Razorbacks Down UConn, 10-2 to Record 18th Run-Rule Victory of the Season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind a six-inning complete game from sophomore Payton Burnham and a 3-4 day that featured four RBI from senior Tianna Bell, the No. 9/10 Arkansas Razorbacks run-ruled UConn, 10-2 in six innings to clinch the series on Saturday afternoon at Bogle Park.

With the victory, Arkansas improved to 26-4 overall while the Razorbacks registered their 18th run-rule win of the season. The Hogs’ 18 run-rule victories are the second-most in a single season in program history, trailing only the 2025 squad’s program record 23.

Burnham was phenomenal in her eighth start of the season. The Eugene, Ore., product struck out five and issued no walks while allowing just two runs and three hits on just 76 pitches in her six innings of work. With the victory, she improved to 7-2 on the season.

Tianna Bell continued her tear at the plate with her second consecutive three-hit game, going 3-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Reagan Johnson (2-4, 2 R) collected a pair of hits by doubling and tripling in the contest to move three hits away from shattering Hannah McEwen’s Arkansas career hits record of 261. Brinli Bain (2-4, 2B 2 R) and Kennedy Miller (2-2, 2 RBI, HBP) also registered multiple hits in the win.

Sydney Koosh (1-4) took the loss for UConn after allowing nine runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out four in 5.1 innings of work.

How it Happened

Sophomore Payton Burnham made her eighth start of the season for Arkansas, while UConn went with junior right-hander Sydnee Koosh.

Burnham struck out the Huskies’ Kaitlyn Kibling to open the contest and retired the next two batters by way of a 6-3 groundout and a strikeout to complete a 1-2-3 top of the first inning.

Reagan Johnson doubled to left-center field to lead off the Hogs’ half of the first inning before coming around to score on a double down the first-base line from Brinli Bain. Tianna Bell then made it 2-0 in favor of Arkansas with a ground ball single through the left side that scored Bain. Arkansas loaded the bases with two outs following Bell’s single, courtesy of a Kailey Wyckoff walk and Atalyia Rijo being hit by a pitch. Kennedy Miller drove in two more runs courtesy of a bases-loaded single to push the Arkansas advantage to four.

Both sides were retired in order during the second inning. Burnham used just seven pitches to get through the UConn lineup during the top of the second.

In the top of the third inning, Burnham made it nine straight Huskies retired with consecutive groundouts and a flyout.

Dakota Kennedy singled with two outs in the bottom of the third and promptly stole second base before Rijo took first by way of a walk. Arkansas then loaded the bases when Kennedy Miller was hit by a pitch, but UConn and Koosh escaped courtesy of a leaping grab on a line drive by shortstop Cat Petteys.

The Huskies’ Kaitlyn Kibling spoiled Burnham’s perfect game by hitting a solo home run to right-center field to lead off the top of the fourth. Burnham would respond by retiring her next three batters faced to escape the inning with only one hit and run surrendered.

Johnson led off the bottom of the fourth inning by smashing a triple to the warning track in right field. She then came around to score with two outs courtesy of an RBI single from Bell, extending the Arkansas lead back to four at 5-1.

Burnham retired UConn in order while picking up her fourth strikeout of the day and making an impressive play on a slow roller for a 1-3 putout for the first out of the frame. Kennedy Miller singled to shortstop for the lone hit of the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Huskies’ Ava Calciano led off the top of the sixth inning with a pinch-hit double and came around to score on a two-out RBI single from Savannah Ring.

Bain singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and then moved to second on a walk from McDowell. Bell brought home both with her third hit of the day, a single to right-center field. Kyler Del Duca entered the game to run for Bell following the single. Del Duca moved to second on a walk from Dakota Kennedy before scoring on a RBI single from Wyckoff, increasing the Hogs’ lead to 8-2. Rijo then ended the game with a double to right-center field that plated the final two runs and secured Arkansas’ 18th run-rule victory of the season.

NOTABLES

• Reagan Johnson recorded her team-leading 75^th career multi-hit game.
• The Hogs’ 18 run-rule victories are the second-most in a single season in program history, trailing only the 2025 squad’s program record 23.
• Reagan Johnson collected a pair of hits in the victory. She now has 259 career hits and is just three hits away from breaking the Arkansas career hits record of 261, currently held by Hannah McEwen.
• Arkansas is 300-9 when scoring eight or more runs all-time, including a 168-1 mark during the Courtney Deifel era (2016-present). The Razorbacks are on a 112-game winning streak when scoring 8+ runs. The last loss the Razorbacks had when accomplishing the feat was a 12-11 loss to Oklahoma State on Feb. 11, 2021, during the season opener at the Best on the Bayou Classic in Monroe, La.
• The Hogs now lead the all-time series with UConn, 3-0.
• Payton Burnham recorded her third complete game of the season.

Up Next

Arkansas looks to sweep the series tomorrow at Noon. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (PxP) and former Razorback Sydney Parr Lee (Analyst) on the call.

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