Hogs set home run record, but still fall to Ole Miss in SEC Tournament

HOOVER, Ala. — Arkansas etched its name in the record books Friday afternoon but in a ridiculously awkward fashion.

The Razorbacks set a new single-season program home run record in a 5-2 loss to Ole Miss during the SEC Tournament quarterfinals at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

It will be an interesting bit of trivia, though.

Cam Kozeal’s inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the second inning was a historic swing for the Razorbacks. It also happened when the Rebels’ outfielders drove head-first into each other.

“I was rounding first and I saw them both dive,” Kozeal said later. “I saw them both on the ground and was thinking three out of the box because it’s a big ballpark.

Coach Wernes (at third) was there, says you’ve got to go, so I thought there might be a play at the plate. I don’t know really what happened behind me. That’s what I saw.”

Not only did it mark Kozeal’s 13th homer of the season, but it also gave Arkansas its 110th home run of the year, surpassing the previous program record of 109 set in 2021 over 63 games.

This achievement came in just the Razorbacks’ 56th game, highlighting the team’s offensive firepower throughout the 2025 campaign.

Despite the milestone, Arkansas (43-13) could not overcome an early deficit against No. 17 Ole Miss (39-18).

The Rebels capitalized on a series of defensive miscues in the first inning, scoring five runs—only one of which was earned—off Razorbacks starter Zach Root. Ole Miss’s offensive surge included a two-out, three-run homer that put Arkansas in a 5-0 hole.

Kuhio Aloy, the SEC Player of the Year, provided an early spark for Arkansas with a groundout RBI in the first, cutting the deficit to 5-1.

Kozeal’s inside-the-park home run in the second trimmed the lead further, but the Razorbacks’ bats were largely held in check by Ole Miss pitching the rest of the way.

After the first inning, Root and the Arkansas bullpen combined for eight consecutive scoreless frames.

Root struck out four and allowed just one earned run in four innings before handing the ball to relievers Gabe Gaeckle, Cole Gibler, and Christian Foutch, who together notched nine strikeouts over five shutout innings.

Arkansas had opportunities to rally in the sixth and seventh innings, loading the bases and putting runners in scoring position, but could not deliver the timely hits needed to close the gap.

The Razorbacks’ inability to capitalize on these chances ultimately sealed their fate.

Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco praised his team’s resilience after the win, noting the significance of their journey back to postseason relevance.

Despite the loss, Arkansas’s season was still one of the most prolific in program history.

The Razorbacks’ power surge has been a consistent storyline, with the team averaging nearly two home runs per game and breaking a record that once seemed out of reach.

Their performance at Baum-Walker Stadium has also been dominant, with the Hogs notching its 30th home win of the season and maintaining a .747 winning percentage at home.

Looking ahead, the Razorbacks are expected to host a regional for the third straight season and the 12th time in program history.

The team will learn its NCAA Tournament fate during the selection show scheduled for Monday, May 26, on ESPN2