Arkansas tops LSU again behind homers, lockdown pitching

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas supplied plenty of power Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium, blasting three home runs en route to a 4-0 victory against LSU.

The win ensured a series victory for Arkansas as well, righting the ship after its first Southeastern Conference series loss since 2019 last week at Florida.

Arkansas freshman left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith and LSU righty Blake Money exchanged two scoreless frames to begin the game before junior left fielder Zack Gregory broke the pattern.

One night after being pinch hit for in the sixth inning, Gregory belted an opposite-field home run to lead off the bottom of the third. Later in the inning, graduate catcher Michael Turner made Money pay for a walk by sending another ball into the visitors’ bullpen, making it a 3-0 game.

Graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli joined the longball festivities with a solo blast of his own with two outs in the fifth inning.

Both starters made it into the seventh, but Smith was the only one to make it through that inning. He bounced back from a tough outing last week, allowing just three baserunners — two hits and one walk — in his seven shutout frames to earn a win and a quality start, and adding seven strikeouts.

Senior right-hander Zebulon Vermillion recorded the first two outs in the eighth, and senior lefty Evan Taylor came on for the second consecutive day to strand three runners — two allowed by Vermillion and one of his own. He retired the Tigers in order in the ninth, sealing the shutout for the Hogs and earning his first save of the year.

The Razorbacks can sweep the Tigers when they square off one last time at 2 p.m. Saturday. Sophomore righty Jaxon Wiggins will get the start for Arkansas, and the game will stream live on the SEC Network+.