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Hogs reach CWS Finals with 5-2 win over Florida

For the second time in program history and first since 1979, Arkansas is headed to the College World Series finals with Friday’s 5-2 victory over Florida.

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OMAHA, Neb. — For the second time in program history and first time since 1979, Arkansas is headed to the College World Series finals with Friday’s 5-2 victory over top-ranked Florida.

On his way to the win, redshirt sophomore Isaiah Campbel tied a career high with eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings while freshman Casey Martin posted four hits, three runs and an RBI.

With the win, Arkansas improves to 47-19 this season and advances to the championship series which begins Monday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

The Razorbacks await the winner of the Oregon State-Mississippi State matchup which will be settled Saturday at TD Ameritrade Park.

The Big Inning

Holding on two-run lead through four innings, the Razorbacks scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to push its advantage to 4-0.

Once again, Martin started the rally with a double to lead off the inning and after a groundout by Heston Kjerstad, he came around to score on an RBI groundout by senior Luke Bonfield.

With two down, sophomore Dominic Fletcher added a solo shot for his 10th home run and Arkansas’ 98th big fly of the year.

The Hitting

Arkansas had 11 hits Friday, good for the team’s eighth double-digit performance in nine NCAA Tournament games. Along with Martin, the Razorbacks got multi-hit efforts from Bonfield, Fletcher and Jax Biggers.

With his four-hit showing, Martin has at least two in six-straight games and eight of the past nine. The freshman infielder is hitting .571 (8-for-14) during the College World Series.

The Pitching

Making his 16th start of the season, Campbell held Florida without a hit through the first four innings before the No. 1 national seed got on the board with a pair of two-out runs.

Campbell got out of the jam with his eighth strikeout, establishing a new program high for strikeouts in a College World Series game. The previous mark of seven was held by Drew Smyly against Virginia in 2009.

Sophomore Matt Cronin recorded the final six outs of the game for his 13th save of the year which ties the single-season mark set by Colby Suggs in 2013.

Early Advantage

With the help of a RBI single by Bonfield, the Razorbacks scored in the first inning for a fourth-consecutive game.

The Skillman, N.J., native drove in Martin with a base knock to center on the 10th pitch of his at-bat against Florida starter Brady Singer.

Arkansas is now 24-3 this season when scoring in the first inning and 32-8 overall when scoring first.

Game Note

Friday’s game was the fifth meeting of the season between Arkansas and Florida and first between the two programs in the College World Series.

Friday’s win evens the all-time series at 32 wins apiece.

College World Series – Bracket 2 | CWS Bracket

Sunday, June 17
Game 3: No. 5 Arkansas 11, No. 13 Texas 5
Game 4: No. 9 Texas Tech 6, No. 1 Florida 3

Tuesday, June 19
Game 7: No. 1 Florida 6, No. 13 Texas 1

Wednesday, June 20
Game 8: No. 5 Arkansas 7, No. 9 Texas Tech 4

Thursday, June 21
Game 10: No. 1 Florida 9, No. 9 Texas Tech 6

Friday, June 22
Game 12: No. 5 Arkansas 5, No. 1 Florida 2

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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, 63-35
Sat, Nov 16vs Texas11:00 AM
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana TechTBD
ESPN+/SECN+
Sat, Nov 30@ MissouriTBD
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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 (18)8-02521
2.Conway (6)8-02302
3.Greenwood (2)8-02103
4.Little Rock Parkview7-11714
5.Bentonville5-31416
6.Benton7-11265
7.Fayetteville6-21008
8.Pulaski Academy6-2757
9.Rogers5-3459
10.Shiloh Christian6-24010
Others receiving votes: Marion 13, Valley View 9, Joe T Robinson 8, Mountain Home 4, Cabot 3, Elkins 3.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (20)8-01241
2.Conway (6)8-01052
3.Bentonville5-3753
4.Fayetteville6-2455
5.Pulaski Academy6-2354
Others receiving votes: Rogers 5.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (26)8-01301
2.Benton7-11022
3.Shiloh Christian6-2713
4.Marion7-1524
5.Mountain Home7-131
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 4.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (23)7-11271
2.Joe T Robinson7-1902
3.Valley View (3)8-0803
4.Hot Springs Lakeside7-1484
5.Farmington7-130
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 4, Maumelle 4, Morrilton 3, Greenbrier 2, Harding Academy 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (19)8-01161
2.Arkadelphia (5)6-2792
3.Little Rock Mills (1)8-0703
4.Warren6-2404
5.Malvern (1)8-0315
Others receiving votes: Dardanelle 22, Southside Batesville 11, Mena 8, Bauxite 7, DeWitt 4, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
4.Bismarck (15)8-01054
5.Fordyce (4)8-0765
Prescott (3)7-1531t
1.Osceola (2)6-149
3.Mayflower (1)8-036
Others receiving votes: Booneville (1) 31, Rivercrest 19, Mansfield 14, Charleston 4, Rison 3.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (21)8-01211
2.Conway Christian (4)8-01042
3.Des Arc7-1663
4.Bigelow (1)6-2455
5.Murfreesboro6-230
Others receiving votes: Marked Tree 10, Mineral Springs 6, Junction City 5, Cross County 1, Mount Ida 1, Poyen 1
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (25)5-0761
2.Midland (1)7-0502
3.Cedar Ridge7-1253
Others receiving votes: Rector 5.

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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.