McDowell’s Homer Lifts Hogs to Series Sweep of Kentucky
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A sixth-inning solo home run from freshman Ella McDowell and strong pitching and defense helped the No. 12/14 Arkansas Razorbacks defeat Kentucky 2-1 to complete a series sweep of the Wildcats on Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park.
It marked the first sweep over a conference opponent since March 31-April 2, 2023, when Arkansas swept Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. It was the first sweep at Bogle Park for the Hogs since April 29-May 1, 2022, when they took all three games against South Carolina.
Both teams got on the scoreboard in the first inning as Kentucky’s Ally Hutchins led off the contest with a solo home run to center field to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Arkansas tied things up in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly from Bri Ellis. Following four and a half scoreless frames, McDowell stepped to the plate to lead off the sixth inning and smashed a 1-1 pitch from Kentucky pitcher Carson Fall over the wall in center field for a game-winning solo home run. Kentucky threatened in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but the Razorbacks’ Payton Burnham would issue an infield popup to Karlie Davison at second base for the game’s final out as Arkansas improved to 26-7 and 6-6 in SEC play.
Reagan Johnson paced the Arkansas offense by tying a single-game season-high with three hits during a 3-4 effort at the plate, in addition to stealing two bases and scoring a run. McDowell (2-3, HR, RBI, R) and Karlie Davison (2-2, BB) also registered multiple hits in the win.
Payton Burnham improved to 8-2 on the season after picking up the victory in relief, courtesy of three shutout innings that featured a strikeout and just two hits and two walks allowed. Reis Beuerlein was impressive in her fifth start of the season. The right-handed junior’s only blemish was the leadoff homer, as she allowed just one run on a hit and a walk while striking out three in four innings of work.
Carson Fall took the loss for Kentucky (21-15, 5-7 SEC) to fall to 3-3, she allowed two earned runs on five hits and five walks while striking out two in five innings pitched.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the circle, Reis Beuerlein made her fifth start of the season for Arkansas, while Kentucky turned to freshman Carson Fall.
Ally Hutchins led off the game with a home run to center field, giving the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. Beuerlein rebounded by retiring the next three batters faced courtesy of back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout.
Reagan Johnson reached on a bunt single to lead off the home half of the first. She would later steal second and advance to third on a ground out with one out in the inning. Bri Ellis tied things up with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left-center field that allowed Johnson to score.
In the second, Beuerlein retired the Wildcats in order while picking up her third strikeout. Ella McDowell and Karlie Davison both singled in the bottom half.
A two-out walk by the Wildcat’s Allie Hutchins was all Beuerlein would allow in the top of the third. Johnson reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the third and later stole second base to register her second steal of the contest.
Beuerlein registered a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth. Davison became the lone baserunner in the bottom half after reaching on a two-out walk.
In the fifth inning, Arkansas brought in Payton Burnham, who retired Kentucky in order while registering a punchout in the process.
Johnson led off the bottom of the fifth with her second hit of the contest by singling up the middle. She was later called out on a would-be successful stolen base attempt due to leaving early. Kramer and Ellis followed with walks after the runner left early. Kramer advanced to third on a long foul out by Day with two outs. Ellis later stole second to get into scoring position, but Kentucky escaped unscathed as a groundout to first base ended the inning.
Burnham recorded another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, highlighted by a diving catch by Ella McDowell at third for the last out of the frame.
McDowell stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth and blasted a 1-1 pitch from Fall over the center field wall for a game-winning solo home run to put Arkansas ahead for good, 2-1. Following an error that allowed Atalyia Rijo to reach. Kentucky went to Sarah Haendiges, who for the remainder of the contest. Karlie Davison singled through the left side and Johnson registered her third hit of the game with a single to third base with one out, but Kentucky would end the inning with a double play.
Madyson Clark led off the top of the seventh with a single to third base to put the leadoff runner on for Kentucky. Atalyia Rijo then turned a double play by snagging a screaming line drive off the bat of Peyton Plotts and throwing out Clark, who was retreating to first base. Kentucky did not go down without a fight, though, as a single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases before Burnham issued a popout to Karlie Davison at second base for the game’s final out as the Razorbacks earned a gutsy 2-1 win to sweep the Wildcats.
NOTABLES
- Arkansas earned its first SEC series sweep since March 31-April 2, 2023 (at Mississippi State) and first at home since April 29-May 1, 2022 (South Carolina).
- Reagan Johnson recorded her 11th career three-hit game and 58th career multi-hit game.
- Raigan Kramer registered her 100th career walk, becoming just the fifth player in program history to accomplish the feat.
- Arkansas is now 21-2 when not committing an error this season. The Hogs did not commit a single error the entire series.
- Arkansas now leads the all-time series with Kentucky, 40-28 and owns a 23-13 advantage in games played in Fayetteville.
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks will look to continue their winning ways in SEC play when they visit Florida for a three-game series on April 4-6.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
