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Late surge lifts Virginia Tech past Arkansas in Las Vegas matches

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Late surge lifts Virginia Tech past Arkansas in Las Vegas matches

LAS VEGAS — Arkansas built a 3-2 advantage but saw Virginia Tech record victories on the final two courts and grab a 4-3 win Saturday afternoon at the Lied Athletic Complex.

The match was an epic battle between two top 50 squads. The Razorbacks, who started off strong by winning the doubles point, fell behind in singles but secured victories on courts two and five.

Doubles

Arkansas did quick work in doubles for a 1-0 lead in the team scoring. No. 22 Tatum Rice and Lauren Alter registered a 6-1 win while Thea Rice and Laura Rijkers clinched their fourth doubles victory 6-3.

The duo of Kelly Keller and Jackie Carr saw their match vs. Elizabet Danailova and Nina Sorkin go unfinished as they trailed 5-3.

Singles

In singles, No. 114 Carr opened the scoring 6-0, 6-2 as she defeated Danailova in the No. 2 slot, putting the Razorbacks up 2-0.

Keller appeared at the No. 4 position for the first time this dual season. The Laguna Beach, Calif. native, fought hard but fell 0-6, 3-6, while Virginia Tech’s Sorkin defeated Alter on court three 6-7, 4-6, to equalize at 2-2.

Rijkers came through for Arkansas with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5) win against Erika Cheng on court five to swing the momentum back in the Razorbacks’ favor.

Tatum Rice forced a third set and pushed Nina Kozar to the limit but ultimately fell 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in the No. 1 position. Thea Rice then dropped a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 decision as Chhinda Som clinched it for Virginia Tech.

Next matches

The Razorbacks will be back on the Hill for a doubleheader Feb. 15 to take on Missouri State at 10 a.m. and UAPB at 4 p.m.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

McCorkle gets career best in New Mexico; Morris breaks mark in Millrose Games

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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McCorkle gets career best in New Mexico; Morris breaks mark in Millrose Games

Bailey McCorkle set a career best of 14-2¾ (4.34) to finish as the top collegian in a field of 17 vaulters Saturday at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in the pole vault.

That wasn’t the only big news for the Razorback women’s track team.

In New York City, Arkansas alum Sandi Morris attempted a world record in the pole vault after claiming the Millrose Games title with a meet record clearance of 16-1 ¼ (4.91).

After clearing 14-0 for the initial time last weekend in the Razorback Invitational, McCorkle surpassed that performance twice in placing second overall to professional vaulter Anicka Newell, who won with the same height as McCorkle.

McCorkle added a personal best of 14-0 ¾ (4.29) in her series and then moved to No. 8 on the Razorback all-time indoor list with her clearance of 14-2 ¾ on a first attempt.

Lauren Martinez, competing in her hometown where she was a four-time New Mexico state champion, tied for fourth at 13-11 (4.24) while Kaitlyn Banas set a career best of 13-7 (4.14) in placing ninth.

“What a weekend our vaulters had in New Mexico,” said women’s coach Lance Harter. “McCorkle, who is from Greenwood, continues to impress while Martinez is getting more consistent and jumping at her PR almost every weekend. Then Banas had another PR and seems to be setting them week after week.”

In New York, Morris had the bar raised to a world record height of 16-6 ½ (5.04) after she established the meet record and the world-leading mark for the 2020 indoor season, missing on three attempts.

Another Razorback alum in the competition, Lexi Jacobus, finished fourth at 14-1¼ (4.30).

“As far as the University of Arkansas, we were well represented across the board, from the sprints to distances to the vault,” said Harter. “It was fun to see our alumni so well represented. It’s just amazing how popular the Arkansas Razorback name is even in New York City.”

Racing in the 3,000m at the Millrose Games, Taylor Werner produced a career best of 8:51.91 in fourth place behind a trio of professional runners — Allie Ostrander (8:48.94), Julie-Ann Staehli (8:49.01) and Laura Rodriguez (8:49.74) — while NCAA cross country champion Weini Kelati of New Mexico placed seventh in 8:54.66.

Using a redshirt this indoor season, Werner’s time would have bettered the Arkansas school record of 8:52.57 set by Dominique Scott in 2015 and moved her to equal No. 6 on the all-time collegiate list. Werner’s previous best of 8:56.97 was set a year ago this weekend in Seattle.

