No. 8 Hogs best Drake in extras, edge No. 19 Arizona

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 8 Arkansas (11-3) swept the double dip Saturday against Drake and No. 19 Arizona on the second day of the Razorback Invitational at Bogle Park. The Razorbacks defeated Drake 4-3 (11 innings) before defeating Arizona 2-1 in game two.

Arkansas now has three wins on the season after defeating the Wildcats in the nightcap.

Game 1

Redshirt senior Chenise Delce (6-1) was poetic in the circle, picking up two wins for the Hogs on Saturday. In 3.0 innings against Drake, Delce did not allow a single run or hit while striking out two. Delce retired seven of the eight batters he faced. Entering the game in the ninth, Delce proved his grip again after working with a runner at third in each of the last three innings.

Freshman LHP Robyn Herron (3-1) also had a game in the circle. In 5.2 innings, Herron collected a career-high 14 strikeouts to become the first Razorback pitcher with 14 strikeouts in a single game since Mary Haff struck out 14 against Maryland on March 11, 2022. A phenom with a rock in her hand, Herron was neither. allowing one run or a hit from the Bulldogs.

Junior Cylie Halvorson starred at the plate for Arkansas. Finishing with two hits, Halvorson led the Hogs with two RBIs — both coming at crucial times. The Sioux Falls, SD, native hit the game-tying, RBI single to left in the bottom of the seventh with two outs to send the game to extras. Halvorson came through again in the bottom of the 11th with two outs, blasting a walk-off, RBI single to left to score Lauren Camenzind.

Junior Hannah Gammill, who started the game at third, had two hits and an RBI. Gammill provided Arkansas with its first lead of the game in the fifth with an RBI single down the left field line that plated Reagan Johnson.

Freshman Lauren Camenzind made her first career start at catcher against Drake. Camenzind finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk, his first career base scratch.

Freshman Reagan Johnson, fifth-year Kristina Foreman and sophomore Raigan Kramer also added hits. Johnson also stole a career-best three bases against the Bulldogs.

Game 2

Chenise Delce was the nail again in game two. Toss the final round of 3.1 games, Delce limited Arizona to zero runs on two hits and attracted five strikeouts. With runners in scoring position in the final three innings of the game, Delce worked his magic to keep Arizona from scoring again. With two down and a runner on third in the top of the seventh, Delce quickly put together the final strikeout of the night to seal the win.

Redshirt junior Rylin Hedgecock stepped up to the plate and finished 2-for-3 with the go-ahead solo home run. At the plate in the sixth with one out and the score even at 1-1, Hedgecock delivered the first Bogle Bomb of the 2023 season, a solo shot to right, to put Arkansas ahead 2-1 for good. Freshman Atalyia Rijo went 2-for-2 and drove in Arkansas’ first run in the second with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Raigan Kramer.

Record

• Chenise Delce won both games and extended her record to 6-1.
• Arkansas’ third ranked win of the season.
• Robyn Herron recorded a career-best 14 strikeouts and became the first Razorback since March 11, 2022 (Mary Haff vs. Maryland) with 14 strikeouts in a single game.
• Herron is the first Hog freshman pitcher since Mary Haff in 2018 to record multiple double-strikeout performances.
• Delce did not give up a run and gave up two hits in 5.1 innings pitched Friday.
• Arkansas got its second of the weekend in game one on Cylie Halvorson’s RBI single in the bottom of the 11th.
• Reagan Johnson stole a career-best three bases against the Bulldogs.
• Rylin Hedgecock bolted Bogle’s first home run of 2023, giving Arkansas a 2-1 lead over Arizona in the bottom of the sixth.
• Arkansas moves to 13-6 and 2-5 all-time against Drake and Arizona.

Until Next Time

Arkansas and Drake face off again during day three of the Razorback Invitational at 1 pm CT at Bogle Park.