Tag: Bri Ellis

Johnson plates a run in the eighth to lift Arkansas softball over SEMO

Sophomore leadoff hitter Reagan Johnson ends the 6-5 Razorbacks win with a sacrifice fly.

Arkansas sophomore Reagan Johnson continues to swing a deadly bat in crucial situations for the No. 16 Razorbacks’ offense. But the speedy leadoff hitter switched roles on Sunday, becoming the run-producer, instead of the run-scorer.

Johnson lifted a 1-0 pitch to center field, bringing home freshman pinch-runner Nyjah Fontenot for the winning run in a 6-5 win over Southeast Missouri State in the finale of the Wooo Pig Classic at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks (17-4) fell behind 5-0 in the top of the first, before bringing a single hitter to the plate.

Sophomore left-hander Robyn Herron (6-4) enter the game with two out in the first inning and completely shut down the Redhawks, limiting SEMO to just two hits, and striking out seven, in the final 6.1 frames.

Junior Bri Ellis got the Hogs on the board with an RBI-single in the bottom of the first.

Senior Hannah Gammill’s led off the second with a solo home run to left, her fifth of the season. Sophomore Hannah Camenzind the scored junior Spencer Prigge with a single up the middle. Freshman Kennedy Miller then cut the Arkansas deficit to 5-4, when she knocked in Johnson with a ground-out.

Prigge tied the score at 5-5 in the third, with a liner to right field, scoring junior Raigan Kramer. From there, the score stayed the same until the eighth.

Cylie Halvorson got things going in the final inning, reaching second base on a throwing error. Following Halvorson, After Gammill was intentionally walked, Fontenot came in to run for Halvorson. After Prigge delivered a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Fontenot, Johnson stepped up to end it.

Johnson and Ellis each finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Razorbacks will continue their 17-game homestand Thursday, when the face Nebraska in the first game of the four-day Razorback Rumble at Bogle. The Hogs and Huskers will begin at 5 p.m. and be available to stream on SEC Network+.

No. 16 Arkansas softball stays hot, sweeps a pair in Wooo Pig Classic

Arkansas Razorbacks softball outhit their opponents 16-6 over a two-game sweep on Friday.

The No. 14 Arkansas softball team outhit its opponents 16-6, including nine extra base hits, on Friday to sweep a pair of victories in the Wooo Pig Classic at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks (16-3) shutout Southeast Missouri State in the first game, 5-0, then turned in a 6-2 win over Florida Atlantic. They are now 8-1 at home this season.

Senior slugger Hannah Gammill began the scoring with her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the third inning. Senior Cylie Halvorson then opened the fifth with another solo blast, before sophomore leadoff hitter Reagan Johnson doubled in sophomore Atalyia Rijo, to make it 3-0.

Junior Bri Ellis then continued her sizzling start to the season with a two-run single to right-center to make it 5-0.

Senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock (4-0) twirled a gem in the circle, scattering just three hits and striking out six. She sat down the side in order in three of those innings.

Sophomore lefty Robyn Herron (5-3) tossed her second complete game of the season in Game 2, giving up just three hits and one earned run, while fanning four Owls.

Freshman Kennedy Miller remained on fire at the plate, with her first multi-homer game as a Hog, After Ellis began the barrage with her team-leading seventh bomb of the year in the bottom of the first, Miller quickly made it 3-0 with a two-run tater over the left field fence.

The 5-foot-8 catcher from Georgetown, Texas, finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Hannah Camenzind went a career-best 3-for-3 at the dish and slapped her first-career triple to left center in the third, knocking in Halvorson. Gammill then drilled a shot down the left field line to plate Camenzind for a 5-0 advantage.

Miller completed the scoring with a solo shot to left in the fifth.

Arkansas will hit the diamond again on Saturday to face South Dakota State at 3 p.m. The game will be available on the SEC Network+, with Dorian Craft and former Razorback Sydney Parr Lee on the call.

Arkansas freshman Kennedy Miller smacks RBI-double for the win

The Arkansas softball team continued to get clutch hits on Thursday to rally past South Dakota State, 4-3.

Freshman Kennedy Miller continues to impress during her first season at the collegiate softball level, again coming up with a key hit to help No. 16 Arkansas take down South Dakota State on the first day of the Wooo Pig Classic at Bogle Park.

After falling behind in the count 1-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the young catcher ripped an RBI-double to left-center field, plating senior Rylin Hedgecock for what would prove to be the game-winning run.

