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Wood gets Hogs off to strong start, Aloy leads bats in win

It became an offensive explosion with lot of pitchers by both teams against Missouri State, but Hogs get 12-7 win.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Gage Wood fired three shutout innings with four strikeouts in his first career start on the mound to lead No. 2 Arkansas (38-7) to a 12-7 midweek win over Missouri State (18-25) Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.

With Tuesday night’s win in the series opener against the Bears, the Razorbacks improved to 11-0 in midweek games and 30-2 at home this year, clinching their fifth 30-win season at Baum-Walker Stadium since the venue opened in 1996. Arkansas also accomplished 30-win seasons at Baum-Walker Stadium in 2018 (34), 2019 (33), 2021 (30) and 2023 (32).

Wood was sharp in his first start on the mound, facing the minimum over three innings and allowing just one hit. The Arkansas offense scored early and often with nine runs across the first three innings, thanks to a four-run first and third.

“Gage Wood came out and did a great job,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “Gave us three really good innings. We had built up a lead after the first inning. That second inning he came out and got them out quick. That’s big. We came in and scored another one and left one or two out there. But came back and scored four more in the third. We kind of cruised after that.”

Wehiwa Aloy (1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) swatted his team-leading 11th home run in the bottom half of the first, connecting on his third grand slam of the year to put the Razorbacks up, 4-0, before recording an out. After Peyton Holt (2-for-5, RBI) added an RBI single in the second inning, Arkansas scored four more in the third, including RBI base knocks by Jack Wagner (1-for-4, RBI) and Hudson White (1-for-4, 2B, RBI), to open a commanding 9-0 advantage at Baum-Walker.

Missouri State would answer with four runs in the top of the fourth and three more in the top half of the seventh, but Arkansas, which used seven pitchers in relief, would maintain a healthy lead throughout Tuesday night’s ballgame. Ryder Helfrick (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) added to the Razorbacks’ edge with his run-scoring double, while Jared Sprague-Lott (2-for-4, HR, RBI) jacked a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to strengthen the Hogs’ advantage.

The Arkansas pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts Tuesday night, led by Wood’s four punchouts. In relief, Cooper Dossett (0.1 IP, 4 R, 1 SO), Christian Foutch (0.2 IP, 2 SO), Stone Hewlett (0.2 IP, 2 SO), Will McEntire (1.0 IP, 1 SO), Parker Coil (1.0 IP, 3 R, 1 SO), Gabe Gaeckle (1.0 IP, 2 SO) and Jake Faherty (1.0 IP, 2 SO) contributed to the Hogs’ strikeout total.

Arkansas and Missouri State close out the midweek series tomorrow afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium, with first pitch between the Razorbacks and Bears is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday on SEC Network+. With a midweek series sweep against Missouri State, Arkansas can finish unbeaten in midweek contests for the first time since 2005.

You can hear the games on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home. The pregame show with Phil Elson and Bubba Carpenter gets started at 3:30 p.m.

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2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-31
Sat, Nov 16vs TexasL, 20-10
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana Tech3:00 PM
ESPN+/SECN+
Sat, Nov 30@ Missouri2:30 PM
SEC Network
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2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (25)10-02681
2.Greenwood (2)10-02343
30Conway9-12022
4.Little Rock Parkview9-11714
5.Bentonville7-31625
6.Benton9-11486
7.Fayetteville8-21117
8.Pulaski Academy8-2898
9.Rogers7-3439
10.Joe T. Robinson9-122
Others receiving votes: Valley View 8, Mountain Home 7, Cabot 6, Little Rock Catholic 6, Shiloh Christian 6, Elkins 1, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (27)10-01351
2.Conway9-11022
3.Bentonville7-3813
4.Fayetteville8-2454
5.Pulaski Academy8-2395
Others receiving votes: Rogers 3.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (27)10-01351
2.Benton9-11082
3.Mountain Home8-2623
4.Shiloh Christian7-3494
5.Little Rock Catholic9-1345
Others receiving votes: Marion 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)9-11351
2.Joe T. Robinson9-11062
3.Valley View10-0793
4.Farmington9-1484
5.Hot Springs Lakeside8-2205
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 7, Harding Academy 7, Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (20)10-01261
3.Arkadelphia (5)8-2913
2.Little Rock Mills (1)10-0682
4.Warren8-2554
5.Dardanell (1)9-123
Southside Batesville10-023
Others receiving votes: Malvern 12, Gravette 5, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (12)10-01051t
2.Fordyce (10)10-0961t
3.Prescott (1)9-1704
4.Osceola (2)8-1543
5.Booneville (1)9-1395
Others receiving votes: Mansfield (1) 23, Rivercrest 10, Rison 4, Salem 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (20)10-01271
2.Conway Christian (7)10-01152
3.Des Arc8-2595
4.East Poinsett Co.7-352
5.Bigelow6-4183
Murfreesboro7-3184
Others receiving votes: Mount Ida 6, Junction City 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0811
2.Midland9-0532
3.Cedar Ridge8-1253
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.