Ellis’ 19th bomb and Herron’s pitching gem lift No. 12 Arkansas over No. 2 Florida

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

Arkansas may not have the best softball record in the SEC, but the Razorbacks are arguably one of the hottest squads right now.

Bri Ellis’ three-run first inning homer jump-started her team and ace pitcher Robyn Herron’s complete game made that stand up as visiting No. 12 Arkansas downed No. 2 Florida 3-1 on Friday night.

The Razorbacks’ fifth straight win them to 25-7 overall and 7-6 in SEC action after starting 1-5 in their first six league contests.

It was also Arkansas’ seventh win in its last eight meetings with Florida (33-7, 6-4) and fifth straight in Gainesville.

Reagan Johnson doubled and Raigan Kramer walked before Ellis’ bomb gave her team a lead it would not relinquish.

It was Ellis’ national-leading 19th home run this season, boosted he RBI total to 55 and came off Florida starter Katelynn Oxley (5-4).

Herron (11-3) allowed one run on four hits, fanning four, walking two and throwing 113 pitches, 69 for strikes.

Her only mistake came against Florida freshman slugger Taylor Shumaker, whose sixth-inning homer was her 14th round-tripper of the season and cut Arkansas’ lead to 3-1.

But Arkansas added an insurance run in the top of the seventh against Florida reliever Kara Hammock.

Johnson singled, Kramer walked and Kailey Wyckoff delivered a clutch two-out RBI single to make it 4-1.

Ella McDowell, who had three of her team’s eight hits, followed with a single on which Courtney Day was thrown out at the plate to end the threat.

Oklahoma’s 9-3 mark and Texas’ 7-2 one currently head up SEC softball standings

The two teams are slated to meet again Saturday at 3 p.m. in game televised by ESPNU and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Photo courtesy of Razorbacks Communications