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Noland wins pitchers’ duel, Hogs down Gators in series opener

A five-run ninth gave the Razorbacks a huge victory at Florida Ballpark in a game largely dominated by starting pitching.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Arkansas senior right-handed pitcher Connor Noland dazzled on the diamond once again Thursday night, tossing seven scoreless innings en route to an 8-1 Razorback victory at Florida Ballpark.

Through three innings, both Noland and Florida lefty Hunter Barco faced the minimum nine hitters. The only runner to reach — Florida second baseman Colby Halter — was caught stealing after a leadoff single in the first.

Sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace became the first Razorback baserunner in the fourth inning after getting hit by a pitch, and he came around to score on an infield single by graduate catcher Michael Turner.

Freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall got hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth, and Wallace scored him with a one-out single to right field.

Graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli stretched the Arkansas lead to three runs in the sixth, leading off with a solo homer to left field. A single and a walk later, the Gators pulled Barco, but righty Tyler Nesbitt was able to keep the Razorbacks from scoring again.

After scoreless seventh and eighth innings, the Hogs went broke the game open in the ninth. Wallace led off with a solo bomb to left, and senior center fielder Braydon Webb followed with his team-leading eighth long-ball of the season.

Turner drove in his second run of the game with a double to right-center field, senior shortstop Jalen Battles hit a sacrifice fly for the seventh run and Stovall knocked in the eighth with a single to center.

Senior right-hander Zebulon Vermillion sealed the victory with two innings of one-run ball. He stranded two runners in the eighth, allowed a leadoff double to score in the ninth and finished things off with a strikeout.

The Razorbacks and Gators will return to action at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Freshman lefty Hagen Smith is the projected starter for Arkansas, opposite Florida righty Brandon Sproat. The game will stream live on the SEC Network+.

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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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