FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 5 national seed Arkansas Razorbacks run-ruled Fordham, 8-0 in six innings on the strength of a shutout from sophomore Payton Burnham and three home runs during the opening game of the 2026 NCAA Fayetteville Regional at Bogle Park on Friday evening.

Arkansas got out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning courtesy of a two-run home run from Karlie Davison and an RBI single from Reagan Johnson. The Hogs then added a run in the third and fourth innings, respectively, courtesy of a solo home run from Tianna Bell and a sacrifice fly from Kailey Wyckoff, to push the advantage to five. In the sixth inning, Brinli Bain recorded an RBI single before Dakota Kennedy completed the run-rule with a two-run home run just inside the left field foul pole.

With the win, Arkansas improved to 43-11 overall and earned its 22nd run-rule victory of the season. The Hogs will await the conclusion of the Washington/USF game, which they will play the winner of tomorrow at 1 p.m. for a chance to move to Sunday’s portion of the bracket.

Burnham (13-3) was dominant in her 13th victory of the season, striking out six and allowing just three hits and no walks on 77 pitches. She retired a string of 14 consecutive batters from the second through sixth innings.

Davison (2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R), Bell (2-4, 2 R, HR, RBI), Johnson (2-4, R, SB, RBI), Brinli Bain (2-3, RBI, BB), and Atalyia Rijo (2-3) each recorded multiple hits in the victory. It marked the Razorbacks’ 20th game this season with 10+ hits, while their 11 hits were the most since April 22 during a 7-2 win at Tulsa.

Olivia Simcoe took the loss for Fordham (27-27) after allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks while picking up a strikeout.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Sophomore Payton Burnham got the start for Arkansas, while Fordham went with right-handed junior Olivia Simcoe.

During the top of the first inning, Payton Burnham retired the Rams in order, highlighted by a strikeout to open the game. Simcoe followed with a 1-2-3 bottom of the second courtesy of two groundouts and a foulout.

Fordham second baseman Sadira Forcucci singled up the middle to lead off the top of the second inning and then advanced to second base on a single from Eva Koratsis. Ella McDowell snagged a line drive at third base for the first out of the inning before Burnham collected her second strikeout of the night and McDowell caught another hard-hit line drive at third for the final out of the frame.

Tianna Bell singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the second inning before advancing to second on a wild pitch and taking third on a long flyout from Dakota Kennedy. Karlie Davison stepped to the plate and crushed a two-run home run over the wall in left field to give Arkansas an early 2-0 lead. Following Davison’s round-tripper, Atalyia Rijo singled, Kailey Wyckoff walked, and then was replaced at first base by Kennedy Miller, who hit into a fielder’s choice to move Rijo to third. Reagan Johnson then reached on an RBI infield single that scored Rijo and increased the Hogs’ lead to 3-0. Brinli Bain drew a walk to load the bases with two outs before the game was halted at 5:15 p.m. Following a 35-minute delay, play resumed at 5:50 p.m. Fordham and Simcoe escaped without further damage as they issued a flyout to left field to limit the deficit to three.

Burnham tossed a 1-2-3 frame capped with a punchout in the top of the third inning.

Tianna Bell crushed her team-leading 16th home run of the season with a solo shot to center field to lead off the bottom of the third inning, increasing the Arkansas lead to four. Arkansas then loaded the bases with one out by way of a Dakota Kennedy walk, a single by Atalyia Rijo, and a walk by Wyckoff, but Fordham would escape by way of a lineout and groundout.

In the top of the fourth inning, Burnham retired the side by way of a groundout, a strikeout, and a lineout. Bain was the lone Hog to reach base in the bottom of the fourth inning by way of a leadoff single into right field.

Burnham made it 12 consecutive batters retired with a 1-2-3 top of the fifth inning that featured a pair of strikeouts.

Davison singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning before later coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from Kailey Wyckoff along the foul line in shallow left field, giving the Hogs a 5-0 lead.

Fordham’s Mikayla Swan reached on a two-out single in the top of the sixth inning to snap Burnham’s streak of 14 consecutive batters retired.

Reagan Johnson led off the bottom of the sixth with an infield single before moving to scoring position with a stolen base. Johnson then scored on an RBI single from Brinli Bain before advancing to second courtesy of a fielding error on the play. Ramsey Walker entered in place of Bain following the RBI single and moved to third base by way of a groundout. Dakota Kennedy then ended the game by crushing a two-run home run just inside the left-field foul pole to make it the final, 8-0.

NOTABLES

• The Razorbacks registered their 22^nd run-rule victory of the season, which ranks second in program history and one shy of the single-season program record set of 23 in 2025.
• Tianna Bell blasted her team-leading 16^th home run of the season, setting a new single-season career high. She previously hit 15 last season while at Cal. Bell also improved her reached-base streak to a team-best nine games.
• Arkansas is now 25-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including an 18-16 mark under head coach Courtney Deifel. The Razorbacks have now won six consecutive opening-round games in regional play dating back to 2021.
• Payton Burnham tossed her second consecutive complete-game shutout after throwing a three-hit, seven-inning shutout her last time out against Mississippi State (May 6).
• Arkansas recorded its 25^th home win this season, which is tied for third-most in Bogle Park history (2009-present).

Up Next

The Razorbacks will await the decision of tonight’s matchup between Washington and South Florida to determine their opponent tomorrow.

