No problem for Hogs! Red Wolves put up minimal resistance in blowout

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 1 Arkansas (24-3) used a nine-run third inning, highlighted by Nolan Souza’s 458-foot grand slam, to blast its way past in-state foe Arkansas State (16-15), 13-0 in seven innings, Tuesday at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Razorbacks extended their winning streak at Baum-Walker Stadium to a school-record 18 consecutive games with Tuesday night’s win. Arkansas is now 24-3 through its first 27 games, marking the program’s best start to a season since 1982 when the Hogs, led by SWC newcomer of the year Dave Van Horn, went 27-2-2 to start the year.

The Hogs scored all 13 of its runs with two outs in its seventh run-rule win of the season, beginning with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the first and then again in the bottom half of the second. Ben McLaughlin clubbed a two-out, two-run homer – his fourth home run of the season – in the second, to extend the Razorbacks’ advantage to 4-0.

The Hogs then strung together a two-out, nine-run rally in the third to blow the ballgame open. Ross Lovich’s RBI double began the offensive onslaught, as McLaughlin and Wehiwa Aloy tacked on RBI singles of their own before Souza’s slam.

The true freshman cranked a two-out grand slam to right center to give the Razorbacks a commanding 13-0 lead. Souza’s fourth home run of the season was the Hogs’ fifth grand slam of the year and raised his season RBI total to 13.

Souza finished 2-for-4 with a team-leading four RBI in Tuesday’s win, improving his season slash line to .311/.456/.644. McLaughlin, meanwhile, had a team-high three hits and three RBI to move his slash line to .315/.449/.511 on the year.

On the mound, the Arkansas pitching staff combined for a seven-inning one hitter in Tuesday night’s win. Starter Colin Fisher, who earned the win to improve to 5-1 this season, struck out one batter over his two hitless innings of work.

Ben Bybee (1.0 IP, 2 SO), Jake Faherty (1.0 IP, 3 SO), Gage Wood (1.0 IP, 2 SO), Cooper Dossett (0.2 IP, 2 SO), Parker Coil (0.1 IP, 1 SO) and Dylan Carter (1.0 IP, 2 SO) teamed up in relief to toss the ballgame’s final five frames and combined for 12 strikeouts. The six relievers secured the Razorbacks’ first seven-inning combined one hitter since the 2022 season.

Next up, Arkansas dives back into SEC play with a three-game series against Western Division rival Ole Miss. First pitch between the Razorbacks and Rebels from inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday on the SEC Network.