Razorbacks get landmark win for Deifel, downing No. 2/3 Florida

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A first-inning three-run home run by first baseman Bri Ellis and a complete-game gem from left-handed pitcher Robyn Herron lifted the No. 12/13 Arkansas Razorbacks to a 4-1 win over No. 2/3 Florida on Friday night at Pressly Stadium.

The 4-1 thriller marked the Razorbacks’ highest-ranked win since March 15, 2014, when Arkansas defeated No. 2 Tennessee at Bogle Park.

Arkansas (27-7, 7-6 SEC) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first inning. Reagan Johnson doubled to left-center field to lead off the game and advanced to second courtesy of a walk from Raigan Kramer.

Bri Ellis then smashed a 3-2 pitch from Florida starting pitcher Katelynn Oxley well beyond the left-field wall for her nation-leading 19th home run, which gave Arkansas a 3-0 lead. Florida (33-7, 6-4) cut the Hogs’ lead to 3-1 courtesy of a leadoff solo home run from freshman Taylor Shumaker in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Kailey Wyckoff then added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a single to left-center field.

Herron was magnificent in her complete-game performance, holding one of the nation’s best offenses to just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four in her seven innings of work.

It was her 19th career complete game, improving to 11-3 on the season.

Ella McDowell registered a career-high three hits with a 3-4 night at the plate. Johnson went 2-3 with a double, a run scored and a walk.

It was Johnson’s fourth consecutive multi-hit game and 59th multi-hit performance of her career. Ellis (1-3, 3 R HR, 3 RBI) drove in three runs courtesy of her first-inning blast.

Atalyia Rijo and Wyckoff also registered hits in the win, while Raigan Kramer walked twice.

Freshman Katelynn Oxley took the loss for Florida, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two in six innings pitched.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Junior left-hander Robyn Herron made her 14th start of the season for Arkansas, while Florida went with freshman Katelynn Oxley.

Reagan Johnson led off the game with a double to left-center field. Raigan Kramer followed with her 101st career walk.

Bri Ellis then stepped to the plate and smashed a 3-2 pitch over the Gators’ bullpen for her nation-leading 19th homer of the season, which gave Arkansas a 3-0 lead.

Kendra Falby led off the bottom half with a walk before getting thrown out by Kennedy Miller while attempting to steal second base for the second out of the inning.

Robyn Herron then fanned Jocelyn Erickson for the third and final out of the frame.

Neither team got on the board in the second inning. Florida threatened with a pair of singles in the bottom half to put two on with just one out, but Herron was unfazed, picking up a flyout and a strikeout courtesy of a nasty changeup to end the inning.

Ellis reached again with a walk with two outs in the top of the third. Herron kept the Gators at bay in the bottom of the third with a scoreless frame while picking up her third strikeout of the contest.

In the fourth inning, the Razorbacks threatened with a leadoff walk by Kailey Wyckoff and a single through the left side by Ella McDowell to put two on with no outs.

A deep flyout to centerfield moved Wyckoff to third, but that is as far as she would get as a foulout and Florida shortstop Rylee Holtorf robbing Carlee Ratcliff of a base hit with an over-the-shoulder catch ended the inning.

Herron retired the Gators in order in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by a diving catch from McDowell at third base on a screaming line.

Johnson walked to lead off the top of the fifth inning and would become the only base runner in the inning as Herron retired the Gators in order in the bottom of the fifth.

In the sixth inning, McDowell singled through the right side with one out and would advance to third a batter later courtesy of a double from Atalyia Rijo, but Oxley and the Gators were able to escape unscathed with consecutive popouts to end the stanza.

Taylor Shumaker cut the Hogs’ lead to 3-1 with a solo home run to right field to lead off the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, Johnson singled up the middle to lead off the frame before advancing to second on a walk by Kramer. Courtney Day then hit into a fielder’s choice, replacing Johnson on the basepaths for the second out of the inning. Wyckoff increased the Hogs’ lead to 4-1 with a base hit to left-center field that scored Kramer. Ella McDowell followed with a single into right-center field, but Florida right fielder Taylor Shumaker threw out Day at the plate to end the inning.

Herron trotted back to the circle and retired Florida in order courtesy of a flyout and consecutive groundouts to wrap up the complete game and earn her 11th win of the season.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel

On the win…
“Our tone was set in the first inning with Reagan Johnson’s double, Raigan Kramer’s good eye and Bri Ellis’ tremendous at-bat. Obviously, she won the at-bat with a home run but regardless she made her work. Kennedy Miller then throwing out a runner in the bottom half of the inning was big. From that point on, we just controlled the game. Robyn Herron was outstanding, and our defense was huge behind her. It is always nice to get the first win.”

NOTABLES

• The victory was the Razorbacks’ highest-ranked win since March 15, 2014, when Arkansas defeated No. 2 Tennessee at Bogle Park. It was also head coach Courtney Deifel’s highest-ranked win in her career.

• Reagan Johnson recorded her 59th career multi-hit game.

• Bri Ellis smashed her 19th home run of the season which was the 67th of her career. Both marks lead all active NCAA D1 players. Ellis is just two RBI away from 200 career RBI.

• Raigan Kramer extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 18 games, courtesy of her 101st career walk in the top of the first inning. Kramer then walked later in the game to move into sole possession of fourth place in the Arkansas record books for career walks with 102.

• Arkansas is now 22-2 when not committing an error this season. The Hogs have not committed an error in four straight games, tying a season-long streak that was previously set from Feb. 14-16.

• Arkansas has now won its last seven games played in Gainesville and its last five against Florida in Gainesville.

NEXT GAME

The Razorbacks will look to take the series against the Gators tomorrow at 3 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Eric Frede (PxP) and Madison Shipman on the call (Analyst).