No. 7/10 Razorbacks Blank No. 5/7 Texas, 2-0 to Take Series Opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind 6.1 shutout innings from senior LHP Robyn Herron, along with timely hitting and clean defense, the No. 7/10 Arkansas Razorbacks blanked the No. 5/7 Texas Longhorns, 2-0, to take the series opener on Thursday evening at McCombs Field.

Arkansas took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Dakota Kennedy and Karlie Davison both walked to start the frame. Ava Carter then came in as a pinch runner for Kennedy and moved to third on a sacrifice from Atalyia Rijo before scoring on an RBI groundout from Kailey Wyckoff. Tianna Bell made it the final, 2-0, an inning later with a single down the left field line that scored Reagan Johnson, who led off the inning with an infield single. Texas threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on second and third with one out, but Arkansas escaped unscathed courtesy of a fielder’s choice that put out the lead runner and a flyout to left field to end the game.

With the win, Arkansas improved to 40-9 overall and 14-8 in SEC play. With the victory, the Hogs recorded their eighth 40-win season in program history, six of which have come during head coach Courtney Deifel’s tenure (2026, 2025, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2018).

Herron (15-4) was electric during her 15th victory in the circle this season. The Tampa, Fla., product limited the potent Longhorn offense to just four hits while issuing no walks and striking out eight in her 6.1 innings of work. Payton Burnham recorded two crucial outs in the bottom of the seventh inning before Herron returned to the game to induce a flyout to Kyler Del Duca in left field for the final out of the contest. In addition to Bell and Johnson’s singles, Brinli Bain went 1-2 with a double and a walk, while Atalyia Rijo and Kennedy Miller also drew walks in the victory. Dakota Kennedy and Karlie Davison both reached base after being hit by a pitch.

Teagan Kavan took the loss for Texas (38-9, 15-7 SEC), falling to 19-4 on the season, allowing just two runs on three hits and two walks in 7.0 innings of work.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the circle, Robyn Herron got the ball for Arkansas while Texas turned to Teagan Kavan.

Brinli Bain recorded the first hit of the game courtesy of a double into the left-center field gap with one out in the top of the first inning. The two-bagger was her 17th of the season, which put her in sole possession of third all-time in the single-season program record books.

In the bottom of the first inning, Herron fanned her first two batters faced and induced a flyout to complete a 1-2-3 inning.

Dakota Kennedy and Karlie Davison were hit by pitches to open the second inning before advancing on a sacrifice bunt from Atalyia Rijo. Kailey Wyckoff then gave Arkansas a 1-0 lead courtesy of an RBI groundout to second base.

Bain made an impressive catch along the right-field line for the first out in the home half of the second inning. Herron then followed with a strikeout before Bain tracked down a flyball in the right-center field gap for the final out of the stanza.

In the top of the third, Reagan Johnson reached on a perfectly slapped leadoff infield single before moving to second on a groundout with two outs. Tianna Bell then ripped a single down the left-field line that scored Johnson from second and increased the Hogs’ lead to 2-0.

The Longhorns’ Kaiah Altmeyer registered the first hit of the game for Texas with an infield single to lead off the bottom of the third. She would then move to second on a sacrifice bunt before being stranded courtesy of Herron’s fourth strikeout of the night and a groundout.

Kavan retired the Hogs in order during the top of the fourth inning. Herron retired the first two batters faced in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of a strikeout and groundout, before Reese Atwood singled to left field. Davison then made an incredible leaping catch on a line drive off the bat of Leighanne Goode to end the inning.

Bain was the lone Razorback to reach in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out walk. Herron retired the Texas lineup in order in the bottom of the fifth inning with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.

Both sides were sent down in order during the sixth inning. Herron turned in another masterful 1-2-3 inning while striking out her seventh and eighth batters of the night.

Atalyia Rijo led off the top of the seventh with a walk and advanced to second on a one-out walk from Kennedy Miller. Texas third baseman Jayce Nichols then turned an impressive 5-4 double play to end the inning by snagging a screaming line drive off the bat of Reagan Johnson.

Viviana Martinez led off the bottom of the first inning with a single through the right side.  Following the single, Arkansas elected to bring in sophomore Payton Burham for a save opportunity. Following a flyout and Adayah Wallace entering the game as a pinch runner for Martinez, the Longhorns’ Goode doubled off the top of the left field wall to put runners on second and third with just one out. Burnham then induced a groundout to Ella McDowell at third, who caught Wallace in a rundown for the second out of the inning. Following the rundown, Herron was reinserted into the circle and induced a flyout to left field for the final out of the game.

NOTABLES

• Brinli Bain increased her reached base streak to 12 games courtesy of a double. She also moved into third in program history in single season doubles with 17.
• Kennedy Miller increased her career-high reached base streak to 17 games with a walk.
• Arkansas recorded its eighth 40-win season in program history, six of which have come during head coach Courtney Deifel’s tenure (2026, 2025, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2018). She now has 399 wins in her 11 seasons at Arkansas.

• Arkansas is 37-6 when Robyn Herron goes 5+ innings during a start in her collegiate career.
• Arkansas is 150-41 since 2001, when its pitching staff issues no walks in a game.
• The Razorbacks are 96-18 when issuing no walks under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present).

Up Next

Arkansas will look to take the series tomorrow at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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