Courtney Day and an RBI single from Kailey Wyckoff to tie the game. Ole Miss then plated a run in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings with a sacrifice fly from Jaden Pone, an RBI single from Mackenzie Pickens and a solo home run from Lexie Brady.

Day led Arkansas with a single and two RBI in the loss, while Reagan Johnson, Wyckoff, and Kennedy Miller all registered base hits.

Robyn Herron (3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) took the loss for Arkansas to finish her junior campaign with an 18-7 record. Aliyah Binford (5.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 4 K) earned the win for Ole Miss, improving to 11-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams went back to their starting pitchers from game two, with Arkansas starting Payton Burnham and Ole Miss going with Brianna Lopez, who had started every game of the Super Regional for the Rebels.

Jaden Pone led off the game with a walk for Ole Miss before Lair Beautae homered to center field to give the visitors an early 2-0 lead. Following a double from Aliyah Binford, Burnham picked up a strikeout for the first out of the frame. An infield single by Lexi Brady put runners on the corners before Burnham picked up another strikeout for out No. 2. A double steal and an additional steal added two more runs for Ole Miss to give them a 4-0 lead after one.

Raigan Kramer walked with one out in the home half to become the Hogs’ first base runner of the day. Bri Ellis followed with her 67th walk of the season, a batter later. Courtney Day then walked to load the bases with one out.  Lopez registered a strikeout for the second out of the frame before Ella McDowell drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the Rebels’ lead to 4-1.

Robyn Herron entered the circle in place of Burnham to pitch the top of the second. The junior left-hander would record a 1-2-3 frame capped with a strikeout.

Kennedy Miller singled into center field with one out in the bottom of the second before advancing to second on a single from Reagan Johnson. Ellis was then walked to load the bases. Day drove in a pair of runs with an RBI single through the right side to bring the Hogs within one. Ellis had an impressive display of baserunning, going first to third on Day’s base hit. Kailey Wyckoff then tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI single to shortstop.

Beautae was the only baserunner to reach for either side in the third inning, courtesy of a leadoff walk.

Ole Miss loaded the bases in the top of the fourth with a leadoff single from Mackenzie Pickens, a walk and a fielder’s choice that allowed everyone to advance. Ole Miss took a 5-4 lead with two outs on a sacrifice fly to center field from Pone. Herron would minimize the damage with a flyout to left field, keeping the guests’ lead at one.

Binford retired the Razorbacks in order in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth inning, Ole Miss extended its lead to 6-4 with a one-out RBI single to left field from Pickens. Burnham reentered the game with runners on second and third with one out and issued a strikeout. Davison made a spectacular diving stop at second base before throwing the batter out from her knees at first for the final out of the frame.

Binford made it six straight batters retired in the bottom of the fifth.

Both sides were sent down in order in the sixth inning.

Ole Miss added insurance courtesy of a solo home run from Brady with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, increasing the Rebels’ lead to 7-4. Johnson then robbed a home run in center field off the bat of Pickens for the final out of the inning.

Ellis would draw a one-out walk in the seventh inning in her last plate appearance, but that would be all the Hogs would get as Binford wrapped up her 13th victory of the season.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

Opening statement…
“I am heartbroken for this group. I want to congratulate Ole Miss, but I want to focus on this group. The heart and fight that they showed throughout the year … This group was an absolute blast. It was probably the most enjoyable year of coaching I had. We had incredible leadership with our seniors. I am heartbroken for them. What they overcame through the year and this weekend alone. I am so incredibly proud of them. I am really really proud they are Hogs.”

NOTABLES

• The Hogs’ 44 wins this season are tied for the third-most in program history.
• The Razorbacks are 24-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 17-16 mark under Courtney Deifel. She is the only coach in program history with a winning record in NCAA Tournament contests.
• Bri Ellis set the Arkansas single-season runs scored record with 68. KB Sides previously held the record with 67 in 2022. Ellis finished her 2025 season as the program record holder in homers (26), RBI (72), on-base percentage (.639) and slugging percentage (1.090)
• Courtney Day extended her career-best reach-based streak to 21 games with a first-inning walk.
• Raigan Kramer increased her reached-base to 17 games with a first inning walk.

UP NEXT
Arkansas will return to action in the spring of 2026.

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