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Arkansas was without its two best pitchers during the first game of the Super Regional round of the college softball tournament against Ole Miss on Friday because of food poisoning. The Razorbacks unintentionally put themselves at a major disadvantage with their a questionable decision to move first pitch.
It was an unfortunate sequence of circumstances that was only made public after a difficult start.
Arkansas earned the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament as one of the best college softball teams during the 2025 regular season. The Hogs were led by star hitter Bri Ellis, who hit better than .450 when opposing teams actually allowed her to swing, and starting pitchers Robyn Herron and Payton Burnham.
Herron recorded an ERA of 2.56 over 138.2 innings. Burnham finished with an ERA of 2.56 over 106.2 innings. The next two most-used pitchers, Cam Harrison and Reis Beuerlein, threw 84 innings — combined.
Needless to say, Herron and Burnham were two of the most important arms in the entire country. Neither of them were at full health on Friday.
Robyn Herron actually started the game as expected but she allowed three earned runs on two hits and two walks in just two innings. The Rebels took her deep in the top of the first to take an early lead.
Starting how she left off 💣@AliyahBinford | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/7Cnu5opcxA
— Ole Miss Softball (@OleMissSoftball) May 23, 2025
In a surprising move, Herron did not return to the circle in the top of the third inning. She was not replaced by Payton Burnham. Rather, it was Beuerlein.
Head coach Courtney Deifel was ripped for her decision, especially after Beuerlein allowed four runs in just two thirds of an inning, but her hands were tied. It was the only option available.
Deifel later confirmed online rumors that both of her best pitchers are currently dealing with food poisoning. She did not elaborate further. We do not know how it happened or where from.
However, the timing of first pitch became an interesting factor in the equation with this news. The Razorbacks moved first pitch from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. because of impending weather. But here’s the thing… there was only a 50% chance of rain at approximately 6:00 p.m when they called the shot.
It was a questionable decision to move first pitch in the first place and Arkansas accidentally shot itself in the foot. I don’t know the extent of Burnham or Herron’s food poisoning and I know how bad food poisoning can be. But with that being said, Burnham started the game. Would she have been closer to full health if the game started in the afternoon? Would Herron be available?
We will never know the answer to those questions. It is a hypothetical situation. And yet, you have to wonder if Game 1 might’ve gone differently if not for the panicked time change.