No. 5 Arkansas Falls to No. 4 Nebraska, 5-3 in Extra-Innings in Inaugural WCWS Contest
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 5 National Seed Arkansas Razorbacks fell to the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers, 5-3 in a 10-inning thriller during the Hogs’ first Women’s College World Series game in program history on Thursday evening at Devon Park in front of a record crowd of 12,605.
Nebraska shortstop Ava Kuszak’s two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning accounted for the winning runs in the contest. Arkansas opened the scoring with a two-run home run off the bat of Kailey Wyckoff in the top of the second inning. Nebraska then tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning by way of an RBI single from Samantha Bland and an RBI fielder’s choice from Bella Bacon. Ella McDowell put Arkansas ahead in the top of the eighth inning courtesy of a single to left field that Reagan Johnson scored on from second base. The Huskers responded in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of a solo home run to center field from Hannah Coor before Kuszak walked it off in the bottom of the 10th.
With the loss, Arkansas falls to 47-12 on the season and will be back in action Friday at 8:30 p.m. to face UCLA in an elimination game. With a win, Arkansas will return to action on Sunday at 6 p.m. to face the loser of the UCLA-Alabama game on Saturday.
Johnson led the Razorbacks with a 2-5 night, collecting infield singles in the first and eighth innings. Wyckoff drove in a team-high two runs courtesy of her two-run shot in the top of the second inning. Brinli Bain, Dakota Kennedy, Tianna Bell, Kennedy Miller and McDowell all registered singles in the loss.
Robyn Herron took the loss for Arkansas, striking out one while allowing four runs on five hits and a pair of walks in 5.2 innings of work. Payton Burnham was effective in relief, picking up a strikeout and allowing just one run on three hits and no walks in four innings of work.
Jordy Frahm earned the win for Nebraska to improve to 21-4 on the season. She pitched all 10 innings while striking out nine and allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior left-handed pitcher Robyn Herron earned the start for Arkansas while Nebraska turned to senior right-hander Jordy Frahm.
No. 5 Seed Arkansas was the visiting team in the contest while No. 4 Nebraska was the designated home team.
Reagan Johnson led off the game with an infield single to shortstop, becoming the first player in program history to register a hit at the Women’s College World Series.
Frahm led off the bottom of the first inning with a single through the left side and then advanced to second base by way of a sacrifice bunt. Herron then fanned Hannah Camenzind for the second out of the inning before issuing an inning-ending strikeout.
Dakota Kennedy singled to center field to lead off the top of the second inning and advanced to second courtesy of an error by Nebraska center fielder Hannah Coor. With two outs in the inning, Kailey Wyckoff drove a 1-0 pitch from Frahm over the wall in left-center field to give Arkansas a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Huskers put two on with one out by way of a walk from Jesse Farrell and a single from Samantha Bland, but both would be stranded as Herron induced a groundout and a flyout for the final two outs of the inning.
Both teams were retired in order during the third inning. Herron breezed her way through the home half courtesy of a foulout, a flyout, and a groundout.
Frahm retired the Hogs in order during the top of the fourth inning. Nebraska tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Farrell singled to center field with one out in the inning and then advanced to second on a throwing error from Reagan Johnson before moving to third on a single from Kacie Hoffman. With runners on the corners, Payton Burnham entered the contest in relief of Herron. A bloop single to right field from Bland, followed by an RBI fielder’s choice from Bella Bacon, tied the game at 2-2.
Both sides were sent down in order in the fifth inning. Burham’s 1-2-3 frame was highlighted by Ella McDowell feeling a hard-hit ground ball before throwing across the diamond on her knees for the second out of the inning prior to Burnham recording an inning-ending strikeout.
With one out in the top of the sixth inning, Brinli Bain singled courtesy of a slow roller down the first-base line. Frahm and Nebraska escaped the inning unscathed, however, courtesy of a 1-6-3 double play. Burnham pitched another 1-2-3 frame with a groundout, flyout, and a lineout.
Tianna Bell singled through the left side to lead off the top of the seventh inning before advancing to second base on a walk from Dakota Kennedy. Both moved over a base courtesy of a groundout from Atalyia Rijo with two outs in the frame. Nebraska escaped without damage, as a groundout to first base ended the frame. Burnham spun a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh inning.
Kennedy Miller led off the top of the eighth inning with a single up the middle. She was then pinch-ran for by Kasey Wood, who was replaced at first base after Johnson hit into a fielder’s choice. Johnson moved to second on a groundout from Bain before scoring on an RBI single down the left-field line by Ella McDowell to put Arkansas back in front 3-2.
Nebraska tied the game at 3-3 with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning courtesy of a solo home run from Hannah Coor. Hannah Camenzind doubled to the right-center field gap in the ensuing at-bat after Coor’s home run, prompting Arkansas to bring Herron back to pitch. Herron escaped the inning unscathed courtesy of a pair of groundouts bookending a walk.
Frahm and Herron retired the opposing sides in order, respectively, in the ninth inning.
In the top of the 10th, Johnson singled to shortstop to become the lone Hog to reach in the frame. Coor was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the 10th before advancing to second base on a wild pitch. Following a lineout, Kuszak stepped to the plate and drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in centerfield for a walk-off two-run home run.
NOTABLES
- Arkansas played its first extra-inning game of the season, marking the first 10-inning contest since a 2-1 win over Alabama on March 20, 2023.
- Tonight’s attendance of 12,605 was a Women’s College World Series record.
- Reagan Johnson recorded her 80th career multi-hit game. Her 80 multi-hit games are the most in program history.
- Arkansas is now 29-29 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 22-17 mark under head coach Courtney Deifel.
Up Next
The Razorbacks will face UCLA tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. Kevin Brown and Amanda Scarborough will be on the call.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
