No. 6/8 Hogs Fall to No. 15/13 Mississippi State in 1-0 Pitcher’s Duel

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 6/8 Arkansas Softball team fell to No. 15/13 Mississippi State, 1-0, in a series-opening pitcher’s duel on Friday evening at Nusz Park on the campus of Mississippi State.

Mississippi State scored the lone unearned run of the game on a passed ball with no outs in the top of the fifth inning that scored Kiarra Sells, who previously led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk and advanced to third on a triple from Morgan Stiles.

Senior Robyn Herron got the start for the Razorbacks, allowing one unearned run on five hits and three walks while striking out five in 4.1 innings. Freshman Saylor Timmerman was impressive in relief, striking out two and allowing no hits and no walks in 1.2 innings.

Dakota Kennedy reached base twice in the loss, courtesy of a single and a walk, while Brinli Bain doubled with one out in the top of the first inning. Kennedy Miller and Atalyia Rijo both reached base courtesy of being hit by a pitch and a walk, respectively.

Peja Goold improved to 14-6 for Mississippi State after pitching a complete game shutout while striking out three and allowing a pair of hits and a pair of walks.

With the loss, Arkansas is now 33-6 this season and 8-5 in SEC play, while Mississippi State improved to 34-9 with a 6-7 mark in league games.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams went with their aces in the circle as Arkansas started Robyn Herron, while Mississippi State gave the ball to Peja Goold.

With one out in the top of the first inning, Brinli Bain doubled down the left-field line for the first hit of the game for Arkansas. In the home half, Herron retired her first two Bulldogs faced courtesy of a groundout and a flyout. Mississippi State designated player Anna Carder singled into left field with two outs in the frame. Following the single, Herron issued a popout to second base for the final out of the frame.

Goold retired the Razorbacks in order in the top of the second inning courtesy of a groundout, popout and flyout.

Mississippi State put runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the second, courtesy of a single from Morgan Bernardini and a double down the right-field line from Des Rivera. A walk from Kinley Keller loaded the bases with one out. Following the walk, Herron issued back-to-back strikeouts to escape the bases-loaded jam unscathed.

Kennedy Miller was hit by a pitch with a full count to lead off the top of the third inning before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Karlie Davison. Miller would be thrown out at third on a 1-5 fielder’s choice from Reagan Johnson for the second out of the frame. Bain then reached on a throwing error to put Hogs on first and second before Goold issued an inning-ending flyout.

Herron struck out the side in the bottom of the third inning.

Dakota Kennedy singled to left-center field to lead off the top of the fourth inning. Mississippi State then turned a 5-4-3 double play for the first two outs of the frame. Atalyia Rijo later walked, but Goold and the Bulldogs would issue a groundout a batter later to complete the scoreless inning.

Nadia Barbary singled into left field to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. Herron issued a popout to Tianna Bell at first on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt from Bernardini for the first out before a hit batter put two on with one out. Kyler Del Duca made an impressive catch along the right-field line for the second out. Barbary tagged up on the fly ball to advance to third base. Herron then issued a groundout to shortstop for the final out of the inning.

In the top of the fifth, Goold retired the Hogs in order. Kiarra Sells led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk and advanced to third on a triple from Morgan Stiles. Mississippi State would take a 1-0 lead courtesy of a passed ball that plated Sells with no outs in the frame. Herron would issue a groundout for the first out of the frame before a walk put runners on the corners with one out. Following the walk, Saylor Timmerman entered the circle and garnered a huge strikeout for out No. 2. She then induced a 6-3 groundout for the final out of the frame, as Mississippi State stranded runners on second and third.

Dakota Kennedy reached base for the second time in the contest with a two-out walk in the top of the sixth inning to become the lone baserunner during the frame for the Hogs. Timmerman retired the Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the sixth inning, courtesy of a strikeout bookend by a pair of groundouts.

Goold wrapped up her complete game shutout with 1-2-3 top of the seventh to give Mississippi State a series-opening win.

NOTABLES

• Arkansas did not allow an earned run for the fourth consecutive game this season. The Hogs now have two four-game streaks without an earned run allowed, having previously accomplished the feat from Feb. 15-21.
• Reagan Johnson registered her 201^st start batting leadoff, which is the second-most in program history, trailing only Devon Wallace, 205 (2012-2015).

Up Next

The Razorbacks will look to even the series tomorrow when they take on the Bulldogs at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Will Kollmeyer (PxP) and Madisyn Farmer (Analyst) on the call.

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