No. 5 Arkansas Advances to Regional Final with 9-1 Run-Rule Victory Over South Florida

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 5 national seed Arkansas Razorbacks advanced to the 2026 Fayetteville NCAA Regional Final courtesy of a 9-1 six-inning run-rule win over South Florida that featured a grand slam from senior INF Karlie Davison on Saturday afternoon at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks were the visiting team in the contest. Arkansas raced out to a massive 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Reagan Johnson led off the game with an infield single and then moved to second base courtesy of a walk from Brinli Bain. Ella McDowell smashed a single to left field that allowed Johnson to score and put the Hogs ahead 1-0. Karlie Davison later stepped to the plate and crushed a grand slam over the wall in left field to complete the five-run frame. Davison’s grand slam was the Hogs’ eighth of the season, which set a new single-season program record, eclipsing the previous mark of seven in 2022. Arkansas added three more runs in the third inning by way of an RBI single from Atalyia Rijo and a two-run triple courtesy of Kailey Wyckoff. South Florida responded with a run in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly from Toryn Fulton, cutting the Arkansas lead to 8-1. In the top of the sixth inning, Dakota Kennedy added the ninth and final run of the game with an RBI double into the left-center field gap.

With the win, Arkansas improved to 44-11 overall and earned its 23rd run-rule victory of the season. The Hogs will await the conclusion of game five tonight, which they will play the winner of tomorrow at 1 p.m. for a chance to move on to the Super Regionals next weekend. Arkansas’ opponent will have to beat them twice tomorrow to advance.

The Hogs recorded nine hits in the victory. Davison led the efforts at the plate for Arkansas with a 1-3 day that featured two runs scored and four RBI courtesy of her first-inning grand slam. Johnson (2-4, R) and Kennedy (2-3, R, 2B, BB) both registered multiple hits in the win. Robyn Herron improved to 16-6 on the season after striking out three and allowing just one run on three hits and no walks over four innings of work. Saylor Timmerman pitched the final two innings of relief and registered a strikeout while yielding just one hit.

Anne Long fell to 22-6 for South Florida (43-16) after allowing five runs on four hits and a walk while picking up a strikeout in 0.1 innings of work.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Left-handed senior Robyn Herron made her 21st start for Arkansas while South Florida turned to right-handed sophomore Anne Long.

Reagan Johnson led off the game with an infield single over the first baseman’s head before moving to second on a walk from Brinli Bain. Ella McDowell gave Arkansas a 1-0 lead courtesy of an RBI single into left field that scored Johnson from second. Arkansas then loaded the bases courtesy of a single from Dakota Kennedy. Karlie Davison followed by smashing a grand slam over the wall in left field to put Arkansas ahead, 5-0. The grand slam was the Hogs’ eighth of the season, setting a new single-season program record and topping the previous mark of seven set in 2022.

Herron retired the Bulls in order during the bottom of the first inning while registering a pair of strikeouts.

Johnson and Brinli Bain both reached base in the top of the second inning, courtesy of a bunt single and a walk, respectively. In the bottom of the second inning, Herron retired South Florida in order while picking up her third strikeout of the day for the second out of the frame. McDowell made an impressive play at third base for the final out of the inning.

Kennedy and Davison both reached on walks to open the third inning. Atalyia Rijo followed Davison’s walk with an RBI single off the wall in center field that scored Kasey Wood from second, who entered in place of Kennedy as a pinch runner. Kailey Wyckoff then followed with a bases-clearing triple off the very top of the wall in left-center field, extending the Hogs’ lead to 8-0.

In the home portion of the third inning, South Florida’s Jamia Nelson recorded the Bulls’ first hit of the contest by doubling into right-center field. She would later come around to score on a sacrifice fly from Toryn Fulton to cut the Arkansas lead to 8-1.

McKenna Schroding, who entered the game at the beginning of the top of the third inning, retired the Razorbacks in order in the top of the fourth, courtesy of two groundouts and a strikeout.

Herron recorded her third scoreless frame of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning, highlighted by an inning-ending 6-3 double play from Atalyia Rijo.

Wyckoff was the lone Hog to reach base during the top of the fifth inning after getting hit by a pitch with one out.

Saylor Timmerman relieved Herron in the bottom of the fifth inning and spun a scoreless inning while allowing just one hit, courtesy of a hitter-friendly infield single from Dania Brooks.

Tianna Bell singled down the right-field line with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Ava Carter then pinch-ran for Bell and scored on an RBI double from Kennedy, making it the final 9-1.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Timmerman retired her first two batters faced by way of a strikeout and a flyout. The Bulls’ Alexa Galligani reached on a throwing error that allowed her to move to second. She later took third on a wild pitch before Timmerman induced a groundout to third base for the final out of the contest.

NOTABLES

• The Razorbacks registered their 23rd run-rule victory of the season, which tied the single-season program record initially set in 2025.
• Arkansas is 307-9 when scoring eight or more runs all-time, including a 172-1 mark during the Courtney Deifel era (2016-present). The Razorbacks are on a 120-game winning streak when scoring 8+ runs. The last loss the Razorbacks had when accomplishing the feat was a 12-11 loss to Oklahoma State on Feb. 11, 2021, during the season opener at the Best on the Bayou Classic in Monroe, La.
• Arkansas is now 26-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 19-16 mark under head coach Courtney Deifel. The Razorbacks have now won five consecutive regional round games dating back to 2025.
• The Razorbacks are 98-18 when issuing no walks under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present). Arkansas has won 24 of its last 25 when issuing zero walks dating back to April 6, 2023.
• The Razorbacks 44 wins are tied for the third-most in program history, trailing only a 46-win season in 1999 and the 2022 squad’s 48 wins. Arkansas has now matched last season’s win total.

Up Next

The Razorbacks will await the decision of game five tonight to determine their opponent tomorrow. Arkansas will play at 1 p.m. tomorrow. The television designation for the matchup has yet to be announced.

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