FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Behind a four-hit day from Kuhio Aloy and back-to-back home runs by Ryder Helfrick and Justin Thomas Jr. in the bottom of the fifth, fourth-ranked Arkansas (7-1) blasted its way past Grambling (4-4), 14-3, in seven innings in the first midweek contest of the season Tuesday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
With the win, the Hogs extended their midweek winning streak to 13 games. Arkansas went 12-0 in midweek games in 2024, posting an undefeated midweek record for the first time since 2005, and has not dropped a midweek contest since an 8-6 loss in 11 innings against Lipscomb on May 2, 2023, at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Ark.
Kuhio Aloy led the charge with a 4-for-4 effort at the plate, collecting three singles, a double and a walk to go along with two RBI. The sophomore slugger raised his season slash line to a team-leading .563/.650/1.313 over five games this year.
He was one of four Hogs with multiple hits, and one of three to record multiple RBI in the win. Rocco Peppi broke out with two hits and four RBI, while Logan Maxwell (2-for-4, RBI) and Thomas Jr. (2-for-3, RBI) each added a pair of hits.
Arkansas scored twice in the first before tacking on two more runs in the third and another three in the fourth. The Razorbacks tore the game open with six runs in the fifth, led by Helfrick and Thomas Jr.’s back-to-back blasts to left.
Helfrick’s first home run of the season punctuated his three-RBI performance at the plate and raised his season slash line to .250/.400/.550 over eight games. Thomas Jr., meanwhile, improved his season slash line to .300/.533/.550 in the win.
On the mound, righty Ben Bybee earned his first win of the season after firing three innings of one-run ball with two strikeouts in his first start of the year. Colin Fisher (1.0 IP, 1 SO), Aiden Jimenez (1.0, 1 R, 1 SO), Steele Eaves (1.0 IP, 1 R, 2 SO) and Carson Wiggins (1.0 IP, 1 SO) combined for four innings in relief, striking out five while allowing a pair of runs.
Arkansas’ 10-game homestand rolls on this weekend with a three-game non-conference series against Charlotte. First pitch between the Razorbacks and 49ers from Baum-Walker Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
