FAYETTEVILLE — Everything that could go right for No. 14 Arkansas in the fourth inning did as the Razorbacks scored 13 runs in a 15-4 crushing of Wichita State on Saturday at Bogle Park. Arkansas won in five innings in front of the largest home crowd in program history with 3,549 in attendance.
In the top of the fourth, Arkansas (12-2) trailed 3-2 and saw starting pitcher Morgan Leinstock head to the dugout with the bases loaded after a strange play where she fielded a ground ball cleanly but failed to complete the throw to first base for an error.
When Leinstock went out, she was replaced by Hannah Camenzind with two outs and the bases loaded. Wichita State third baseman C.C. Wong, who had homered earlier, gave the Shockers (6-3) the lead with a two-run single to right.
It was short-lived thanks to the Arkansas onslaught.
Arkansas unleashed an offensive barrage that led to the 13-run inning. The Razorbacks sent 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth against three Wichita State pitchers.
Rylin Hedgeco*ck led off the bottom of the fourth by getting hit with a pitch. Hedgeco*ck was hit again later in the same inning as Arkansas almost batted around twice.
In between, the Arkansas offense added 9 hits, including 2 each from Kennedy Miller and Cylie Halvorson, who delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing double into the left-center gap that blew the game open. Reagan Johnson added a two-run triple in the inning.
Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel said the Razorbacks were able to feed off each other up and down the lineup.
“I feel like hitting is contagious, good at-bats are contagious,” Deifel said. “They just had this relentless approach and presence to them, just figuring out a way to extend the inning and just keep it going. They got down in counts and they didn't flinch. And there wasn't even a home run.”
The win capped a 2-0 day for the Razorbacks, who got a perfect game from sophom*ore left-hander Robyn Herron in a 7-0 win against Illinois State in Saturday's earlier game.
Camenzind shuffle
Camenzind helped her cause when she crushed an RBI single up the middle in the fourth inning, batting in place of her twin sister, shortstop Lauren Camenzind. Her hit gave Arkansas the lead for good.
In a lineup shuffle unique to softball, Deifel was able to bring Hannah in to bat, then return Lauren back to shortstop and Hannah back to the circle. Hannah (3-0) earned the win in relief of Leinstock.
“I think it's great that she can compete so well in the circle and play positions, too,” said Deifel. “She has come up clutch for us. Her last three at-bats have been hits, so she's doing really well in that role.”
Rockin' Robyn
Those in attendance Saturday witnessed history in the first game. Only twice has an Arkansas pitcher thrown a perfect game.
Herron retired all 21 batters she faced and struck out 11. Of the 86 pitches she windmilled home, 60 went for strikes. She only faced one three-ball count in the game, that coming against the lead-off hitter for Illinois State.
Mary Haff was the first Arkansas pitcher to toss a perfect game, that coming in 2022 against Maryland.
Herron said she could not recall ever coming close to accomplishing what she did Saturday when everything was clicking.
“I was just trying to stay present with each individual pitch,” Herron said. “I was trying not to think about the situation or make the situation too big. I just stayed in my own world and stayed in communication with my infielders, talking to each other, not really trying to think about what's going on.”
Bottom was tops
In the 7-0 shutout of Illinois State, the lower portion of the Arkansas order delivered big.
No. 8 hitter Lauren Camenzind drove in a pair of runs, and nine-hole hitter Raigan Kramer also plated a pair of runs for the Razorbacks.
Bri Ellis added a solo home run. Ellis also homered against Wichita State, a massive two-run shot to left that landed in the parking lot.
What's next
Arkansas wraps up the four-day Razorback Invitational at 12:15 p.m. Sunday against UT-Arlington. Arkansas will be at home over the next two weekends starting with the Wooo Pig Invitational next weekend.
Razorback Invitational schedule and results
Thursday
Arkansas 7, Illinois State 0
Friday
Illinois State 6, UT-Arlington 0
Wichita State 7, Illinois State 5
Arkansas 9, UT-Arlington 0
Wichita State 3, Arkansas 1
Saturday
Illinois State 6, UT-Arlington 4
Wichita State 6, UT-Arlington 1
Arkansas 9, Illinois State 0
Arkansas 15, Wichita State 4 (5 innings)
Sunday
Wichita State vs. Illinois State, 10 a.m.
Arkansas vs. UT-Arlington, 12:15 p.m.