The 5-foot-8 Miller, a native of Georgetown, Texas, now leads the team with a .467 batting average, after beginning the year with 14 hits in her first 30 at-bats.

After the Jackrabbits took a 1-0 first-inning lead, Arkansas bounced back big in the bottom half of the inning.

Red-hot sophomore leadoff hitter Regan Johnson got things going with a quick single, followed by junior Bri Ellis‘ team-leading sixth home run of the year, a two-run blast to center. Senior Cylie Halvorson‘s sacrifice fly made in 3-1 after one.

South Dakota State (8-10) scored another run in the second, then tied it at 3-3 in the top of the fourth. Hedgecock lined a two-out double to get things rolling in the Arkansas fourth, which led to Miller’s heroics.

Senior Morgan Lienstock replaced sophomore starter Robyn Herron in the circle for the Razorbacks, after SDSU sophomore Keira Carollio led off the second inning with a homer.

Leinstock went 2.2 innings, allowing just one run, while striking out five. Sophomore lefty Hannah Camenzind (4-0) pitched the final 3.1 innings and retired all 10 batters she faced to earn the win.

Arkansas (14-3) will continue its current 17-game homestand with a doubleheader Friday, facing Southeast Missouri State at 3 p.m., then Florida Atlantic at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be available on the SEC Network+, with former Razorback Sydney Parr Lee and Dorian Craft calling the game.

Arkansas softball sweeps a pair, gets revenge against Wichita State

Arkansas rebounds to run-rule Wichita State 15-4 in Razorback Invitational.

After losing to Wichita State, 4-1, on Friday night, the No. 14 Arkansas softball team redeemed itself in a big way on Saturday, pitching a perfect game in a 7-0 win over Illinois State, then run-ruling the Shockers, 15-4, in five innings.

The Razorbacks (12-3) also set a new attendance record with crowd of 3,549.

The Razorbacks are now 4-1 on the weekend, as part of the four-day Razorback Invitational at Bogle Park. The Hogs will wrap things up Sunday at 12:15 p.m., facing Texas-Arlington.

Sophomore left-hander Robyn Herron (4-3) was brilliant in the circle against the Redbirds, throwing 86 pitches for her first-career perfect game – sitting down 21 straight batters. She struck out 11 and did not allow a walk, and now has a 1.30 ERA on the season, with a team-high 44 strikeouts in 37.2 innings.

It was the second perfect game in program history, along with former Hog Mary Haff’s 5-0 seven-inning victory, with 14 strikeout game in a win over Maryland in 2022.

Sophomore Lauren Camenzind and junior Raigan Kramer powered the Arkansas offense, each hitting two-run singles, as Arkansas scored all its runs in the first three innings. Junior Bri Ellis cracked her fourth home run of the season on a second-inning solo blast, while senior Rylin Hedgecock continued her stellar work at the plate, going 2-for-3.

Senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock began in the circle for the Razorbacks in the nightcap, going 3.1 innings and allowing just one unearned, while striking out five. Three of the Shockers’ four runs were unearned.

Hannah Camenzind (3-0) came in with two outs in the fourth to finish off the Wichita State lineup, tossing 1.1 innings to earn the win.

Arkansas fell behind 1-0 in the top of the third, but quickly came back to take a 2-1 lead it in the bottom of the inning. Junior Bri Ellis blasted her fifth homer of the season, a two-run shot to left.

Wichita re-took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth, which only seemed to wake up the Razorback bats. Arkansas plated 13 runs in the bottom half of the inning to virtually put the game out of reach.

The Hogs batted around on nine hits in the inning, without a homer. The biggest blow came from sophomore Reagan Johnson, who drilled a two-run tripled to left.

Freshman Kennedy Miller, senior Cylie Halvorson and Kramer each had two base hits, as Halvorson knocked in a team-high four runs.

Arkansas softball team back home to host Razorback Invitational

No. 14 Razorback softball team to host Invitational this weekend.

After opening the season with a pair of successful weekend road tournaments, the Arkansas softball team finally gets to play in front of the home crowd at Bogle Park.

No. 14 Arkansas (8-2) is hosting the annual Razorback Invitational this weekend and will open play Thursday at 4 p.m. against Illinois State. They will play the Redbirds twice over the four-day event, as well as a pair of games against both, Texas-Arlington and Wichita State.

“They are really strong,” Razorbacks Head Coach Courtney Deifel said of the opposing teams in the event. “We are playing them for a reason. It’s another non-con weekend where we’re going to be challenged.”

