No. 12/15 Arkansas Falls in Doubleheader Against No. 1 Oklahoma
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 12/15 Arkansas Razorbacks’ fell in both ends of a doubleheader to No. 1 Oklahoma by the scores of 7-0 and 6-4 as the Sooners earned a series victory on Saturday afternoon at Bogle Park.
Both games were closer than the final score indicated, as Oklahoma held a one-run lead heading into the seventh inning in both contests.
Ella McDowell and Bri Ellis highlighted the Razorbacks’ offense during the nightcap, as McDowell went 2-4 with two RBIs, while Ellis had a 2-3 showing, scoring two runs scored and a walk. Raigan Kramer went 1-2 with an RBI single, a run scored and two walks during the loss. Courtney Day (1-3, 2B, SH) and Kailey Wyckoff 1-4, R) also collected hits. Freshman right-handed pitcher Payton Burnham gave the Razorbacks a solid start in the circle by throwing 5.1 innings and striking out three while allowing four runs on five hits and two walks.
During the day’s opening contest, Oklahoma held a 1-0 lead heading into the seventh before putting the game away with a six-run top of the seventh inning. Reagan Johnson reached base twice courtesy of a walk and a single, while Kramer doubled and Wyckoff singled to round out the Hogs’ hits. The Sooners’ right-handed ace, Sam Landry, threw a complete-game shutout and struck out four while allowing three hits and a walk to earn her seventh win of the season.
GAME TWO
Payton Burnham made her seventh start of the season for Arkansas (20-5, 1-4 SEC), while Oklahoma (25-0, 5-0 SEC) turned to junior left-hander Kierston Deal.
Burnham worked a scoreless top of the first, which was highlighted by an inning-ending strikeout of the Sooners’ Kasidi Pickering.
Bri Ellis walked in the bottom half, becoming the first baserunner of the game for Arkansas. Raigan Kramer then followed with a walk to put two on with two outs, but Deal would escape with an inning-ending strikeout.
In the second inning, Burnham kept the Sooners off the board again while picking up her second strikeout. Abigale Dayton singled up the middle with two outs in the stanza for the game’s first hit.
Ella McDowell led off the bottom of the second with a bloop single to right field for the Hogs first hit and Karlie Davison reached base after being hit by a pitch.
Burnham retired the Sooners in order in the third inning. In the home half, Kailey Wyckoff doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a Ellis single that featured a throwing error to put runners on second and third with no outs. Kramer gave Arkansas a 1-0 lead with a single to right-center field before McDowell brought home another run with a hard-hit ground ball to second base.
Oklahoma answered with a double from shortstop Gabbie Garcia with two outs in the fourth inning that scored Nelly McEnroe-Marinas. Garcia would end the inning trying to unsuccessfully stretch the double into a triple as a good throw from Reagan Johnson and relay throw from Karlie Davison beat her by several steps.
Oklahoma regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning courtesy of a two-run home run from catcher Isabella Emerling, to make it 3-2 in favor of the visitors.
In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Ellis led off with a line drive single into center field followed by a walk from Kramer. Courtney Day then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third with one out. McDowell tied the game at 3-3 with a hard-hit ground ball single through the right side that brought home Ellis. Atalyia Rijo then gave Arkansas a 4-3 lead with a perfectly executed squeeze bunt that scored Kramer.
In the sixth inning, Oklahoma took the lead for good by plating two runs in the inning. The Sooners’ Kasidi Pickering’s solo round-tripper to right-center field tied the game with one out in the inning. Following the homer, Arkansas made a pitching change and brought in game one starter Robyn Herron in place of Burnham. OU would load the bases courtesy of a double, a hit batter and a walk before a bases-loaded walk made it 5-4.
Sam Landry came out of the bullpen and pitched two shutout innings in relief for OU to earn her second save of the season. She retired the Hogs’ in order sixth before Oklahoma added insurance in the seventh courtesy of an RBI single from McEnroe-Marinas to make it the final, 6-4.
Courtney Day hit a double down the right field line with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for the Hogs’ lone hit of the inning.
Isabella Smith (7-0) earned the win for Oklahoma by allowing one hit in one inning of relief. Roby Herron (1.2, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) took the loss for Arkansas to fall to 7-3.
GAME ONE
Oklahoma got on the board in the top of the first courtesy of a solo home run to left field by McEnroe Marinas. Reagan Johnson made an impressive catch at the wall in left center-field to end the inning.
Johnson led off the home half with a walk. Kailey Wyckoff then beat the shift with a single through the left side that advanced Johnson to second. Oklahoma would escape the inning unscathed courtesy of a strikeout and 4-3 ground ball double play.
Herron spun a scoreless top of the second inning, highlighted by a 5-4-3 double play. Landry retired the Hogs in order in the home half.
In the top of the third, Herron struck out fanned three while yielding just one walk to keep the Sooners at bay. Johnson beat out an infield single with two outs in the bottom of the third.
A Raigan Kramer double down the right field line was the highlight of the scoreless fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Herron also fanned two batters in the top of the fourth.
Oklahoma then put the game away with a six-run top of the seventh inning that featured five hits and three walks. Cam Harrison entered the game with a score of 6-0 and one out. An RBI double from Ailana Agbagni made it the final 7-0. Harrison fanned the two following batters after the double to end the inning.
Landry then retired the Hogs in order to end the contest and close out the complete-game shutout. Herron (6.1 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 8 BB, 5 K) took the loss for Arkansas.
NOTABLES
- Raigan Kramer is one walk away from ranking seventh in program history in career walks. She currently has 90 career walks.
- The crowd of 3,124 was a program record for an SEC Home Opener.
- Bri Ellis registered her 12th multi-hit game of the season and 39th of her career with a pair of hits in the nightcap.
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks will close out the series against the Sooners on Sunday at 11 a.m. The game will be televised nationally on SEC Network.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
