Hogs Sweep Day Two of Texas State Tournament in Record-Breaking Fashion

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Propelled by a program-record 23 runs in game one, the No. 13/14 Arkansas Razorbacks earned a pair of victories by defeating Lipscomb (23-0) and Bradley (3-1) on Friday afternoon during the second day of play at the Texas State Tournament.

In addition to setting a program record for runs scored, Arkansas also set a program record for margin of victory (23 runs) in the win over Lipscomb. The Hogs’ 36 total bases were the second-most in program history, while their six doubles tied for the third-most in a single game, and 11 walks were tied for the seventh-most all-time by a Razorback squad. Raigan Kramer led the way by driving in four runs courtesy of a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly. Freshman Ava Carter went 2-2 with a double, triple, a walk and three RBI. Bri Ellis smashed her 50th career home run with a two-run shot to left field in the top of the fourth inning.

In game two against Bradley, freshman right-handed pitcher Payton Burnham earned her first collegiate win in her first appearance by striking out eight and allowing just one run on three hits and a walk in 6.1 innings of work. Cam Harrison earned her second save in as many days to close the win over Bradley. Five Razorbacks recorded hits in the victory.

GAME ONE

In the day’s opening game against Lipscomb, the Razorback bats exploded for a program-record 23 runs.  Eclipsing the previous mark of 20 set on two separate occasions in 2014. The 23-0 win was also the largest margin of victory in program history.

Arkansas registered 17 hits, 11 of which went for extra bases and 11 walks. The Hogs batted around in the first and second innings by sending 10 and 11 hitters to the plate in each frame respectively.

Senior outfielder Raigan Kramer went 1-4 and led the Razorbacks with four RBI, courtesy of a three-run home run in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the first.  Her four RBI tied a career-high she previously set on May 19, 2023, in an NCAA regional win over Harvard.

Senior first baseman Bri Ellis recorded her 50th career home run with a two-run blast to left in the fourth inning.

Freshman outfielder Ava Carter went 2-2 with a walk and drove in three runs courtesy of a two-run double in the top of the first inning and an RBI triple in the third. Ellis (2-2, 4 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB) and Kailey Wyckoff (2-3, 3 R, 1 BB) also recorded multiple hits in the contest.

In addition to Ellis and Kramer’s round-trippers, Courtney Day hit her first career home run as a Razorback with a two-run shot to right field in the top of the fifth.

In the circle, Reis Beuerlein spun four shutout innings while fanning five and yielding just two hits and one walk to earn the victory in her first appearance of the season. Freshman Lexi King pitched a scoreless fifth inning, allowing one hit in her collegiate debut.

For Lipscomb (0-2), Laine Barefoot took the loss, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks in one pitched inning. Shortstop Alyssa Hastings, center fielder Mallory Ogle and right fielder Grace Cassarello each recorded a hit.

GAME TWO

Burnham retired 11 of her first batters faced while striking out six Braves during the first four innings of work. The only blemish was a second-inning single by Ashley Breed of Bradley.

The Razorbacks got on the board courtesy of an Ellis sacrifice fly that brought home Reagan Johnson with one out in the first. Johnson initially reached on an infield single before stealing second and advancing to third on a fielding error by Bradley pitcher Hannah Organ on a ground ball from Wyckoff. Kennedy Miller then singled through the left side in the ensuing at-bat to score Wyckoff and make it 2-0 in favor of Arkansas.

An Atalyia Rijo walk, Spencer Prigge single and Johnson reaching on a fielder’s choice accounted for the only baserunners in the bottom of the fourth. Johnson would steal second for her second stolen base of the game during the frame.

Kramer doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning and would later come around to score on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from Burnham.

Harrison entered in relief of Burnham with the bases loaded and one out. She got a 3-2 fielder’s choice for the second out of the frame before issuing a walk to the Braves’ Alyssa Mighe to bring the score to 3-1. Harrison then struck out Lauren De Rol for the final out of the game to complete the save as Arkansas improved to 3-0.

Hannah Organ took the loss for Bradley (0-2) to fall to 0-1 on the season.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

On the day…
“it was great. For us to just consistently put crooked numbers up (against Lipscomb), it was huge. I was really pleased overall with the day. I know we’re better than the second game, but we scratched it out and found a way, and hopefully we’ll be better tomorrow.”

On Cam Harrison…
“We said it yesterday. She has guts, she’s ready for that moment and she’s a competitor. We have a lot of faith in her in that moment, as we do in all our pitchers. But she’s built for that moment. We had her in relief both nights anyway, so it kind of worked out really well.”

NOTABLES

• With the wins, Arkansas improved to 35-9 on opening weekend contests under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present).
• Arkansas set a program record with 23 runs scored in the win over Lipscomb. It also marked the largest margin of victory in program history. The previous record of 20 runs scored was set twice in 2014 during wins over Mississippi Valley State (March 8, 2014) and North Dakota State (Feb. 21, 2014).
• The Razorbacks’ 36 total bases were the second-most in program history. Trailing the program record of 40 set in a 19-2 win over Lehigh on March 11, 2022, by four.
• Arkansas has posted a 181-20 overall record when registering 10 or more hits in a single game since 2006, including a 108-11 mark under Courtney Deifel.
• Bri Ellis’ 50 career home runs are tied for the most nationally among all active DI players with Shaylon Govan of Baylor. She became the third Razorback player to reach 50 career home runs during their college career, joining Linnie Malkin (50) and Danielle Gibson-Whorton (60). Malkin is the only player in program history to hit all 50+ home runs as a Razorback, as Ellis started her collegiate career at Auburn and Gibson-Whorton began her career at Arizona State.
• The Razorbacks are 118-41 (.742) in daytime contests since 2021.
• With a pair of wins, it marked the 293rd time that the Razorbacks’ pitching staff has not allowed a home run under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present). Arkansas is 228-65 when accomplishing the feat.
• Arkansas is now 138-21 when hitting two or more home runs as a team under Deifel.
• Courtney Day’s two-run blast in the top of the fifth inning against Lipscomb was her first home run in 684 days.

UP NEXT

The Razorbacks conclude play at the Texas State Tournament tomorrow against Bradley (10 a.m.) and San Diego (12:15 p.m.). Neither game will be streamed or televised.

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