Hogs Explode Late in 9-2 Triumph Over Missouri to Earn Series Victory
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 6/9 Arkansas Razorbacks’ bats exploded for nine runs on eight hits and four walks over the course of their final two trips to the plate to defeat Missouri, 9-2, and take a series victory on Saturday afternoon at Bogle Park.
With the win, Arkansas improved to 39-8 overall and 13-7 in SEC play. The Razorbacks are 24-2 at Bogle Park this season and have now won seven straight SEC home regular-season series, their most since they won eight straight from March 23, 2018, to May 5, 2019.
Reagan Johnson headlined the Arkansas offense, reaching in all four of her at-bats courtesy of a 2-2 day that featured two RBI, two walks and two runs scored. Brinli Bain (2-3, 2 RBI, R, BB) and Karlie Davison (2-3, 2 R) also logged multiple hits in the victory, while Tianna Bell and Ella McDowell each drove in a pair of runs courtesy of a two-run double and two-run single in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.
Robyn Herron turned in an impressive start in the circle, fanning five over the course of five innings while allowing just one run on three hits and two walks to improve to 14-4 on the season. Reis Beuerlein followed Herron and picked up a save on her senior day by allowing just one run on one hit in her two innings of relief work.
Marissa McCann took the loss for Missouri (25-25, 7-13 SEC) to fall to 9-9 on the season after allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with one strikeout in 3.1 innings of work. Cierra Harrison took the loss for Missouri despite allowing just two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out three in 4.2 innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Arkansas started senior left-hander Robyn Herron while Missouri went with right-handed senior Cierra Harrison.
Addy Waits led off the game by working a full count before drawing a leadoff walk for Missouri. She would later advance to second on a groundout and take third on a wild pitch before scoring on an RBI single from Abby Carr. Reagan Johnson was the only Razorback to reach base in the bottom of the first inning, courtesy of a leadoff walk.
Herron spun a scoreless top of the second, allowing only a two-out single to Saniya Hill while picking up a strikeout. Harrison retired Arkansas in order in the bottom of the second inning.
In the top of the third inning, Herron retired Missouri in order by way of a groundout, foulout and flyout. Reagan Johnson reached on an infield single with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. Brinli Bain followed with a walk, but Harrison and the Tigers would escape the inning unscathed with a popout to second base.
Herron made it seven consecutive Tigers retired in the top of the fourth inning while fanning two. Harrison responded with a 1-2-3 inning herself in the circle in the bottom of the fourth.
Sayina Hill doubled to center field with one out in the top of the fifth inning, but that would be the only hit for the Tigers in the frame. Robyn Herron collected her fifth and final strikeout of the game in the inning.
Karlie Davison singled to shallow left-center field to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Miller. Reagan Johnson followed with a two-out single down the left-field line, which Davison scored on from second, courtesy of a gutsy send from third-base coach Matt Meuchel, tying the game at 1-1. Bain gave Arkansas the lead with a single through the left side that scored Johnson before Tianna Bell increased the lead to 4-1 with a two-run double in the right-center field gap.
Reis Beuerlein entered the circle in the fifth inning. Missouri cut the Hogs’ lead to three courtesy of a lead-off solo home run from Abby Carr. That would be the only run Beuerlein allowed, however, as she retired her final six batters faced in the contest.
Davison singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning before Arkansas loaded the bases courtesy of back-to-back walks from Kennedy Miller and Ashtyn Reichardt before Johnson drew a bases-loaded walk to increase the lead to 5-2. Bain followed Johnson with a single to first base to increase the lead to 6-2. Ella McDowell then hit a two-run single before Atalyia Rijo drove in the final run of the contest with an RBI groundout to make it 9-2.
Beuerlein retired the Tigers in order in the seventh with a pair of flyouts bookending a groundout to secure the save and the series victory.
NOTABLES
- Reagan Johnson registered her 209th start batting leadoff; she previously broke the career program record of 205 games initially set by Devon Wallace (2012-2015).
- Reagan Johnson collected her 13th and 14th RBI of the season, which is her most in a season since 2023, when she tallied 20.
- The Razorbacks’ 24 home victories are tied for the fourth-most in a single season in Bogle Park history (2009-present)
- Brinli Bain increased her reached base streak to 11 games courtesy of a third-inning walk.
- Kennedy Miller increased her career-high reached base streak to 15 games.
- Arkansas secured its seventh consecutive SEC regular-season home series victory.
- The Hogs are now 36-6 when Robyn Herron goes 5+ innings during a start in her collegiate career.
- The crowd of 3,668 was the 10th-largest attendance in Bogle Park history.
Up Next
Arkansas will look to sweep the Tigers tomorrow in the series finale at 1 p.m. on SEC Network+.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.