Razorbacks Down Bobcats in Season Opener, 3-1

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Behind six strong innings in the circle from Robyn Herron and solo home runs from Bri Ellis, Kailey Wyckoff and Ella McDowell, the No. 13/14 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Texas State 3-1 in the season opener on Thursday night at Bobcat Softball Stadium.

Herron got the ball in the opener for the Razorbacks and made the most of it by striking out five and allowing just three hits in six innings of work to earn the win.

Freshman Cam Harrison earned a save in her collegiate debut by striking out two of the four batters she faced while allowing no hits in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Offensively, McDowell led the Razorbacks at the plate with a 2-3 night that included a single to right field in the top fourth inning and a solo home run to left field in the top of the sixth. In addition to the three long balls, Kennedy Miller singled and Atalyia Rijo reached base courtesy of a walk.

Madison Azua took the loss for Texas State, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk during her six innings pitched.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Following a scoreless first, Ellis opened the scoring by capping a six-pitch at-bat with a solo home run to center field in her first at-bat of the season to lead off the top of the second inning. Herron fanned two in the home half of the second.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Arkansas added insurance with back-to-back solo home runs from Wyckoff and McDowell to right and left field, respectively.

Miller would add the Razorbacks’ fifth and final hit of the night with an infield single to lead off the seventh inning.

Herron retired six of her seven batters faced in the fifth and sixth innings, with the only blemish being a leadoff walk by the Bobcats’ Ciara Trahan in the bottom of the sixth.

Texas State threatened in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of a leadoff double from Kate Bubela followed by a Mayson Garrett walk to put runners on first and second with no outs.

After the walk, Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel brought in Harrison in relief of Herron. Following a wild pitch, Harrison issued a flyout and strikeout before Texas State would plate a run courtesy of an Arkansas error to cut the Razorbacks’ lead to 3-1. The Freshman then ended the game by getting Trahan to strike out looking.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

On Robyn Herron’s performance…
“Rob looked really good. We talked about it with the team. It doesn’t matter if it’s freshman year day one, year three, or if it’s year five, you just have jitters that first that first day. You put the uniform on and you go to battle. I think there was some jitters there today. I thought she worked through it really, really well. She had really good stuff. She worked herself into jams, then she worked herself out and trusted her defense. I thought it was a seasoned outing. I was just really happy with the guts she had. Then she gave the ball to Cam, and Cam shut it down.”

On back-to-back home runs by Kailey Wyckoff and Ella McDowell…
“They were right on it the entire game. Her at-bat before that [Wyckoff] was about 2 feet from another one. It’s what we needed.  It lelt like that [1-0 lead] was maybe going to hold, but we just were working ourselves into jams. And again, we were working ourselves out, but sometimes that runs out. So it was just the cushion that we needed. It was the spark that we needed. And they both had been looking so good, so it was just cool for them to have that moment.”

Arkansas Freshman Infielder Ella McDowell

On her debut…
“It felt unreal. I have been looking forward to it my whole life. Finally, being able to put on the Razorback jersey and making the most of my opportunities, I could not say anything more.”

NOTABLES

• With the win, Arkansas improved to 17-12 in season openers all-time and are 8-2 all-time in season openers under Courtney Deifel (2016-present). Arkansas now owns a record of 33-9 in opening-week contests under Deifel.
• Kailey Wyckoff and Ella McDowell became the first Arkansas teammates to hit back-to-back home runs since Cylie Halvorson and Nia Carter accomplished the feat on April 7, 2024, against Missouri.
• Bri Ellis’ 49 career home runs are the second-most nationally among all active DI players, trailing only Shaylon Govan of Baylor.
• With the win, the all-time series between Arkansas and Texas State is now tied 1-1.
• Five Hogs made their Arkansas debuts during the victory (Courtney Day, Karlie Davison, Cam Harrison, Ella McDowell, Kailey Wyckoff).
• It marked the 290^th time that the Razorbacks’ pitching staff has not allowed a home run under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present). Arkansas is 226-65 when accomplishing the feat.
• Arkansas is now 137-21 when hitting two or more home runs as a team under Deifel.
• The Razorbacks’ three home runs were the most in a season opener since they hit three during a 10-1 win over UMass Lowell on Feb. 11, 2017, in Denton, Texas.
• Ella McDowell’s solo home run in the sixth inning was the 6,600th run in program history.

UP NEXT

The Razorbacks continue play at the Texas State Tournament tomorrow against Lipscomb (1:15 p.m.) and Bradley (3:30 p.m.). Both games will not be streamed or televised.

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