No. 7/8 Arkansas Slugs Past Northwestern, 9-8
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 7/8 Arkansas increased its winning streak to 11 games by slugging its way past Northwestern, 9-8 on Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park to conclude a 5-0 showing in the Razorback Invitational.
Arkansas raced out to a six-run lead in the first two innings before Northwestern cut the Hogs’ lead to one with a five-run third inning and later tied the game with a solo home run in the fourth inning. Atalyia Rijo then put the Hogs ahead for good with a three-run blast to right field in the bottom of the fifth. The Wildcats made it a one-run game in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run, but Robyn Herron would promptly strike out the last three batters of the contest to earn her sixth win of the season and improve Arkansas to 13-1.
Rijo led Arkansas with a 2-3 day that featured three RBI, all on her fifth-inning homer, in addition to two runs scored. Ella McDowell had a 2-3 day at the plate with two RBI, a walk and two runs scored. McDowell’s day was highlighted by a two-run round-tripper in the bottom of the second inning. Ramsey Walker entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the third inning and went 2-3 with a double and a run scored.
Herron improved to 6-0 for Arkansas by striking out seven and allowing three runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of relief work. Northwestern’s Renae Cunningham took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in one inning of relief.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cam Harrison made her second start of the season for Arkansas, while Northwestern started right-hander Riley Grudzilanek.
In the top of the first inning, Harrison retired the first batter of the ballgame, Northwestern’s Grace Neito, with a groundout to third base. Kelsey Nader doubled off the right-field wall in the next at-bat, but that would be all the Wildcats would get, however, as Harrison retired the next two by way of a strikeout and flyout.
Ella McDowell laced a single up the middle in the bottom first inning with two outs before coming around to score on an RBI single off the right-field wall from Brinli Bain, which gave the Hogs a 1-0 lead.
Harrison recorded another strikeout during a scoreless top of the second inning while issuing a pair of walks.
Kennedy Miller was plunked by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Atalyia Rijo moved her to second with a single to left field. Arkansas then increased its lead to 4-0 when Reagan Johnson laid down a bunt that Northwestern third baseman Tru Medina threw away down the first base line, allowing everyone to score. The Wildcats threw up their hands, claiming the ball was trapped in the tarp behind first base, but picked it up before the umpires inspected it. Following a lengthy review, the umpires ruled there was not enough evidence to overturn the call, and the play stood, allowing the Razorbacks to maintain a four-run lead. Dakota Kennedy doubled down the left-field line in the next at-bat before McDowell homered to center field to increase the Hogs’ advantage to 6-0.
Northwestern struck back with five runs in the top of the third inning courtesy of three singles, a double, three walks, and a passed ball. Timmerman relieved Harrison in the circle with one out in the inning before Arkansas brought in Robyn Herron, who recorded the final out of the frame. Ramsey Walker registered a pinch-hit one-out single in the bottom of the third, and Karlie Davison doubled down the right-field line, but both were stranded to end the inning.
The Wildcats’ Emma Raye tied the game with a solo home run off the right-field foul pole with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Tianna Bell and McDowell both walked with one out in the home half, but a 6-3 double play ended an Arkansas scoring threat to keep the game tied at six.
Herron buckled down and retired the Cats in order during the top of the fifth with a flyout, strikeout, and popout. In the bottom of the fifth, Wyckoff singled up the middle, and Walker doubled down the left-field line to put runners on second and third with no outs. Atalyia Rijo then gave Arkansas the lead for good with a line-drive three-run home run to right field, putting Arkansas back in front, 9-6.
Northwestern threatened in the sixth inning by loading the bases with two outs, courtesy of three consecutive singles, but Herron and Arkansas escaped with an inning-ending strikeout. Tianna Bell singled and Wyckoff walked in the home half of the stanza.
With no outs in the top of the seventh inning, Northwestern made it a one-run game courtesy of a two-run blast from Bridget Donahey. Following the round-tripper, Herron buckled down and struck out the final three batters of the contest to earn her sixth win of the season.
QUOTABLES
Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel
On Sunday games…
“Sunday is about toughness. No matter what you are doing, going into the day. Whether you won the series, or you are 1-1 or down two, it is about toughness. It is about throwing as many punches as it takes. They are making adjustments on their side, and we have to make adjustments on our side. I hope it is something we can log away and use in the conference slate, then hopefully beyond. That is how the format of this weekend will pay us back later.”
NOTABLES
- Arkansas increased its winning streak to 11 games. It marks the 11th season in program history in which the Hogs have recorded a winning streak of 10+ games.
- Freshman Brinli Bain extended her reached-base streak to 14 games. She has now reached safely in all 14 of her collegiate games.
- Arkansas now leads the all-time series with Northwestern, 3-2.
- Ramsey Walker recorded her third multi-hit game of the season.
Up Next
Arkansas will return to action on Thursday when they open the Wooo Pig Classic with Omaha at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on SEC Network+.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