The Hogs will play a pair of games Friday – UTA at 3 p.m. and Wichita State at 5:30 p.m. – and two more on Saturday, facing Illinois State at 3 p.m. and the Lady Shockers again at 5:30 p.m. They will wrap things up with Arlington on Sunday, beginning at 12:15 p.m.

“We love playing at home,” Deifel said with a huge grin. “We have one of the best stadiums, with one of the best fields … and some of the best fans in the country. I’m excited that we are home this weekend, and I’m excited that we’re home for three weeks in a row.”

Arkansas will host the Woo Pig Classic next weekend, facing the likes of South Dakota State, Southeast Missouri State and Florida Atlantic. The following weekend, the Hogs will host Nebraska, South Alabama, St. Francis and Northern Iowa in the Razorback Rumble.

After the 17-game homestand, Arkansas will begin the SEC slate at Auburn on March 15.

The Razorbacks began the season two weeks ago, going 4-1 in the Paradise Classic in South Florida, then went 4-1 again in Arizona’s Bear Down Fiesta last weekend. That event included a split of two games against powerhouse No. 23 Arizona.

Deifel, who is in her ninth season at the helm, and the winningest coach in program history, is happy with her team’s early performance, but knows there is always room for improvement.

“I just feel like we’ve done a really good job, defensively, and we’ve got so many tools, offensively,” she said, “but I don’t think we have fired, from one through nine. I do think that last Saturday and Sunday we did take a step in the right direction. I don’t think we are there yet, but I definitely like the steps we have taken.

“The big thing is knowing that potential, knowing what this lineup could be, with different ones stepping up in big moments. We know our best softball is still ahead of us. When we all start firing together it’s going to be a really dynamic lineup.”

Sophomore lead-off hitter Reagan Johnson has begun the season with her bat on fire, leading the team with a .462 average, including a team-high 18 hits and six stolen bases.

Junior Auburn-transfer Bri Ellis has brought the power to the lineup, with a team-high three home runs, while slugging at a .759 percent clip. Collectively, the Razorbacks hit seven total home runs in Arizona, while outscoring their opposition 26-8 over the five games.

In the circle, the Arkansas pitching staff has been stellar. In 36 innings pitched last weekend, the staff did not give up a home run in a location known as a hitter’s “launching pad.”

“I was really proud of how they competed this past weekend, in an environment where the ball flies,” Deifel said. “I just thought our pitchers and our defense did a really good job of limiting the other offenses.”

Senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock and lefty Robyn Herron have been sensational slinging the ball. Leinstock (3-0) has tossed 19.2 innings with a 1.07 ERA and 22 strikeouts, while Herron (3-2) has thrown 27 innings with a 1.30 ERA and 30 strikeouts. Neither has allowed a home run.

The Razorbacks are 7-1 in home openers under Deifel, and are seeking their eighth straight home-opening win, dating back to 2017.

Leinstock’s one-hit gem leads Razorback softball over Omaha

Right-hander Morgan Leinstock went all seven innings Sunday, allowing just one earned run and striking out eight.

Arkansas senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock allowed just one base hit Sunday in a 5-2 complete-game victory over Omaha, wrapping up the Bear Down Fiesta in Arizona.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Leinstock (3-0), a Southern Miss transfer, who is originally from nearby Scottsdale, Ariz. She allowed just one earned run to the Lady Mavericks and struck out eight of the 27 batters she faced.

The No. 13 Razorbacks (8-2) went 4-1 over the weekend, including a two-game split with host Arizona.

Leinstock retired the first seven Omaha batters she faced, before allowing a third-inning walk. She was flawless, other than a slight hiccup in the fifth, with the Razorbacks already up 5-0. She hit a batter, then allowed a one-out walk. Her lone hit allowed was a 2-run double by Omaha’s Lynsey Tucker.

In 13 innings this weekend, Leinstock went 2-0, allowing just that one hit and striking out 15. In 19.2 total innings this season, she has a stellar 0.71 ERA with 22 strikeouts.

Arkansas collected 10 hits on the day, with sophomore Reagan Johnson, and seniors Hannah Gammill and Rylin Hedgecock recording two knocks each.

The Razorbacks jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second, as junior Bri Ellis led off the inning with a single, then came home on senior Cylie Halvorson‘s two-run blast to right-center field.