“Taylor competed really well,” said Harter. “She knocked off some of the top collegiate competitors that she’ll see outdoors. Taylor had a big PR that bettered our school record, and she already has plans to break it during the next indoor season.”

In the 60m hurdles, Payton Chadwick posted a time of 8.00 for third as Janeek Brown finished sixth in 8.10. Keni Harrison won the event in 7.90 over a 7.96 for Nia Ali.

Nikki Hiltz clocked a personal best of 4:24.45 for fifth place in the Wanamaker mile as the top four finishers each set a national record.

Taylor Ewert, a future Razorback, claimed the women’s mile racewalk in 6:02.81 and then returned for the girl’s mile race, where she placed sixth with an indoor best of 4:50.07.

Missing Joe, Hogs’ shooting woes continue in another overtime loss

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Missing Joe, Hogs’ shooting woes continue in another overtime loss

Without Isaiah Joe, Arkansas struggled shooting and Mason Jones wasn’t able to pick up the slack as Missouri stopped the SEC’s leading scorer and came away with an 83-79 overtime win Saturday.

Joe, who stretched defenses and opened things for Jones, is out rehabbing from knee surgery earlier this week and the Tigers shut Jones down.

After three straight games scoring over 40 points, Jones was shut down by Missouri, getting just 17 points and fouling out in overtime. The Hogs struggled behind the 3-point line, shooting just 3-of-14.

Reggie Chaney did step up, though, and had 17 points, scoring 11 in the second half. Jimmy Whitt, Jr., scoreless Tuesday night against Auburn, had 15 playing in his home town in Columbia, Mo., Desi Sills scored 12 and Adrio Bailey 10.

The two teams shot a combined 83 free throws in the game and several of the 11 misses the Hogs had were at crucial times.

Arkansas was 28-of-39 from the line while the Tigers were 34-of-44.

 

How to listen to Hogs’ game Saturday afternoon against Missouri

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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How to listen to Hogs’ game Saturday afternoon against Missouri

• Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (16-6. 4-5 SEC) at Missouri (10-12, 2-7 SEC)
• What: Razorbacks set to play first of back-to-back road games
• When: Saturday, Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m.
• Where: Columbia, Mo. – Mizzou Arena
• TV: SEC Network (Richard Cross and Barry Booker) CLICK HERE to watch online
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
• Listen online at HitThatLine.com CLICK HERE

Against Missouri

• This will be the 52nd meeting between Arkansas and Missouri. The Razorbacks own a 27-24 advantage in the series, including an 8-6 cushion in games since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012-13.

• Arkansas has won seven of the last 10 in the series, although the teams each won three of the last six on their home court.

Last year at Arkansas:

• Isaiah Joe made seven 3-pointers and scored a game-high 23 points while Daniel Gafford recorded his eighth double-double of the season to lead Arkansas to a 72-60 win over Missouri.

• The Razorbacks, down 17-4 to start the game, trailed at halftime but took an early lead in the second half off a Mason Jones 3-pointer. The Razorbacks would not surrender that lead over the final 17:41 of the game. However, the game remained tight until a 10-0 run by the Hogs inside the final five minutes to put the game away.

• Gafford finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Jalen Harris added 10 points and six assists with zero turnovers. Chaney finished with six points, six rebounds and four assists.

Last year at Missouri:

• Missouri locked down Arkansas on the final defensive possession and squeaked by the Razorbacks 79-78.

• The Tigers were up three points with 11 seconds remaining when Arkansas’ Daniel Gafford threw down an alley-oop dunk from Jalen Harris. On the ensuing inbound play, Missouri’s Xavier Pinson committed a push-off foul to give Arkansas the ball back and a chance to win with 10 ticks remaining.

• Missouri’s Jeremiah Tilmon did not allow Harris to get a quality shot off as time expired.

• Tilmon led Missouri with 21 points. Senior Jordan Geist contributed 18. Arkansas was led by Gafford (26 pts), Isaiah Joe (17 pts) and Mason Jones (12 pts).

Jones making case for SEC player of the year

• Jones is the only player in the SEC to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.

• Jones is the only player in the SEC to rank among the top 20 in scoring (1st, 20.7 ppg) and rebounding (17th, 6.2 rpg) that also ranks among the SEC top 11 in steals (5th, 1.8) and assists (10th, 3.5).

• Jones is the only player in the SEC to rank among the top 20 in scoring (3rd, 22.0 ppg) and rebounding (17th, 6.3 rpg) that also ranks among the top 10 in steals (4th, 1.9) and assists (5th, 4.4).

• Mason Jones is one of two players in the NCAA to average at least 15.0 ppg – 6.0 rpg – 3.0 assist/gm – 1.5 steal/gm:
1. Jones 20.7 ppg – 6.2 rpg – 3.5 apg – 1.8 spg
2. Desmond Bane (TCU) 16.3 ppg – 6.1 rpg – 3.4 apg – 1.6 spg

• Jones is one of three players in the last 30 years to have multiple 40-point games. Jodie Meeks (UK 3), Jones (ARK 2) and Shaquille O’Neal (LSU 2)

• Mason Jones not only leads the SEC and ranks 15th in the NCAA in scoring, AMONG PLAYERS FROM THE NCAA TOP-6 RPI CONFERENCES, Jones ranks 4th in scoring.

Sills fills void

In the two games Joe has missed, Desi Sills has taken ownership of the “Next Man Up” mantra:

• 20 gms w/ Isaiah — Sills: 9.1 ppg – 66-166 FG (.398) – 17-82 3P TFG (.207) – 30.2 min/gm – 1.1 steals/gm

• 2 gms w/o Isaiah — Sills: 16.0 ppg – 11-18 FG (.611) – 7-9 3P TFG (.778) – 37.0 min/gm – 3.0 steals/gm

• Sills scored 18 vs TCU on 7-8 FG, 3-3 3PT with 2 steals
• Sills scored 14 vs Auburn on 4-10 FG, 4-6 3PT with career-high four steals

• Despite shooting 26.4% from 3-pt for the season, Sills is shooting a team-best 43.5% from deep over the last 7 gms.

Free Mason; nearing school free throw Top 10

Jones ranks second in the NCAA in free throws made with 137 despite some recent struggles at the line.

• Of Jones’ 30 FT misses this year, 18 have come in the last four games including 6-of-13 vs TCU and 10-of-15 vs Auburn.

• NCAA scoring leader Markus Howard (Marquette) also leads the NCAA in FT made with 179.

• Jones ranks 4th in the NCAA in free throws ATT with 167.

• Jones only needs to make 16 more free throws to enter the school’s single-season top 10 (Daryl Macon made 154 in 2018). Sidney Moncrief holds the school record with 212 made in a season.

Master of the midrange

• Jimmy Whitt Jr., did not score versus Auburn but still ranks 2nd in the SEC in field goals made (135) while ranking 4th in the SEC in FG% (.513).

• Whitt ranks 10th in the NCAA among guards in FG% (.513).

• (@HogStats) In the 3-point era, Razorback guards have scored 20-plus points in a game without making a 3-pointer nine times. Whitt has accomplished the feat seven times while Corey Beck and Robert Shepherd each did it once.

Chaney’s efficiency

• Reggie Chaney is shooting an incredible 72.9% from the field for the season and 81.8% in league play. While he does not have enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA/SEC leaders, Chaney would rank second the nation behind of Kansas’ Udoka Azubuike’ (76.3% • 119-of-165).

• Chaney has made 24 of his last 31 shots (77.4%) including a streak of 13 consecutive field goals made to start the span.

• Chaney was 0-of-3 in the first half versus TCU, but was 3-of-3 in the second half, scoring six straight points for the Hogs to push a 3-point lead into a 9-point lead. He was an SEC career-best 4-of-5 at the free throw line at Alabama.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Razorbacks set bar high in home win over Georgia on Friday night

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks set bar high in home win over Georgia on Friday night

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas defeated Georgia in Barnhill Arena on Friday evening with a season-high 196.950–196.750 win.

The Gymbacks scored season-highs on both the bars (49.425) and the beam (49.275) en route to the big SEC victory.

Sophomore Kennedy Hambrick’s fire continues to burn as she took home the bars, beam and all-around title.

Hambrick set career highs to earn those titles, scoring a 9.950 on bars, a 9.925 on the beam and a 39.600 all-around. Her 9.925 on the floor ties her career-high, earning the top score for the third straight meet.

Rotation One | Vault

Arkansas was off to a steady start as all Gymbacks hit their marks, two of which scored a 9.800 or higher including Hambrick and sophomore Amanda Elswick who returned to action for the first time tonight.

Elswick wasted no time wowing the judges, taking home the vault title in her first appearance of 2020 with a score of 9.875.

Rotation Two | Bars

All six routines scored 9.800 or higher on the bars tonight, starting with senior Jessica Yamzon who led off with a solid 9.825.

Yamzon finished the night with an all-around score of 39.075. Four straight 9.8s for Arkansas led to Hambrick, whose flawless handstands and full-twisting double-back earned her a 10.00 from one judge.

With the fifth best bars score in Arkansas history (49.275), the Gymbacks had taken the lead after the second rotation, 98.275 – 98.800.

Rotation Three | Beam

Four competitors, two from each squad, shared the beam title tonight. Gymbacks’ Hambrick and Carter scored a 9.925 each, sticking both their dismounts, Hambrick’s cartwheel gainer full and Carter’s side aerial-full.

The beam title is the first for Hambrick this season, third of her career and veteran Carter earned her ninth career beam title with the stellar performance.

Georgia outscored Arkansas on the event 49.400-49.275, but the Razorbacks held onto their lead through three rotations, 147.550 – 147.350.

Rotation Four | Floor

The Gymbacks looked to the fourth rotation to solidify the win and did just that.

Scoring 49+ for the 17th consecutive meet, Arkansas was led by Hambrick again, joined by redshirt-freshman Bailey Lovett. The duo each scored a 9.925 on the floor, giving the Gymbacks the punch they needed to beat Georgia.

Lovett’s sky-high double-layout earned her the 9.9+ score for the third straight meet.

Friday’s 196.950 is not just the highest of the season for Arkansas but the 13th highest in program history and just the fourth time since the start of Arkansas gymnastics that the Gymbacks had a combined score of 148 or higher on the bars, beam and floor.

It also marks the second time in Arkansas history that the Razorbacks scored a 49.400 or higher on the floor three time times in the same season… and there’s still six meets left.

Arkansas gets close, but falls to Oklahoma in road match Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas gets close, but falls to Oklahoma in road match Friday

NORMAN, Okla. — Arkansas fell on Friday night to the Oklahoma, 4-3. Alex Reco and Nico Rousset earned wins against ranked Sooners and Enrique Paya picked up a win at No. 6 singles, but the team lost, 4-3.

The pairing of Maxim Verboven and Paya won their first doubles match of the season at the No. 1 spot, 6-4, but the Hogs eventually dropped on courts two and three.

After the Razorbacks fell in doubles action, Reco quickly earned a win at the two-spot, 6-4, 6-4, over No. 71 Mason Beiler.

The junior remains undefeated this year after picking up his sixth win of the spring.

Rousset dropped the second set against No. 92 Justin Schlageter, 1-6, and found himself trailing again in the third and final set.

However, the new Razorback fought back and won a long third stanza, 7-5, to earn his fourth win at No. 4 singles.

Paya closed out the night with a three-set win on court six against Max Stewart. Paya is now 3-1 at the No. 6 spot this season with his 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory on Friday.

Arkansas will be back at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center in Fayetteville to face the Memphis Tigers on Sat., Feb. 15. First serve is set for 1:00 p.m.

Doubles

• No. 1 | Verboven/Paya (Ark) def. Van Emburgh/Mandlik (OU), 6-4
• No. 2 | Stewart/Martinez (OU) def. Rousset/Reco (Ark), 7-6 (7-4)
• No. 3 | Beiler/Schlageter (OU) def. Dominguez Alonso/Manuel (Ark), 6-3

Singles

• No. 1 | Jake Van Emburgh (OU) def. Maxim Verboven (Ark), 7-6, 7-5
• No. 2 | Alex Reco (Ark) def. No. 71 Mason Beiler (OU), 6-4, 6-4
• No. 3 | Mark Mandlik (OU) def. Josh Howard-Tripp (Ark), 6-4, 6-3
• No. 4 | Nico Rousset (Ark) def. No. 92 Justin Schlageter (OU), 6-2, 1-6, 7-5
• No. 5 | Alex Martinez (OU) def. Melvin Manuel (Ark), 7-6, 7-5
• No. 6 | Enrique Paya (Ark) def. Max Stewart (OU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Arkansas opens softball season at ‘Troy Cox,’ splitting pair of games

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas opens softball season at ‘Troy Cox,’ splitting pair of games

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Arkansas split a doubleheader at the Troy Cox Classic hosted by New Mexico State on Friday, opening with a run-rule shutout, then falling to Bradley later.

The Razorbacks rolled over UTEP, 10-0, in the morning contest and out-hit Bradley, fell in the nightcap, 5-4.

Game 1: Arkansas 10, UTEP 0 (5 innings)

The Razorbacks used a patient approach at the plate and coaxed 12 walks against UTEP pitching.

The 12 free passes are tied for third-most in a game in program history and equaled the mark for the fourth time.

The Razorbacks scored in every inning and posted multi-run frames in the third, fourth and fifth. Arkansas plated a run in the first after it loaded the bases on two hit by pitches and a walk.

Senior designated player Ryan Jackson worked a bases loaded RBI walk to plate junior outfielder Hannah McEwen. In the bottom of the second, McEwen lifted a base knock toward right to plate sophomore infielder Audrie LaValley.

Once again, the Hogs took advantage of UTEP miscues and scored three runs in the third without recording a hit.

With Jackson standing on third and one out, the UTEP catcher fired a snap throw to third that was dropped by the third baseman which allowed a run to score.

Junior infielder Braxton Burnside was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded and a wild pitch allowed Sydney Parr to cross the plate. In total, Arkansas hitters walked five times in the stanza and took a 5-0 lead.

In the fourth, Parr doubled in a run and Burnside drew a bases loaded walk to extend the Arkansas lead, 7-0. Two reached in the bottom of the fifth and freshman Rylin Hedgecock was called to pinch hit.

In her first collegiate plate appearance, Hedgecock launched a towering three-run blast over the centerfield fence to earn the 10-0 walk-off run-rule victory.

Razorback pitching breezed through the UTEP lineup and only tossed 72 pitches. Senior Autumn Storms (1-0) earned the win and coasted through four innings.

She allowed just three hits and struck out two. Freshman Jenna Bloom made her collegiate debut and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless fifth inning.

Allie Johnson (0-1) worked 4.1 frames for the Miners and allowed seven hits, 10 earned runs, 12 walks and struck out three. Arkansas totaled 16 free bases on 12 base on balls and four hit by pitches.

The Hogs improved to 4-1 in season openers during coach Courtney Deifel’s tenure.

Game 2: Bradley 3, Arkansas 2

Arkansas was first on the scoreboard for the second straight game and plated a solo tally in the first inning.

In the first plate appearance of the game, Parr placed a bunt hit down the third base line to reach and then swiped second base. McEwen deposited her first double of the campaign to center to give the Hogs an early 1-0 edge.

Both pitchers found their grove until the bottom of the fourth inning when Bradley scored two runs. A two-out Razorback error proved costly as the next batter hit a two-run homer to left to give the Braves the lead, 2-1.

Bradley added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a wild pitch that allowed a run to score from second.

The Razorbacks mounted a comeback attempt in the seventh inning as Kayla Green and Hedgecock both pinch hit and reached base on a walk and hit by pitch to leadoff the frame.

Parr laid down another bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. McEwen then hit a flyout to right and the runner from third tagged and attempted to score but was cut down on a perfect throw from Bradley rightfielder Jillian Navarro.

With two outs Burnside reached on an error, which allowed a run to score and bring the Razorbacks within one, 3-2.

Junior Mary Haff (0-1) threw all six innings for the Razorbacks and allowed just one earned run.

The righthander allowed four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three. Emma Jackson (1-0) went the distance for the Braves and gave up five hits, two earned runs, and three walks while striking out six.

Up next

Arkansas is back in action tomorrow, Feb. 8 for another doubleheader day at the Troy Cox Classic.

A rematch against Braves begins the twinbill at 12:30 p.m. will conclude against host New Mexico State at 5:30 p.m.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Pittman will continue to take chances on in-state recruits like Towers

Nate Olson
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Pittman will continue to take chances on in-state recruits like Towers

There’s nothing that J.T. Towers can’t handle. Not even a snarling SEC offensive lineman.

Towers’ young life has already been full of tumult and adversity, and he’s still standing. Playing football at Arkansas is a challenge but not near as tough as what he’s faced.

His older brother Zack died of a football-related brain injury when Towers was in grade school. He missed his entire sophomore season due to a horrific car accident that has left him with noticeable scars.

A foot injury nearly derailed his senior season at Joe T. Robinson, but he played through it recently having surgery on his big toe.

A year ago, Towers was a quarterback at Class 3A Glen Rose, but he transferred to Class 4A Robinson for his senior season and found a home at linebacker racking up 171 tackles including 47 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and 5 forced fumbles.

He played with a reckless abandon you’d expect from a guy who shrugs off catastrophic car accidents. Former Arkansas coach Chad Morris didn’t offer him a scholarship, but new coach Sam Pittman re-evaluated in-state recruits and offered Towers.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder chose Arkansas over Utah, Tulsa, Army, and Louisiana-Lafayette, Illinois State and more.

“It’s a day I anticipated for a long time,” emotional Towers told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Wednesday. “It’s been a long time coming for me, and being able to put the pen to the paper and getting the recruiting process over with and moving on to the next stage. I’m just looking forward to it.”

Towers is a roll of the dice. You didn’t see any other Power 5 schools on his list. Oklahoma and Texas Tech offered preferred walk-on spots.

However, it appears Pittman is going to have a place in his classes for some in-state diamonds in the rough, reminiscent of former Hogs coach Houston Nutt. Nutt, an Arkansas native, saw value in recruiting and developing in-state players, who he claimed were tougher when the chips were down as they were fighting for their home state.

Nutt transformed skinny Little Rock Parkview receiver Jamaal Anderson into a hulking all-American defensive end. Former coach Bret Bielema didn’t value that as much but did do a nice job of flipping star receiver Drew Morgan from Arkansas State.

The Greenwood native was a staple in the Bielema Era.

Morris did not follow suit, and focused his efforts on blue chip players in his native Texas. From a recruiting standpoint, he turned in a great class. However, so many other problems existed that we will never know how that formula would have worked.

Pittman probably realized from his first tour at Arkansas as Bielema’s offensive line coach that the Hogs will never get as many four- and five-star players as more than half of the SEC.

Even Morris’ stellar class was not atop the SEC.

So, to beat those teams you need to develop players. Players who have a lot of untapped potential and a desire to win. There isn’t a better place to pluck those than inside the state borders.

Like Nutt, Pittman knows you need to snag big-time recruits, too, a lot of times in Texas to balance out the class. This is where Pittman can outshine Nutt.

He has already proven as an assistant to be an outstanding recruiter. He proved it again Wednesday when out of nowhere, he inked Missouri City, Texas, quarterback Malik Hornsby, who is one of the more highly regarded QBs in the nation.

Hornsby chose Arkansas over Baylor, Texas A&M and Purdue among others. He is a big-time quarterback prospect Arkansas needed, but didn’t seem likely considering Pittman’s limited time to recruit.

Pittman was also able to flip talented offensive linemen Jalen St. John and Marcus Henderson. Both seem primed to fill spots quickly.

When Morris left several recruits decommitted and the stock of the class plummeted. Pittman was able to rescue it to around 30 nationally among most pundits.

This should be encouraging for Hogs fans.

Pittman sold a program that was 4-20 the past two seasons and convinced some big-time players to take a chance on him and his staff. That is how you build a program. Pittman laid the first bricks of that foundation.

However, if Arkansas is going to crash the SEC West party like Nutt did a few times, Pittman will need some underdogs such as Towers to bring major contributions.

The more diamonds Pittman mines with a longer list of blue chippers than Nutt’s, the better the chance he will have to bring Arkansas back.

???? Halftime Pod Presented by Jeff’s Club House —Phil at Baum Stadium, Guests- Pat Bradley & Clay Henry

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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???? Halftime Pod Presented by Jeff’s Club House —Phil at Baum Stadium, Guests- Pat Bradley & Clay Henry

Hogs pick up another road win, downing UNLV on Friday afternoon

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs pick up another road win, downing UNLV on Friday afternoon

LAS VEGAS — Arkansas picked up a third victory on the road with a 5-2 win over UNLV Friday afternoon at the Frank and Vicki Fertitta Tennis Complex.

Doubles

The Razorbacks came out focused and claimed victories on courts two and three to secure the doubles point.

Jackie Carr and Martina Zerulo cruised to a 6-2 win over Connie Li and Sam Smith, notching their second road win this dual match season.

The No. 22 pair of Lauren Alter and Tatum Rice dropped a 6-1 decision to No. 13 Izumi Asano and En-Pei Huan on court one.

The attention shifted to court three, where Thea Rice and Laura Rijkers took on Samantha Li and Olivia Elliot.

Thea Rice and Rijkers surged out to a 5-3 lead but saw the UNLV tandem counter to make it a 5-5 match. With their backs against the wall, the Arkansas sophomore combo rallied back and won in a tiebreak 7-6 (7-1), to provide the Hogs with the early momentum.

Singles

The Razorbacks corralled the momentum gained in doubles and took it over to singles play, claiming four of the first six sets.

114th-ranked Carr picked up her second win of the weekend as she battled to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Connie Li. Carr’s victory from the No. 3 position gave Arkansas a 2-1 edge.

Alter registered her second straight win against Sam Smith, 6-3, 6-3, with freshman Kelly Keller following not too far behind clinching the singles point for the Hogs defeating Elliot 6-3, 6-3.

The two teams played all six singles matches to completion. In the No. 2 slot, Tatum Rice pulled out a gritty 7-6, 6-3 verdict over Huang.

Rijkers on court five was the last match of the day. The sophomore was defeated in a tiebreak battle of 6-7, 7-5, 1-0 (11-9).

Up next

The Hogs take the court again Saturday at noon facing Virginia Tech. This will be the second time in series history the two schools have met.

Singles competition
1. Izumi Asano (UNLV) def. Martina Zerulo (ARK) 2-1, retired
2. Tatum Rice (ARK) def. En-Pei Huang (UNLV) 7-6, 6-2
3. 114 Jackie Carr (ARK) def. Connie Li (UNLV) 6-1, 6-1
4. Lauren Alter (ARK) def. Sam Smith (UNLV) 6-3, 6-3
5. Kelly Keller (ARK) def. Olivia Elliott (UNLV) 6-3, 6-3
6. Samantha Li (UNLV) def. Laura Rijkers (ARK) 6-7, 7-5, 1-0 (11-9)

 Doubles competition
1. 13 Izumi Asano/En-Pei Huang (UNLV) def. 22 Tatum Rice/Lauren Alter (ARK) 6-1
2. Martina Zerulo/Jackie Carr (ARK) def. Connie Li/Sam Smith (UNLV) 6-2
3. Laura Rijkers/Thea Rice (ARK) def. Samantha Li/Olivia Elliott (UNLV) 7-6 (7-1)

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Razorbacks’ game with Notre Dame set for Week 2 kickoff at 1:30 on NBC

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks’ game with Notre Dame set for Week 2 kickoff at 1:30 on NBC

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas and Notre Dame will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on NBC on September 12 in the first-ever match-up between the two schools.

The Razorbacks and Fighting Irish will play the first game of a home-and-home series inside Notre Dame Stadium this fall before Razorback Stadium hosts the second game of the series on October 4, 2025.

Information on tickets for all Arkansas road games will be available later this spring. Season ticket holders receive the opportunity to purchase tickets to away games.

Season ticket holders will be able to submit purchase requests for tickets and orders will be filled based upon priority in Razorback Foundation membership status while supplies last.

Renewal for 2020 season tickets is ongoing along with new ticket sales.

The Razorbacks will host seven games in Fayetteville for the first time ever this fall. The Sam Pittman era begins with Nevada (Sept. 5) before beginning Southeastern Conference games starting with Alabama (Oct. 10).

Defending national champion LSU visits Fayetteville on Oct. 17 followed by Tennessee (Oct. 31) and Ole Miss (Nov. 14). The Hogs will also host non-conference tilts against Charleston Southern (Oct. 3) and UL-Monroe (Nov. 21).

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

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