FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the first time since 2022, Arkanss is back in the College World Series.
It only took a couple of games and the Razorbacks sealed it with an 11-4 win over Tennessee on Sunday.
The Hogs didn’t even do a pileup because coach Dave Van Horn doesn’t want that until Omaha.
Logan Maxwell’s grand slam sailed into the left-field bullpen at Baum-Walker Stadium, turning a tight contest into a commanding 7-1 lead as Arkansas secured its spot in the College World Series.
The win marked the Razorbacks’ 12th trip to Omaha and continued their remarkable home dominance over the Volunteers, who haven’t won a series in Fayetteville since 2001.
For Tennessee coach Tony Vitello, a former Arkansas assistant from 2014-17, the defeat dropped his record against his old program to 2-13.
Maxwell’s blast came in dramatic fashion, battling back from an 0-2 count before turning on AJ Russell’s 98 mph fastball.
The senior outfielder, who entered the game batting .352 with 11 home runs, picked the perfect moment for his first career grand slam.
“When I got down 0-2, I just wanted to put something in play,” Maxwell said. “Russell has electric stuff, but I got a pitch I could handle and didn’t try to do too much with it.”
The decisive fourth inning spelled the end for Tennessee ace Liam Doyle, the SEC Pitcher of the Year and Golden Spikes Award finalist.
Doyle’s struggles at Baum-Walker Stadium continued, as his career ERA in Fayetteville ballooned to 13.89 over three appearances.
Charles Davalan set the tone earlier with a 384-foot homer off Doyle in the third inning, following Justin Thomas’s leadoff walk.
The blast, which left Davalan’s bat at 107 mph, marked his 14th of the season and gave Arkansas a lead they would never relinquish.
Arkansas’s pitching staff, led by starter Gage Wood and a parade of reliable relievers, kept Tennessee’s powerful offense in check.
Wood navigated through early trouble in the third inning when the Volunteers loaded the bases with no outs.
The sophomore right-hander induced a crucial double play from Andrew Fischer before getting Hunter Ensley to fly out, maintaining Arkansas’s slim lead at that point.
“That third inning was the turning point,” Van Horn said. “Gage showed tremendous poise in a pressure situation. That’s the kind of pitching that wins you games in June.”
The victory improved Arkansas’s home record to 37-4, setting both program records for home wins and winning percentage (.902) in a single season.
The achievement is particularly impressive considering the Razorbacks play in the SEC, widely regarded as college baseball’s premier conference.
Brent Iredale added an exclamation point in the ninth inning with a 387-foot home run to left-center field, pushing the lead to 11-2 before Tennessee’s Ariel Antigua answered with a two-run shot in the bottom half.
The win sends Arkansas to its fourth College World Series appearance in the last six seasons, continuing a remarkable run of success under Van Horn.
The Razorbacks will face the winner of the Baton Rouge Super Regional between LSU and West Virginia in their opening game at Charles Schwab Field.
For Tennessee, the loss marked the end of their streak of four consecutive College World Series appearances, a run that included their first national championship in 2024.
The Volunteers, who entered the super regional as one of the hottest teams in baseball, couldn’t solve their Fayetteville frustrations.
“Arkansas just played better baseball,” Vitello said. “They’ve built something special here, and we’ve got to find a way to match that level when we come to Baum-Walker. Today, they were simply the better team.”
The victory sets up what could be a compelling matchup in Omaha, particularly if LSU advances.
The potential clash between SEC rivals would add another chapter to what has become one of college baseball’s most intense rivalries.
