Diamond Hogs take series opener at Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Arkansas senior center fielder Braydon Webb launched a 404-foot blast over the right-center field fence in the eighth inning, propelling the Diamond Hogs a 7-5 win Friday night at Taylor Stadium.

The victory was their 12th consecutive and their fourth in as many Southeastern Conference games.

The Razorbacks got on the scoreboard first with three hits in the first inning. Junior second baseman Robert Moore recorded the third to drive in the first run of the game and his seventh in the past four contests.

Senior designated hitter Brady Slavens doubled the lead two batters later with a sacrifice fly.

Although they never led at any point Friday night, the Tigers were always within striking distance. Missouri cut the lead to one run in the home half of the first, punishing Razorback senior starter Connor Noland for a one-out walk.

Arkansas got that run back in the top of the second on an RBI groundout by graduate catcher Michael Turner, but the Tigers knotted it at three with four singles, two of which came on bunts, in the bottom of the frame.

After Noland recorded the first of three straight scoreless innings in the third, Turner collected two more RBIs in the fourth on a one-out, opposite-field double in the fourth, putting his righty back in line for the win.

After five innings and 101 pitches, Noland had allowed seven hits, three earned runs and a walk to go with nine strikeouts.

Unfortunately for the Arkansas ace, the bullpen could not keep the Tigers off the board. Seniors Evan Taylor and Zebulon Vermillion each allowed a run in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, leveling the score at five runs apiece.

Webb’s eighth-inning homer broke the deadlock, putting Vermillion in line for the win and prompting a six-out save opportunity for Brady Tygart. The freshman righty secured his third save of the year and second in a row, striking out the side in the eighth and fanning two more hitters to work around a pair of infield singles in the ninth.

The Razorbacks and Tigers will square off again at 2 p.m. Saturday, and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network. Freshman left-hander Hagen Smith is due to start on the mound for Arkansas.