The Hogs put three more up in the third to boost the lead to five. Johnson got the rally started when she led off with a bunt single, and immediately stole her sixth base of the season. After junior Raigan Kramer singled, senior Nia Carter reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Johnson then scored on Ellis’ sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Kramer came home on another sacrifice fly by Halvorson. Gammill followed with a single and scored on another base hit from Hedgecock, to make it 5-0.

The Hogs outscored their opponents 26-8 over the weekend, while smashing seven home runs. And despite Hillenbrand Stadium’s reputation for being hitter-friendly, Razorback pitchers combined to give up just five earned runs in Tucson, spanning 36 innings, without allowing a homer.

The red-hot Johnson finished the weekend with three-straight multi-hit games, giving her a team-high six multi-hit performances this season.

Arkansas will make its home debut on Thursday, facing Illinois State in the first of a four-day Razorback Invitational. First pitch at Bogle Park is slated for 4 p.m.

Arkansas softball team splits two at Arizona’s Bear Down Fiesta

Arkansas softball took the opener against Long Beach on Friday, before falling to Arizona.

The No. 13 Arkansas softball team got off to a great start on Friday with a 7-0 over Long Beach State, but fell in the late game to host Arizona, 3-2.

The Razorbacks (5-2) have began the season with two multi-team road events. After playing in south Florida a week ago, they traveled across the country for this weekend’s Bear Down Fiesta in Tucson.

Sophomore right-hander Nikki McGaffin started the first game and threw a scoreless first inning, allowing Long Beach’s only hit of the game, while striking out a pair. She was relieved in the second frame by senior righty – and Arizona native – Morgan Leinstock (2-0), who got the win after she tossed six hit-less innings, striking out seven.

Junior Bri Ellis smashed a pair of homeruns for the Razorbacks, giving her four on the young season. The Auburn transfers also knocked in three runs, and drew a pair of walks, as Arkansas outhit the Dirtbags, 8-1.

Senior Nia Carter remained hot at the plate with a season-high three hits, including a sixth-inning triple, while knocking in two runs. With two outs in the fifth inning, the Hogs rallied for three runs, as senior Cylie Halvorson drilled an RBI-double.

In Game 2, the Razorbacks fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, before both teams went silent for the next five. Arkansas tied it at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. After senior Hannah Gammill drew a one-out walk, senior Rylin Hedgecock blasted a two-run shot over the right-center field fence.

Sophomore lefty Robyn Herron (2-2) had another dominant performance in the circle, despite the loss. After taking over for starter Hannah Camenzind in the bottom of the first, Herron spun six scoreless innings, holding the Wildcats to just two hits and striking out seven.

Arizona’s Regan Shockey scored the winning run on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

Arkansas will play two more on Saturday, facing Omaha at 12:30 p.m. which will be streamed on FloSoftball. The Razorbacks will then get a rematch with Arizona at 3 p.m., to be aired on the Pac-12 Network.

No. 13 Arkansas softball team invades Arizona for the weekend

Arkansas has got off to a hot 4-1 start, thanks to the blazing bat of sophomore Reagan Johnson.

After opening the season last weekend in Florida, the No. 13 Arkansas softball team now travels west for the this weekend’s Bear Down Fiesta in Tucson, Ariz.

The Razorbacks (4-1) will play five games in Tucson, beginning Friday at noon against Long Beach State. Arkansas will then tangle with host Arizona at 5 p.m., before games against Omaha and Arizona on Saturday, and the finale against Omaha on Sunday.

Arkansas got off to a solid start a week ago in the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla., as sophomore center-fielder Reagan Johnson began the season on fire. The 5-foot-4 leadoff hitter racked up 10 hits in 20 at-bats, while scoring five runs and stealing three bases. She currently has a 10-game hitting streak, dating back to last season.

Sophomore left-hander Robyn Herron (2-1) was equally as hot in the circle for the Hogs. She made three appearances, including two starts, and turned in a scorching 1.02 ERA, with 20 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

Junior Auburn-transfer Bri Ellis has also flexed her offensive muscle, recording at least one hit and one RBI in four of the first five games, and leading the Razorbacks with seven runs batted in and three doubles. Senior-transfer right-fielder Nia Carter is currently on a 15-game hitting streak, dating back to her 2023 season at Iowa.

It will also be a homecoming weekend of sorts for three Razorbacks, who all hail from the Grand Canyon State. Sophomore Reis Beuerlein is from Cave Creek, senior Morgan Leinstock is from Scottsdale, and junior Spencer Prigge is from Phoenix. Carter is from just across the border in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Arkansas is 2-4 all-time against both, Long Beach State and Arizona. The Hogs lead the all-time series with Omaha, 4-0.

