Kennedy’s Three Homers Power Hogs to 11-3 Run-Rule Victory Over Kansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind a 3-3 performance from Dakota Kennedy that featured three home runs and five RBI, the No. 7/8 Arkansas Razorbacks walloped Kansas, 11-3 (5 inn.), to improve to 19-1 and complete an undefeated showing in the Wooo Pig Classic on Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park.

Kennedy became just the third Razorback in program history to hit three or more home runs in a single game. Prior to Kennedy, the only other Hogs to accomplish the feat were Danielle Gibson, who hit four home runs while completing the home run cycle in a win over SIU-Edwardsville (Feb. 28, 2022) and Rylin Hedgecock, who hit three in a win over Kentucky (April 22, 2023).

The senior left fielder smashed a solo home run to center field in the first inning before blasting a two-run homer to right field in the bottom of the second and finishing her day with a two-run shot to left-center field. It marked her first career three-homer game and her sixth career multi-homer game. She also registered her third career 5+ RBI game.

Arkansas is now on a 17-game winning streak, the second-longest in program history, trailing only a 19-game streak in 2022. Fourteen of the Hogs’ 19 victories have been by the run-rule variety.

The Razorbacks’ offense set the tone early by plating five in the first inning before scoring two in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the fifth.

In addition to Kennedy’s historic day at the plate, Karlie Davison drove in three runs courtesy of a no-doubt homer to left field in the bottom of the first inning. Kailey Wyckoff (2-3, RBI, R) and Reagan Johnson (2-3, 2 R) also provided multiple hits in the victory.

Robyn Herron earned the win for Arkansas by pitching three no-hit innings in which she struck out five and allowed only two walks. Lila Partridge took the loss for Kansas after surrendering five runs on three hits and two walks during 0.2 innings of action.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Robyn Herron earned the start for Arkansas, while Kansas went with right-hander Lila Partridge.

Herron struck out two in the top of the first inning before issuing a walk. The Jayhawks’ Ella Boyer then hit a towering shot towards center field that looked to potentially put Kansas ahead 2-0 before Reagan Johnson robbed her of a home run with a leaping catch at the wall to keep the score at zero.

Dakota Kennedy put Arkansas on the scoreboard with a solo home run to center field with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Ella McDowell walked in the next at-bat before advancing to second on a two-out walk from Brinli Bain. Kailey Wyckoff then increased the Hogs’ lead to 2-0 with a single down the right-field line before Karlie Davison put Arkansas ahead, 5-0, with a three-run shot to left field.

Herron issued a walk to lead off the second inning before promptly striking out the next three batters faced. In the bottom half, Reagan Johnson legged out a one-out infield single to shortstop. Following Johnson’s single, Kennedy then blasted a solo home run to right field to push the Hogs’ lead to 7-0.

In the third inning, Herron retired the Jayhawks in order courtesy of three consecutive groundouts. Bain doubled to left-center field to lead off the home half of the third. She later advanced to third on an infield single from Kailey Wyckoff. Following a flyout, Wyckoff got into a rundown between first and second that allowed Bain to score from third base.

Saylor Timmerman entered in relief of Robyn Herron in the fourth. Kansas plated three runs in the top of the fourth inning courtesy of RBI doubles from Hailey Cripem, Kadence Stafford, and Ava Wallace. Payton Burnham would face four batters in the frame in relief of Timmerman.

Kennedy added her third and final home run in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run shot to left-center field. Johnson scored on Kennedy’s homer after reaching on an infield single. McDowell also recorded a hit in the frame with a single to center field following the round-tripper

Burnham retired the first two batters in the top of the fifth inning with a strikeout and a flyout before Cam Harrison entered in relief and struck out her only batter faced.

In the bottom of the fifth, Davison walked with one out in the frame. She was then pinch-ran for by Kyler Del Duca. Following the substitution at first base, Atalyia Rijo laced a double down the left-field line that Del Duca scored on from first base to complete the run-rule and give Arkansas an 11-3 win.

Arkansas Outfielder Dakota Kennedy

On her three home runs…
“Obviously, three home runs is big. I do not think I have done that in my career. Either way, I was just trying to trust the plan and do it for the team. I did not try to hit home runs; it just came. I was trusting the plan and doing anything I could for the team.”

NOTABLES

• Arkansas increased its winning streak to 17 games. The Hogs’ 17-game winning streak is tied for the second-longest in program history, trailing only a 19-game winning streak in 2019. It marks the 11^th season in program history in which the Hogs have recorded a winning streak of 10+ games.
• Freshman Brinli Bain extended her reached-base streak to 20 games. She has now reached safely in all 20 of her collegiate games. She is the first freshman to reach in the first 20 games of her career in program history.
• Against teams with a bird mascot in her collegiate career, Robyn Herron is now 14-0 with a 0.98 ERA in 78.2 innings pitched.
• Reagan Johnson now has 248 career hits. Johnson needs 14 more hits to break the all-time Arkansas career hits record, held by Hannah McEwen (261)
• Dakota Kennedy became just the third Razorback in program history to hit three or more home runs in a single game. Prior to Kennedy, the only other Hogs to accomplish the feat were Danielle Gibson, who hit four home runs while completing the home run cycle in a win over SIU-Edwardsville (Feb. 28, 2022) and Rylin Hedgecock, who hit three in a win over Kentucky (April 22, 2023).
• Dakota Kennedy recorded her first career three-homer game and her sixth career multi-homer game while also registering her third career 5+ RBI game.

Up Next

The Razorbacks return to action and open SEC play when they host Georgia at Bogle Park, March 6-9.

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