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No. 12 LSU blasts No. 2 Arkansas, sets up decisive rubber match

Screenshot 2025-02-05 152517by:Cooper Taylor•05/02/25
Screenshot 2025-05-02 at 8.33.42 PM
Photo courtesy of LSU Athletics

For the second straight game, Arkansas handed the ball off to Robyn Herron in the circle. Meanwhile, LSU turned to its freshman left-hander Jayden Heavener.

Danieca Coffey reached on a five-pitch walk to open the game. After Herron notched her first strikeout of the game, Maci Bergeron doubled to right field and plated LSU’s first run of the game. Herron earned a second strikeout to end the top of the first.

In the home half, Arkansas matched LSU’s run. A pair of free passes and a groundout moved runners into scoring position. Then, a passed ball tied the game. Two more free passes loaded the bases for the Hogs, but Heavener induced a pop-up to end the first inning.

LSU continued to see Herron well in the second. Three base hits pushed the Tigers’ second run across, with the big blow coming on Coffey’s RBI double. The next at-bat, a dropped fly ball scored Coffey from second, giving LSU a 3-1 lead. Heavener worked a shutdown frame to hold the two-run lead. A scoreless third and fourth inning marked the first full innings of the series where neither team scored a run.

In the fifth, Coffey notched her second hit of the game, a leadoff single to left field. A throwing error by Arkansas then moved runners to the corners with no outs. An RBI groundout from Tori Edwards extended the Tigers’ lead to 4-1.

After a bunt single by McKenzie Redoutey, Arkansas pulled Herron from the game. On in relief with the bases loaded, Reis Beuerlein walked in a run, then surrendered an RBI single to Avery Hodge and walked in a second run, pushing LSU’s lead to 7-1. Freshman Cam Harrison came on in relief after Beuerlein failed to record an out. Savanna Bedell notched an RBI single before a pair of lineouts ended the Hogs’ nightmare inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, a Raigan Kramer single, a walk to Bri Ellis, and a Kailey Wyckoff single loaded the bases with one out. Heavener then issued a two-out walk to Atalyia Rijo, cutting the deficit to 8-2. Heavener ended the inning on a strikeout, stranding the bases loaded.

LSU answered immediately, though. After putting the leadoff runner on again, Hodge singled in a run, making it a 9-2 game. Heavener continued to deal in the circle, striking Ellis for the second time to end the sixth inning.

In the final frame of the game, LSU left no doubt. A leadoff single by Sierra Daniel, another Arkansas walk, and a Bergeron single loaded the bases. After Harrison struck out Edwards for the second time tonight, Redoutey hit a grand slam on the first pitch she saw to straightaway center. Heavener completed her gem by retiring three of the five batters she faced in the seventh.

Herron gets the loss in Arkansas’ 13-2 loss, surrendering five earned runs on four walks and six hits. Heavener tossed a complete game win, dealing eight strikeouts while scattering six walks. Tomorrow’s rubber match is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on SECN+. The Razorbacks will aim for their sixth straight series win while LSU looks to finish above .500 in conference play this season.

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