Razorbacks Surge Past Little Rock With Late Power Flurry
Combined two-hitter leads to seven-inning run-rule win over Trojans
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas used four homers and eight walks to power its way to an 11-0 shutout win against Arkansas-Little Rock in a midweek in-state showdown.
“The difference in the game is basically on the mound,” coach Dave Van Horn said. “We didn’t give them any free passes. We didn’t walk anyone. They walked. It looks like they walked eight and hit us four times. That’s 12 free passes. You mix in four home runs and that’s how you score 11 runs. I mean we didn’t get … might have had a single or two, but when we hit it, we hit it hard.”
The Razorbacks jumped on starter Austin Stubber taking advantage of his command problems, knocking him out of the game after recording just two outs. The Hogs scored two runs in the bottom of the first with a sac fly from Jack Wagner and after 13-pitches with bases-loaded, Peyton Holt was hit by a pitch. Both players started for the first time in over two weeks.
Peyton Stovall blasted a two-run homer to left field to double the Razorbacks’ lead to 4-0 in the top of the second. However, the Hogs stranded five base runners in the first two innings.
Ben Bybee made his season debut after dealing with mononucleosis, retiring nine of the 10 hitters he faced in three scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
Dylan Carter continued his road back after recovering from Tommy John surgery, making his third appearance on the year and pitching two scoreless innings. The Razorbacks were held scoreless from the third to the fifth before exploding for seven runs in the sixth thanks to three home runs. Ryder Helfrick got hit for the second time in the game and two more walks set up Wehiwa Aloy with the bases loaded with no outs. The Sacramento State transfer hit his second grand slam in a Razorbacks uniform, a 413-foot shot to center to stretch the lead to 8-0.
“It feels good,” Aloy said. “I could care less about the numbers right now. I’m just trying to find ways to help the team. Getting wins.”
Wagner followed two batters later with a solo homer to left, his first as a Hog. Will Edmunson followed suit, sandwiched between an error to put the 10-run rule in effect with the lead at 11-0. Stone Hewlett got the final three outs to finish the game in seven innings.
“He [Wagner] hasn’t played in a conference game yet,” Van Horn said. “We really wanted to get him a start today and see what he can do. His first at-bat, he gets jammed, but some good base running when we get a sac fly on a ball that bloops into short left. Then he hit a homer. The team was super excited for him because he pulls for them all the time.”
Arkansas will now turn its attention to No.8 LSU for a three-game weekend set at Baum-Walker Stadium. The first game is set for 6 p.m. Thursday and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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