The two games against Arizona will be streamed for free on the Pac-12 Network. The other games will be available on FloSoftball.

No. 12 Razorback softball team splits a pair in south Florida

Arkansas softball opened the twin-bill with a win over Michigan State, before suffering a loss to Penn State.

The No. 12 Arkansas softball team split a double-header in south Florida on Saturday, knocking off Michigan State in the opener, before suffering its first loss of the season at the hands of Penn State in extra innings.

The Razorbacks (4-1) wrapped up the three-day Paradise Classic and must now travel across the country to Arizona for next weekend’s Bear Down Fiesta tournament.

After wins over Marshall, Florida Atlantic and Ohio on the first two days, Arkansas remained unbeaten at the time, with a 6-5 win over the Spartans.

The Hogs thumped seven hits against Michigan State, including a pair of home runs by senior sluggers Cylie Halvorson and Hannah Gammill.

Right-handed sophomore Reis Beuerlein made her second start as a Razorback, after transferring from Mississippi State, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. After  while surrendering two runs on four hits.

After sophomore lefty Hannah Camenzind came in for 2.2 frames in relief, giving up three runs and striking out four, fellow sophomore Robyn Herron (2-1) came in to pick up her second win of the young season. The Tampa native shut down the Michigan State bats for the final 1.1 innings, striking out three of the four batters she faced, to put the game on ice.

Halverson’s solo shot tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. The Razorbacks extended the lead to 4-1 with three in the third, including junior Bri Ellis’ two-run single. Gammill’s two-run bomb then made it 6-2 after five.

The Spartans (0-4) rallied for three runs in the sixth, before Herron came in to extinguish the fire.

Facing their second Big Ten opponent of the day, the Razorbacks found themselves in a pitcher’s duel against the Nittany Lions, before allowing a run with one out in the eighth inning to fall, 3-2.

Herron started the game on the mound, and despite the loss, was dominant once again. She went the entire 7.1 innings, giving up just two earned runs, while striking out 10 Nittany Lions for her sixth career double-digit strikeout performance.

Sophomore Reagan Johnson and senior Nia Carter accounted for all four Razorback hits, with two apiece.

Senior Rylin Hedgecock got the Hogs on the board in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to center field. After Penn State tied it at 1-1 in the second, Arkansas regained the lead in the fourth on a Carter’s RBI single.

The Nittany Lions (4-0) tied it again at 2-2 in the fourth, before both teams went scoreless until the eighth. With a “ghost runner” on second to start the inning, Penn State needed just one base hit to claim the win.

In addition to Johnson’s two singles, she also drew a pair of walks and stole her third base of the season.

Arkansas will begin play in Tucson on Friday, facing Long Beach State at noon, followed by a matchup with host Arizona at 5 p.m.

Johnson goes 4-for-4 at the plate as Arkansas softball moves to 3-0

Arkansas softball got a great pitching performance from transfer righty Morgan Leinstock in 3-0 win.

The No. 12 Arkansas softball team continued its hot start with a 7-3 victory over Ohio at the Paradise Classic in south Florida on Friday.

The Razorbacks (3-0) got a splendid start from senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock, who was making her Arkansas debut after transferring from Southern Miss. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native tossed 6.2 innings, striking out seven and holding the Bobcats to just five hits.

It was the Razorbacks second 10-hit game in their first three games, as Reagan Johnson continued her torrid start. The sophomore outfielder tied her career-high with four hits in as many at-bats, while also scoring two runs and stealing two bases.

Arkansas jumped on the board early, when Johnson scored on an RBI-double by junior Bri Ellis in the first inning. Senior Rylin Hedgecock then knocked her own RBI-double to make it 2-0.

The Hogs increased the lead to 6-0 in the second, beginning with senior Nia Carter‘s two-run single, notching the first of her three RBIs of the game. After a sacrifice fly by senior Hannah Gammill, Hedgecock’s second consecutive hit plated the sixth run.

The lead went to 7-0 in the third, when Carter singled in junior Raigan Kramer.

After Ohio rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore lefty Hannah Camenzind came in to record the final out of the game.

Arkansas will conclude the tournament on Saturday with a doubleheader against Penn State at 8 a.m., followed by a showdown with Michigan State at 10:15 a.m. Both games will be available to stream on FloSoftball.