AUBURN, Ala. — No. 20 Arkansas (22-6) leaves the Plains with its fourth straight series win over the Auburn Tigers despite dropping the series finale, 2-1, Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field.
The Tigers snapped their 11-game losing streak to Arkansas, dating back to 2018. Arkansas moves to 22-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Auburn scored both runs in the first inning on a two-RBI single up the middle to capture an early 2-0 lead. Arkansas’ comeback attempt fell short after trimming the lead to 2-1 in the sixth on an infield single by Bri Ellis to score Rylin Hedgecock from third. The Hogs remained in striking distance in the sixth and seventh but couldn’t string together a timely hit, stranding runners in scoring position in both frames.
LHP Robyn Herron got the nod in the circle and recorded two outs in the first before being replaced by LHP Hannah Camenzind. Camenzind went 1.2 frames, limiting the Tigers to two hits. RHP Morgan Leinstock entered in the circle in the bottom of the third with one out and a runner on first, quickly firing back-to-back strikeouts to restrain Auburn from scoring. Leinstock tossed the final 3.2 innings and checked the Tigers to two hits while striking out two.
Ellis energized Arkansas’ offense with a 2-for-2 effort including an RBI and walk. The Houston product was responsible for the Hogs’ lone run after lacing an infield single to third in the sixth that scored Hedgecock from third. The junior first baseman was destructive throughout the three-game series, going 5-for-7 (.714) with two home runs, five RBI, four runs scored and three walks. Ellis notched an .800 on-base percentage, 1.571 slugging percentage and 1.000 fielding percentage with 23 putouts.
Rylin Hedgecock, Reagan Johnson, Hannah Camenzind and Raigan Kramer each flared base knocks to round out Arkansas’ hits tally.
Leinstock had a strong series against the Tigers and concluded the weekend with a 1-0 record, 0.60 ERA, 12 strikeouts, seven hits and just one earned run across 11.2 innings with the rock. Leinstock did not allow a walk or an extra-base hit.
