Hogs Fall to Rebels in SEC Opener

OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks fell to No. 25 Ole Miss, 9-1 (6 inn.) in the SEC Opener on Friday night at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.

A pair of errors ended up leading to the first two runs of the game for Ole Miss before a seven-run bottom of the sixth inning that featured six hits, including a two-run home run from Ole Miss catcher Lexie Brady and two walks, gave the Rebels (19-3) a run-rule triumph.

Ella McDowell (1-1, BB, HBP) reached base a team-high three times for Arkansas in the loss, while Reagan Johnson reached base twice courtesy of a lead-off single in the third inning and a walk. Atalyia Rijo and Raigan Kramer also registered a hit in the loss. Kennedy Miller drove in Kramer with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning to account for the Razorbacks’ lone run in the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Robyn Herron made her eighth start of the season for Arkansas, while Ole Miss went with Freshman Miali Guachino.

Arkansas was retired in order during its first trip to the plate. The Rebels’ Taylor Malvin led off the bottom half with a single up the middle before advancing to second on a one-out single and taking third on a throwing error. Malvin would come around to score on a double steal a batter later to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

With one out in the top of the second, Raigan Kramer legged out an infield single before Ella McDowell was hit by a pitch to put two on for the Hogs. Atalyia Rijo reached on an error one batter later to load the bases. Kennedy Miller then tied the game with a sacrifice fly to deep left field that scored Kramer.

Herron spun a scoreless frame in the bottom of the second.

Johnson slapped a single to shallow left field to lead off the third inning. Wyckoff wore a pitch from Guachino to put two on with no outs. Guachino and the Rebels were able to escape unscathed, however, courtesy of a lineout, strikeout, and infield popout.

Ella McDowell made a nice back-handed play on a ground ball down the line before firing across the diamond to Bri Ellis at first base for the first out of the home half of the third. Herron then issued her second strikeout of the game for out No. 2. Following a walk, Reagan Johnson robbed Ole Miss catcher Lexie Brady of a base hit to end the inning with a diving grab in shallow center field.

McDowell singled to shallow right-center field to lead off the fourth inning. Atalyia Rijo then followed with a single through the right side to put runners on the corners with no outs. Johnson then drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but Guachino escaped with an inning-ending strikeout.

Ole Miss capitalized again on another error to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Mackenzie Pickens led off the inning with a walk before reaching third courtesy of a wild pitch and throwing error. Pickens would come around to score on a sacrifice fly from Lair Beautae with one out to put Ole Miss ahead 2-1.

Both teams were retired in order in the fifth inning. Herron fanned two in the home half before fielding a hard-hit comebacker for the final out of the inning.

Arkansas loaded the bases in the top of the sixth. Ella McDowell walked before Kennedy Miller and Karlie Davison were hit by pitches to load the bases with one out. Following a lineout, Pickens robbed Wyckoff of a base hit with a diving play at second for the final out of the inning to preserve the lead for the Rebels.

Ole Miss added seven runs in the bottom of the sixth. Lexi Brady extended the hosts’ lead to 4-1 with a two-run home run to left field. The Rebels then plated five more courtesy of a two-RBI double from Addison Duke and a three-run double from Persey Llamas to end the ballgame.

Herron (5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 5 K) fell to 6-1 on the season for Arkansas while Guachino improved to 9-3 for Ole Miss (6 IP, 4 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K).

NOTABLES

• The Razorbacks 19-2 start is tied for the best in program history through 21 games.
• Reagan Johnson extended her reached-base streak to nine games.

UP NEXT

The Razorbacks will look to even the series against the Rebels tomorrow at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

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