For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.

Arkansas 3, Kentucky 2 — Middle 6th Inning

Nolan Souza drew a 2-out walk but that was all for the Razorbacks in the sixth inning. Alexander Peck grounded out in the next at-bat against lefty Jackson Soucie. 

Arkansas 3, Kentucky 2 — End 5th Inning

Gabe Gaeckle worked a perfect fifth inning with a couple of flyouts and a strikeout. His pitch count is at 84. This has been one of his better outings this year. 

Arkansas 3, Kentucky 2 — Middle 5th Inning

The Razorbacks loaded the bases and forced a 1-out pitching change in the fifth inning. 

After Alexander Peck grounded out to begin the inning, Zack Stewart walked, Damian Ruiz singled and TJ Pompey walked on a 3-2 pitch after a couple of foul balls. 

Ryder Helfrick hit a double-play ball against new right-handed reliever Ira Austin, but the Wildcats’ middle infield botched it a bit and Helfrick was able to reach first safely, which scored Stewart. 

Kuhio Aloy struck out to end the half inning and strand runners at the corners. 

Ben Cleaver pitched 4 1/3 innings for the Wildcats and allowed 3 runs, 5 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts. He threw 84 pitches with 57 strikes. 

Arkansas 2, Kentucky 2 — End 4th Inning

Hudson Brown led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run the other way off the top of the left-center field wall. That was Brown’s fifth home run. 

Caeden Cloud added a 1-out walk after working a full count. After Jayce Tharnish struck out, it appeared Tyler Bell might hit a go-ahead homer, but the wind knocked down a well-hit ball near the warning track in right field. 

Arkansas 2, Kentucky 1 — Middle 4th Inning

Camden Kozeal worked a nine-pitch at-bat and stroked a 1-out solo home run 400 feet to right-center field on a 3-2 pitch. It followed the third straight he fouled off. 

That was Kozeal’s team-leading 17th home run. 

Arkansas 1, Kentucky 1 — End 3rd Inning

The Wildcats struck during their second time through the lineup, but that was secondary to a scary scene involving Braxton Van Cleave who was taken off the field on a stretcher after about a 15-minute delay. 

Jayce Tharnish was hit by Gabe Gaeckle’s first pitch of the inning and stole second base. A second base runner, Luke Lawrence, reached on a 1-out walk. 

Ethan Hindle flied out for the second out of the inning before Van Cleave’s bouncer found its way between shortstop Camden Kozeal and second baseman Nolan Souza for an RBI single. 

Van Cleave tried to take second base and as he did he and Kozeal had a nasty collision, with Van Cleave hitting Kozeal from behind. Kozeal appeared to unknowingly be standing in the base path and Van Cleave had his head down. It did not appear any player saw the collision coming. 

Van Cleave was on the field for several minutes while being tended to by the training and medical staffs of both teams. He was eventually taken off on a stretcher. They appear to be concerned about an injury to his head and neck area. 

The game resumed after an 18-minute delay. Gaeckle got a groundout to end the inning and strand Wildcats at second and third base. 

Arkansas 1, Kentucky 0 — Middle 3rd Inning

Zack Stewart led off the third inning with a 395-foot home run to right-center field. That was his second home run in as many pitches after he hit the leadoff homer in the ninth inning last night. 

That was Stewart’s 10th homer of the season and 54th of his career. 

That was Arkansas’ only hit of the inning. Damian Ruiz and Ryder Helfrick flied out and TJ Pompey struck out. 

Arkansas 0, Kentucky 0 — End 2nd Inning

Will Marcy led off with a walk and Hudson Brown followed with a single to set up Kentucky for a potential big inning, but Gabe Gaeckle pitched out of it. 

Owen Jenkins failed twice to put down a bunt, then struck out looking on the third pitch of the at-bat for the first out. Gaeckle then picked off Marcy at second base before Caeden Cloud struck out to strand a base runner. 

Arkansas 0, Kentucky 0 — Middle 2nd Inning

Nolan Souza beat out a 2-out infield single and was stranded when Alexander Peck flied out to right field. Peck had a couple of good takes after falling behind 0-2. 

Kentucky lefty Ben Cleaver has thrown 21 of 28 pitches for strikes. 

Arkansas 0, Kentucky 0 — End 1st Inning

Both teams stranded 2-out base runners in scoring position in the first inning. 

Ryder Helfrick hit a 2-out double for the Razorbacks and was out when Kuhio Aloy flied out. 

Luke Lawrence and Ethan Hindle had back-to-back singles for the Wildcats against Gabe Gaeckle. Damian Ruiz made a sliding catch in left field to end the inning on a well-hit ball by Braxton Van Cleave. 

Pregame

Arkansas and Kentucky are scheduled to play the second game of a series Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Kentucky Proud Park.

The Razorbacks (34-19, 15-13 SEC) will throw right-hander Gabe Gaeckle against Kentucky left-hander Ben Cleaver. 

Arkansas will be looking to even the series after losing the series opener 4-3.

Here is a look at the Razorbacks’ starting lineup:

LF Damian Ruiz

3B TJ Pompey

C Ryder Helfrick

DH Kuhio Aloy

SS Camden Kozeal

CF Maika Niu

2B Nolan Souza

1B Alexander Peck

RF Zack Stewart