FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 5 National Seed Arkansas Razorbacks plated an NCAA Tournament program-record 14 runs in a 14-5 (5 inn.) victory over No. 12 Duke to take the opening game of the 2026 Fayetteville Super Regional on Friday afternoon at Bogle Park.
The Razorbacks are now 4-0 in the NCAA Tournament with all four wins coming by the run-rule variety. Arkansas became just the second team in NCAA history to accomplish the feat, alongside the 1995 National Champions, Arizona, who run-ruled their first five NCAA Tournament contests. With the victory, Arkansas is one win away from clinching the program’s first berth in the Women’s College World Series.
The Hogs and Blue Devils started play at 11:05 a.m. before entering a four-hour and 10-minute rain delay at 11:50 a.m. with Duke holding a 3-2 lead with two outs and runners on first and second base. Following the delay, Arkansas plated five runs in the bottom of the second courtesy of a grand slam from Tianna Bell and a solo home run from Dakota Kennedy to put the Hogs ahead for good. Duke plated a run in both the third and fourth innings, but Arkansas would not relinquish its lead as the Razorbacks put up three runs in the bottom of the third and four runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a three-run home run from senior Karlie Davison to end the game and make it the final, 14-5.
The Razorbacks registered a dozen hits in the victory while tying an NCAA tournament program record with 12 RBI, initially set on May 18, 2025, in a win over Oklahoma State. Dakota Kennedy led the Hogs at the plate with a 3-4 day that featured a solo home run and four RBI. Bell followed with a 2-3 contest that featured a grand slam and a walk. In addition to Davison’s three-run homer, Ella McDowell scored a career-high four runs and tied a career-high with three walks while also driving in a run with a single. Brinli Bain went 1-2 with a double, a pair of walks, and three runs scored.
Saylor Timmerman improved to 11-2 on the season after allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings of work. Robyn Herron started the contest for Arkansas and then returned in relief to close out the victory. The Tampa, Fla., product fanned four and allowed three runs on five hits and no walks in 3.2 innings of work.
Cassidy Curd (17-4) took the loss for Duke (43-16) after yielding three runs on two hits and two walks in 0.1 innings of work.
The Razorbacks are now 46-11 on the season with a program-record 25 run-rule victories and a 28-3 home record at Bogle Park. The Razorbacks’ 46 wins are tied for the most in program history alongside the 1999 squad (46) and trailing only the 2022 team (48).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Robyn Herron earned her 22nd start of the season for Arkansas, while Duke turned to Larissa Jacquez.
Ella McDowell made an incredible play on a bunt in foul territory for the first out in the game. Duke took a 1-0 lead in the next at-bat when Aminah Vega hit a solo home run to right-center field. Herron retired the next two batters by way of an infield popout and a strikeout.
Brinli Bain drew her team-leading 48th walk of the season with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Ella McDowell followed in the ensuing at-bat to put a pair of runners on. Tianna Bell singled to first base to load the bases before Dakota Kennedy gave Arkansas a 2-1 lead with a two-run single through the right side that featured some impressive baserunning from McDowell, who scored from second base.
In the top of the second inning, Duke regained the lead courtesy of a two-run home run from Kari Rodriguez. With two outs in the inning, Saylor Timmerman entered the circle for Arkansas in place of Herron. Rainy conditions made it hard for both pitchers to find their footing in the circle, and as a result, the game entered a rain delay at 11:50 a.m. After a 4:10 delay, play resumed at 4 p.m. Timmerman issued a popout to Ella McDowell at third following the delay to end the top half of the inning.
Kailey Wyckoff and Kennedy Miller both singled to open the bottom of the second inning. McDowell walked with two outs to load the bases for Tianna Bell, who crushed a no-doubt grand slam to center field to put the Hogs ahead 6-3. A batter later, Kennedy hit a solo home run to center field to increase the Hogs’ lead to 7-3.
In the top of the third inning, Duke got a run back courtesy of a solo home run to left-center field from Layla Lamar.
Arkansas responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 10-4 lead. Reagan Johnson led off the frame with a single up the middle before scoring on a double from Brinli Bain that featured a throwing error, allowing Bain to advance to third. Bain then scored courtesy of an RBI single from Ella McDowell before McDowell scored from second base while avoiding the tag with an acrobatic slide on a 6-4 RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Karlie Davison.
Following a pair of walks to start the inning, Herron re-entered the game in place of Timmerman in the circle. Duke cut the Hogs’ lead to 10-5 in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Jess Oakland with two outs.
Herron retired the Blue Devils in order during the top of the fifth inning by way of a strikeout, groundout, and flyout. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Bain recorded her second walk of the day and was pinch-ran for by Kyler Del Duca, who advanced to second on a walk by McDowell. Bell followed with a walk to load the bases for Dakota Kennedy, who extended the lead to six with an RBI groundout. Karlie Davison then completed the Razorbacks’ fourth consecutive run-rule win with a three-run home run to left field that left the ballpark and rolled into the left-field parking lot as Arkansas defeated Duke 14-5 in five innings.
NOTABLES
- With the win, Arkansas is one win away from clinching the first Women’s College World Series berth in program history.
- The Razorbacks are now 4-0 in the NCAA Tournament with all four wins coming by the run-rule variety this season. Arkansas became just the second team in NCAA history to accomplish the feat alongside the 1995 National Champions, Arizona, who run-ruled their first five contests.
- The Hogs improved their single-season record by recording their 25th run-rule victory.
- Arkansas is 309-9 when scoring eight or more runs all-time, including a 174-1 mark during the Courtney Deifel era (2016-present). The Razorbacks are on a 124-game winning streak when scoring 8+ runs. The last loss the Razorbacks had when accomplishing the feat was a 12-11 loss to Oklahoma State on Feb. 11, 2021, during the season opener at the Best on the Bayou Classic in Monroe, La.
- Arkansas is now 28-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 21-16 mark under head coach Courtney Deifel. The Razorbacks have now won six consecutive regional round games dating back to 2025.
- Brinli Bain registered her 19th double of the season, which is the second-most by a Razorback in program history, trailing only Brett Erickson (21, 2000).
- The Razorbacks 46 wins are the second-most in program history, trailing only the 2022 squad’s 48 wins.
- Arkansas and Duke are now tied 1-1 in the all-time series between the programs.
Up Next
The Razorbacks will look to clinch their first Women’s College World Series berth in program history tomorrow at 4 p.m. on ESPN2 with Mark Neely and Carol Bruggeman on the call.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
