Skip to main content

No. 13 Arkansas Rides Early Offense, Herron’s Complete Game in Win Over No. 2 Florida

by:Cooper Taylor•04/04/25
Screenshot 2025-04-04 at 5.39.02 PM
Courtesy of Arkansas Athletics

Arkansas kept its momentum rolling with a statement road 4-1 win over Florida on Friday, powered by a dominant outing from ace Robyn Herron and a first-inning Bri Ellis bomb.

Herron and Florida freshman Katelynn Oxley got the start in the series opener. Arkansas struck fast, as Reagan Johnson laced a double to left-center on the third pitch of the game. After a walk, Ellis crushed her nation-leading 19th homer to left on a full-count changeup, putting the Razorbacks up 3-0 before Florida could record an out.

Florida’s Kendra Falby drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, extending her on-base streak to every game this season. However, she was caught stealing, and Jocelyn Erickson struck out to end the inning.

Read more about why Herron matches up well with Florida’s lineup

Oxley rebounded with a 1-2-3 second inning, capped by a strikeout. Herron worked around two singles in the home half to keep Florida off the board. Ellis drew a two-out walk in the third but was stranded at second. In the bottom half, Herron again pitched around two baserunners to preserve the lead.

Arkansas threatened again in the fourth with a walk and an Ella McDowell single. Some strong Florida defense bailed out the Gators. Erickson made a catch at the netting and Rylee Holtorf hauled in an over-the-shoulder grab to end the threat. In the bottom half, the Razorbacks’ defense answered, with three hard-hit balls finding gloves to end the fourth still 3-0.

Oxley began to settle in the third time through the order, retiring Ellis for the first time in the fifth. Herron remained sharp, and McDowell made a standout play at third to end another Florida threat. After McDowell reached for the second time in the sixth, Atalya Rijo doubled to center, putting two in scoring position. However, Oxley induced a pair of pop-outs to escape the jam.

Florida finally snapped a 16-inning scoreless streak on a solo homer from Taylor Shumaker in the sixth, cutting Arkansas’s lead to 3-1. Herron quickly recovered, retiring the next three batters.

Softball America April Position Power Rankings
P | C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | UTL

Kara Hammock took over for Oxley in the seventh, ending the freshman’s outing after six innings. The Razorbacks capitalized on the pitching change. Johnson singled and Raigan Kramer walked, setting up a two-out RBI single by Kailey Wyckoff to push the lead to 4-1. Arkansas added another single but a strong outfield assist cut down a runner at the plate to end the frame.

Herron returned to the circle in the seventh and shut the door, handing Florida its second straight loss for the first time this season. The left-hander went the distance, allowing just one run on seven hits with four strikeouts over seven innings. Oxley took the loss for the Gators, allowing three runs in six innings of work.

Game 2 of the series is set for Friday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Arkansas will look to clinch its third straight SEC series win, while Florida aims to even the series.

More from Softball America:

Meylan, Brown star in Oklahoma State, Arizona State pitchers duel
From Geaux Teal to Game Day: Reflections on LSU-South Carolina Series
Bracketology: April 2nd

You may also like