Razorbacks Best Kentucky in Pitcher's Duel; Return to .500 in SEC Play

Hogs sweep Wildcats with late homer, 6-6 in conference after slow start

Arkansas Razorbacks' Ella McDowell against the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Ark. | Nilsen Roman-Hogs on SI Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas took down Kentucky 2-1 Sunday in a low-scoring affair to win five of its last six SEC games.

It's also the team's first SEC sweep since March 31- April 2, 2023, against Mississippi State.

Kentucky took its first lead of the series on a leadoff homer off the bat Ally Hutchins against Arkansas starter Reis Beuerlein.

Arkansas responded by scratching across a run in the home half of the first. Reagan Johnson, who leads the team in stolen bases, led off the frame with a bunt single. and promptly stole second for her team-leading 14th stolen base.

She came around to score on Bri Ellis' RBI sac fly, Ellis' 52nd in 33 games.

Beuerlein, who pitched the final inning Saturday, settled in and only allowed one other baserunner in four innings of work. She has allowed just one run in her past 10 1/3 frames after giving up nearly a run per inning through her first 19 2/3.

"She's been grinding for it," coach Courtney Deifel said. "Even though like some of her early outings didn't really go away, she just never stopped working. Sometimes that's just the game sometimes. She just kept working without losing her enthusiasm towards it, which is something that obviously could take a hit through that."

Kentucky starter Carson Fall matched Beuerlein putting up four scoreless innings after the leadoff frame, stranding seven baserunners.

The Razorbacks were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base, struggling to get the clutch hit to break the game open. The Hogs squandered its biggest chance in the fifth with runners on first and second with one out.

Third baseman Ella McDowell cranked her first homer in nearly a month to straightaway center to lead off the sixth. It ended up being the winning run.

Arkansas flirted with fire twice trying to close the game with freshman Peyton Burnham on the mound.

After a leadoff infield single, shortstop Atalyia Rijo fielded a liner hit right at her to turn a double play. Kentucky would load the bases on a single and a pair of walks before a popup mercifully completed the sweep.

Arkansas now looks to get above .500 for the first time in conference play on the road against Florida 5 p.m. Friday. The game will be streamed on SEC+.

HOGS FEED:

• Hogs recent portal activity shows Calipari's gameplan

• Power from transfers giving Razorbacks offense big boost this year

• Razorbacks clinch another SEC series with run-rule win over Kentucky

• Razorbacks keep SEC streak alive with extra-inning win over Vandy

• Among many questions for Razorbacks, running back one of biggest