Hogs thrash Mizzou in first game of series in cold, drizzly weather at Baum-Walker

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Second-ranked Arkansas (28-3, 9-1 SEC) scored its most runs against an SEC opponent in the Dave Van Horn era in a 21-3 thrashing in seven innings against Missouri (11-18, 0-10 SEC) Saturday at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Hogs, who have now won 11 of their last 13 games against the Tigers since 2017, scored their most runs against an SEC opponent since March 30, 1997, when Arkansas defeated South Carolina, 30-7, in Columbia, S.C.

With a win in tomorrow’s seven-inning doubleheader, the Razorbacks can clinch their fifth consecutive weekend series win against the Tigers as well as their 12th consecutive SEC home weekend series win since the start of the 2023 season.

Arkansas pummeled Missouri for 21 runs on 14 hits, 14 walks and four hit batsmen in Saturday’s run-rule win.

Led by Cam Kozeal’s four-hit, five-RBI effort, four Razorbacks recorded multi-hit games, and five tallied multi-RBI games.

The Hogs scored early and often in the series opener with two runs in the first and two more in the third before posting crooked numbers in each of the final three innings.

Arkansas broke the game open with a pair of five-spots in the fourth and fifth frames before putting Missouri away for good with seven more in the sixth inning to hit the 21-run mark.

In addition to Kozeal’s big day, Brent Iredale (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI), Ryder Helfrick (2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI), Nolan Souza (1-for-3, 3 RBI) and Justin Thomas Jr. (2-for-3, 4 RBI) each contributed to the Razorbacks’ offensive onslaught.

Iredale socked his 10th homer of the season, while Logan Maxwell (1-for-3, HR, RBI, 3 BB) hit his career-high ninth home run of the year.

On the mound, starter Zach Root earned his team-best fifth win with five innings of three-run ball and seven strikeouts.

The lefty limited Missouri to three runs on three hits and two walks before turning the ball over to right-handers Dylan Carter (1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 SO) and Will McEntire (1.0, 0 R, 2 SO), who combined for two perfect innings with four strikeouts.

Saturday’s run-rule win marked the Razorbacks’ first seven-inning combined three-hitter since Ben Bybee, Gage Wood, Ben McLaughlin, Christian Foutch and Parker Coil accomplished the feat in a 16-3 win against Omaha on March 28, 2023.

Arkansas and Missouri conclude the weekend series tomorrow with a seven-inning doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. on SEC Network+.

With a series win this weekend against the Tigers, the Razorbacks can begin SEC play with four consecutive series wins for the fourth time since joining the conference ahead of the 1992 season.

With a sweep, Arkansas can match its best 33-game overall start to a season, which it accomplished in 2024.

The Hogs can also improve to 11-1 in SEC play with a sweep, matching the team’s best 12-game SEC start since 1992 and 2024.