Razorbacks demolish Oklahoma State 12-0 to advance to Super Regional

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.– Behind a single-game NCAA Tournament program record 12 runs and 14 hits in addition to a complete-game shutout from Robyn Herron, the No. 3/4 Arkansas Razorbacks run-ruled No. 23/24 Oklahoma State, 12-0 (6 inn.) to clinch their fourth Super Regional appearance in program history on Sunday night at Bogle Park.

With the win, Arkansas will host a Super Regional next weekend (May 23-25) at Bogle Park against Ole Miss. The Razorbacks previously hosted Super Regionals in 2021 and 2022.

The game did not start until 7:15 p.m., following a four-hour and 10-minute delay due to severe storms in the area. Arkansas jumped on the Cowgirls early and did not look back after plating three runs in the top of the first inning, the Hogs would add three in the third before putting together a six-run top of the sixth inning that featured a three-run home run from Karlie Davison, making it the final 12-0.

For the second consecutive game, Atalyia Rijo led the Razorbacks at the plate with a 4-4 effort that included an RBI and a run scored. Karlie Davison completely changed the game with her bat and her glove in the victory. At the plate, the Torrance, Calif., product went 2-4 with a game-high four RBI, three of which came on her sixth-inning blast in addition to two runs scored and a double. Defensively, she accounted for nine of the Razorbacks’ 18 outs (6 assists, three putouts), highlighted by a diving catch in shallow center field with the bases loaded for the final out of the fifth inning. Ella McDowell (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Reagan Johnson (2-5) also recorded multiple hits in the win.

Robyn Herron was magnificent in the circle. The junior left-hander struck out two and allowed just three hits and a walk in a six-inning complete-game shutout. Herron retired the Cowgirls in order in three of her six innings of work. It marked the 11th career complete-game shutout for Herron, who improved to 18-6 on the season.

Ruby Meylan took the loss for Oklahoma State (35-20), finishing her season with a 20-11 record after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two in two innings of work.

Arkansas players celebrated Sunday night after a 12-0 win over Oklahoma State that sends the Razorbacks to the Super Regionals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the circle, Arkansas started Robyn Herron for the 23rd time this season while Oklahoma State started their ace, Ruby Meylan.

Reagan Johnson reached on an error by Oklahoma State left fielder Rachael Hathhoot, who was brought in as a fifth infielder to lead off the game. Raigan Kramer walked a batter later to put two on with no outs. With one out, Courtney Day singled through the left side to score Kramer and give the Razorbacks a 1-0 lead. Kramer was initially ruled out, but the call was changed to safe after a successful challenge from head coach Courtney Deifel. With two outs, Ella McDowell extended the Hogs’ lead with an RBI single to left field. Kennedy Miller then drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0. Meylan would issue a strikeout to end the inning without further damage.

Robyn Herron fanned the Cowgirls’ Tia Warsop to open the bottom half. Herron then completed a 1-2-3 inning by issuing a groundout and a strikeout.

In the top of the second, Johnson singled to third base and advanced to second with one out when a pitch hit Bri Ellis. However, Meylan would keep Arkansas scoreless as the lead stayed at three.

Herron made it six consecutive Pokes retired with a 1-2-3 bottom of the second.

McDowell doubled to left-center field to lead off the top of the third. Rijo continued her tear at the plate with an RBI single. Following Rijo’s single, Oklahoma State made a pitching change and went to Rylee Crandall. Karlie Davison increased the lead to 5-0 with a double off the wall in left-center field before Kramer doubled home Davison to add an insurance run.

Herron spun a scoreless bottom of the third while picking up a strikeout. Oklahoma State shortstop Megan Bloodworth singled to right field to become the first baserunner of the game for the Cowgirls.

Both sides were sent down in order during the fourth inning.

Rijo singled through the right side in the top of the fifth. Johnson also recorded her second hit of the game with an infield single to shortstop.

Oklahoma State loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a walk from Hathoot, a single from Audrey Schneidmiller, and Megan Bloodworth being hit by a pitch. Davison then made an incredible diving grab behind second base in shallow center field to rob a would-be base hit from the Cowgirls’ Megan Delgadillo, keeping the shutout intact.

Ellis reached on a two-base fielding error to lead off the top of the sixth. Kailey Wyckoff then reached on an error with one out that moved Ellis to third. McDowell added another run courtesy of an infield single. Rijo loaded the bases with her fourth hit of the game, an infield single to first base. A two-run double from Miller extended the lead to 9-0 before Karlie Davison smashed a three-run home run to left field to make it the final 12-0.

Robyn Herron slammed the door on Oklahoma State to wrap up the complete game in the bottom of the sixth. She issued a groundout for the first out of the frame before the Cowgirls’ Rosie Davis singled to center field. Arkansas then ended the ballgame with an ultra-rare 8-4-3 double play as Johnson made a diving catch in center field and then threw to Davison, who completed the double play by throwing to Ellis at first and catching Davis, who continued to run after Johnson made the diving catch.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel: “I have an immense amount of pride for this team. What they have done and continue to do, who they are, how they play and how they fight together. Tonight was phenomenal in every aspect. They set their mind to it. I am so proud that I am their coach. They were phenomenal tonight. I am just really really proud.”

NOTABLES

• With the win Arkansas earned its fourth trip to a Super Regional in program history. Arkansas previously made appearances in 2018, 2021 and 2022 while hosting its most two recent Super Regionals.

• Arkansas set a program record for runs scored (12) and hits (14) in an NCAA Tournament game. The previous record of 11 runs was set in an 11-0 win over Princeton on May 20, 2022. The Hogs’ previous NCAA single-game hits record was 13 which occurred in a 6-5 (11 inn.) loss at Oklahoma on May 17, 2008.

• Atalyia Rijo tied a career-high and her own single-game NCAA tournament program record with four hits in the win. She became the first player in program history to register four or more hits in consecutive games.

• The Hogs 43 wins this season are tied for the fourth-most in program history.

• Arkansas earned its 23rd run-rule victory this season which is a program record.

• Arkansas snapped Oklahoma State’s five-year streak of Super Regional appearances while also giving the Cowgirls their largest loss in NCAA and AIAW postseason history (190 games). Arkansas handed Oklahoma State their only two losses in regional play dating back to 2019 this weekend.

• The Razorbacks are 23-26 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 16-14 mark under Courtney Deifel. She is the only coach in program history with a winning record in NCAA Tournament contests.

• Bri Ellis scored her 64th run of the season which is the second-most in program history trailing only KB Sides who scored 67 in 2022.

• Courtney Day extended her career-best reach-based streak to 18 games with a second-inning single.

• Karlie Davison registered her 11th multi-hit game this season and 20th multi-hit game of her career. She also had a season-high four RBI. Defensively, with three putouts and six assists she played a role in half of the Hogs’ 18 outs.

• Reagan Johnson increased her reached-base streak to 14 games with a second-inning single.

UP NEXT
Arkansas (43-12) will host a Super Regional May 23-25 at Bogle Park against Ole Miss (40-18). Game times have not yet been announced.