Hogs rout Stanford in College World Series opener

OMAHA, Neb. — The Diamond Hogs put on one of the most complete performances of 2022 Saturday afternoon, stomping the No. 2 Stanford Cardinal 17-2 to begin their stint at the College World Series.

Senior center fielder Braydon Webb wasted no time getting the offense rolling, belting the first pitch of the game the other way for a triple. He scored on a sacrifice fly by senior designated hitter Brady Slavens, but the Cardinal quickly leveled the score, thanks to center fielder Brock Jones’ leadoff homer.

Stanford could not manage to get anything going at the plate after that, as Arkansas senior right-handed pitcher Connor Noland shut down the highest-ranked team remaining in the tournament. The ace tossed 7 2/3 innings with six hits allowed, a walk and a strikeout, giving up just one more run.

The Razorbacks got him some run support in the fifth inning, exploding for five runs. Graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli took Stanford starter Alex Williams deep to left field for a three-run homer and a 4-1 lead.

Junior second baseman Robert Moore chased the right-handed Williams from the game with a single, which kept the momentum alive. Moore scored on a wild pitch, and junior left fielder Zack Gregory drove in another run with a single to center field to make it 6-1.

Arkansas tacked on three more runs in the seventh. Moore doubled and scored on a single from senior shortstop Jalen Battles, who came around on a knock by Slavens. Webb walked and scored the ninth run on sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace’s RBI double.

Freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall became the ninth Razorback to record a hit, driving in two runs with a single up the middle in the eighth.

Senior right-hander Kole Ramage took over for Noland with runners on the corners and two outs. Cardinal first baseman Carter Graham drove in one run — charged to Noland — with a double to right, but Ramage recorded the third out without any further issues.

The Hogs struck six more times in the ninth. Wallace hit a two-run blast with nobody out, Stovall picked up another two-run single and Webb became the ninth Razorback to rack up two hits, driving in two more with his double to center field.

Senior righty Zebulon Vermillion retired the Cardinal in order in the ninth, sealing the emphatic victory for the Hogs.

Arkansas will take on the winner of Ole Miss-Auburn at 6 p.m. Monday at Charles Schwab Field. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN.