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Fisher’s one-hitter lifts Razorbacks to sweep of Xavier
Sometimes baseball is loud. Sometimes it’s quiet.
On Sunday at Baum-Walker Stadium, it was quiet for Xavier and steady for Arkansas.
Colin Fisher stood on the mound and worked with calm focus. The left-hander threw a complete-game one-hit shutout as the Hogs beat the Musketeers 11-0 in eight innings.
The win finished a three-game sweep for the Razorbacks. It also pushed Arkansas to 6-1 on the season and extended a long run of home weekend success.
Fisher struck out a career-high 11 batters. He allowed just one hit, an infield single in the second inning.
After that, the Arkansas pitcher retired 20 straight hitters. There were no rallies. No late threats. Just clean innings.
By the end, the Hogs had what is believed to be the first eight-inning complete-game shutout and eight-inning one-hitter in program history.
While Fisher handled the mound, the Razorbacks handled the bats. They scored early and often.
Arkansas has now won five straight games. The program hasn’t lost or tied a non-conference weekend series at home since 2014.
Early Runs, Steady Control
The tone was set in the first inning. Camden Kozeal drove in a run with a single to get things started.
Reese Robinett followed with a two-run double. Just like that, the Razorbacks had a 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, Zack Stewart added to it. He hit his first home run as a Hog, the 45th of his college career.
Later in the inning, Ryder Helfrick ripped an RBI double. The lead grew to 5-0 before Xavier could settle in.
Meanwhile, Fisher kept pounding the strike zone. He worked ahead in counts and mixed his pitches well.
The Musketeers’ only hit came on a soft infield play. After that, every ball off the bat found a glove or a strikeout.
The Hogs’ defense stayed sharp behind their starter. There were no extra chances given away.
By the fourth inning, Arkansas was in control on both sides of the game.
Helfrick added more damage in that fourth inning. He launched his fourth home run of the season to extend the lead.
Power Late, Sweep Complete
Helfrick finished 2-for-4 with two extra-base hits and three RBI. He has been one of the Razorbacks’ early season standouts.
Kozeal has been just as steady. Through seven games, he entered Sunday slashing .385/.515/.962 with four home runs and a team-leading 10 RBI.
His hit total leads the team, and he shares the home run lead with Helfrick.
In the eighth inning, the Hogs made sure there would be no long finish.
Nolan Souza opened the frame with a single. Carter Rutenbar followed with a pinch-hit walk.
Kozeal stepped in again and delivered an RBI single to make it 8-0.
Then Kuhio Aloy came to the plate with runners on. He drove a three-run home run to center field.
The blast pushed the score to 11-0 and ended the game by run rule.
It was Aloy’s second game-winning hit in as many days. It also sealed the sweep in firm fashion.
Fisher returned to the mound for the eighth and closed it out himself. Eight innings. One hit. Eleven strikeouts.
There was no need for bullpen help. The left-hander handled it start to finish.
Arkansas has now won 33 straight non-conference weekend series at home. That kind of run doesn’t happen by chance.
It happens when pitching shows up and the lineup produces up and down the order.
On Sunday, the Razorbacks got both.
The Hogs now turn their attention to Arkansas State. The teams will meet in a doubleheader at Baum-Walker Stadium on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. on SEC Network+.
For now, Arkansas baseball can look back on a weekend that checked every box. Strong starting pitching. Timely hits. Clean defense.
Fisher’s outing will be the headline, and it should be. One-hit shutouts aren’t common in college baseball.
But the bigger story might be balance. The Razorbacks didn’t rely on one swing or one inning.
They scored in bunches early. They added insurance late. They played steady behind their ace.
Richmond, Acuff fuel Razorbacks past Missouri in SEC
Arkansas leaned on a pair of familiar names and timely runs to defeat Missouri 94-86 in an SEC game Saturday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas improved to 20-7 overall and 10-4 in the SEC, keeping pace near the top of the league standings with four regular-season games remaining.
Billy Richmond III led the Razorbacks with 21 points, attacking the basket and knocking down key shots when Missouri threatened to close the gap.
Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. added 20 points and went 11-of-13 from the free-throw line, steadying the Hogs during critical stretches.
Missouri, now 18-9 and 8-6 in conference play, received 26 points from Mark Mitchell and 22 from Trent Pierce, but couldn’t slow Arkansas’ late push.
The Tigers shot 55.4% from the field and kept things tight early, but Arkansas’ depth and transition scoring proved decisive.
After trailing in the first half, the Razorbacks flipped the momentum with a strong closing stretch before intermission.
Arkansas outscored Missouri 23-9 over the final minutes of the first half to take a 47-41 lead into the break, shifting control of the contest.
First-Half run changes tone
The early minutes didn’t belong to the Razorbacks. Missouri found rhythm on offense and briefly held the upper hand.
But Richmond sparked Arkansas with aggressive drives and confident jumpers, helping erase the deficit.
Acuff also found ways to score despite tough defensive pressure, earning trips to the line and converting.
By halftime, the Hogs had settled into their pace, moving the ball and attacking inside.
Missouri trimmed the margin to 57-56 midway through the second half, putting pressure back on the Razorbacks.
That’s when Arkansas responded again, answering with balanced scoring and improved defense.
The Razorbacks finished the night shooting 52.5% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range.
They also held a 17-2 advantage in fastbreak points, turning defense into offense whenever possible.
Arkansas forced 10 turnovers and converted them into 18 points, giving the home team extra scoring chances.
Ewin’s bounce-back performance
One of the biggest differences from earlier in the week was the play of Malique Ewin.
Ewin bounced back with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding eight rebounds and going a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line.
He grabbed three offensive rebounds and recorded a key block in the second half.
His energy around the rim helped Arkansas maintain its edge inside.
Meleek Thomas contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, adding production on both ends of the court.
Trevon Brazile chipped in 12 points and six assists, helping the Razorbacks keep the offense flowing.
Arkansas also won the rebounding battle, limiting Missouri’s second-chance opportunities.
Late in the game, the Hogs extended the lead to 91-77, putting the result out of reach.
From there, Arkansas managed the clock and closed out the win at home.
Staying in SEC race
With the victory, Arkansas strengthened its standing in the conference race.
The Razorbacks have now shown a pattern of responding well after losses, maintaining focus during tight stretches of the schedule.
Missouri’s strong shooting kept the game competitive, but Arkansas’ balance made the difference.
Four players reached double figures, and contributions came from both starters and the bench.
The Hogs’ ability to adjust after a slow start stood out as a key factor.
Defensively, Arkansas tightened up in key possessions, forcing tough shots down the stretch.
Offensively, patience and ball movement created open looks inside and out.
As the regular season winds down, each game carries added weight in the SEC standings as teams start jockeying for postseason position
Arkansas returns to action this week with another important SEC matchup, looking to build on the balanced effort against Missouri.
Razorbacks outlast Xavier with late Game 2 surge
No. 8 Arkansas had to battle deep into the game Saturday, but the Razorbacks found a way to slip past Xavier in Game 2 at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Hogs didn’t control things early. Xavier applied pressure right away and forced Arkansas to respond inning by inning.
Still, the Razorbacks stayed calm. They worked counts, put runners on base and waited for a key moment to swing the game.
Xavier’s lineup created early traffic and tested the Arkansas pitching staff. The visitors scratched across runs and made the home crowd uneasy.
The Hogs answered with small bursts. A run in the middle innings helped keep the score close and reminded everyone the game was far from over.
Arkansas kept putting balls in play. Even when outs were recorded, the Razorbacks made Xavier’s defense work for them.
Momentum Shifts in Middle Innings
By the middle innings, the Hogs began to settle in. Arkansas pitchers filled the strike zone and cut down on free passes.
A clean defensive inning helped spark energy in the dugout. The Razorbacks turned routine plays into quick outs and slowed Xavier’s rhythm.
At the plate, Arkansas finally found the swing it needed. A timely hit brought home a run and tightened the score.
The crowd at Baum-Walker responded. With runners on base, the Hogs sensed the chance to flip momentum.
Another key at-bat pushed Arkansas in front. The Razorbacks didn’t need a big inning, just the right contact at the right time.
Xavier didn’t go quietly. The visitors threatened again, forcing Arkansas to make pitches under pressure.
Bullpen Seals Series Edge
That’s when the bullpen stepped up. Arkansas relievers attacked hitters and avoided costly mistakes late in the game.
Strikeouts came in big spots. The Razorbacks stranded runners and kept Xavier from regaining control.
Defensively, the Hogs backed up their pitchers. Sharp infield work and steady outfield coverage prevented extra-base damage.
At the plate, Arkansas added just enough insurance to create breathing room. Smart base running and solid contact helped extend the lead.
The final inning carried tension. Xavier put runners on, but the Razorbacks stayed composed and finished the job.
When the last out was secured, Arkansas had locked down the win and taken control of the weekend series.
The Hogs showed they can win tight games with patience, pitching depth and timely hitting as the season continues at Baum-Walker Stadium.
