Call or text in
877-377-6963
Razorbacks split doubleheader, but take series over Gamecocks
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Arkansas took the rubber game of a three-game series against South Carolina 9-6 behind a five-run seventh inning.
“Just a really gutsy win that game two by our team,” coach Dave Van Horn said. “I felt like a lot of guys contributed. Whether it was base running or driving in a run. Just a lot of things I really liked.”
Van Horn lamented Friday night that the Razorbacks were struggling for the big hit to ignite the offense. With Arkansas up 4-2 and desperately looking for insurance, the Razorbacks sent 10 men to the plate and put up a five-spot. The inning was highlighted by a two-run double from Kendall Diggs to left.
First Game: Gamecocks 6, Hogs 3
Arkansas dropped the first game of a doubleheader to the South Carolina Gamecocks 6-3 as the offensive woes continued for a third straight SEC game. Mason Molina had no command of his pitches at all, issuing seven walks in just 3 1/3 innings of work but for the most part was able to work out of trouble.
South Carolina did cash in back-to-back leadoff walks in the second for an early 2-0 lead. Both runs came around to score on a Talmadge LeCroy RBI single.
Smith, Gaeckle prove to be enough to take pitcher’s duel for Hogs
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hagen Smith and Gabe Gaeckle combined for 16 strikeouts on the mound to lead No. 2 Arkansas (33-5, 13-3 SEC) to a 2-1 series-opening win against No. 20 South Carolina (26-12, 8-8 SEC) Friday night at Founders Park.
Due to rain in the area on Sunday, the Hogs and Gamecocks will conclude the weekend series with a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch in Saturday’s twin bill is set for noon CT, with a one-hour break between the two games. Both contests will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Kip Bouknight (analyst) on the call.
The Razorbacks will go for their fourth consecutive regular-season weekend series win against the Gamecocks in tomorrow’s doubleheader. Arkansas has not lost a series to South Carolina since 2016 and has won five of the last six regular-season weekend series against its SEC Eastern Division opponent, including road series wins in 2013 and 2021.
Making his 10th start of the year, Smith twirled six innings of one-run ball with 11 strikeouts to improve to 8-0, logging his team-leading eighth quality start and his team-best seventh double-digit strikeout performance. The junior left-hander allowed just two hits and issued five walks, including one intentional walk, in his gritty Friday night outing.
Arkansas improved to a perfect 10-0 in games started by Smith, who raised his strikeout total to 100 through 52.2 innings. For the season, Smith boasts 1.53 ERA over his 53.0 total innings of work, allowing only nine runs on 24 hits and 22 walks while limiting opposing hitters to a meager .136 batting average all year.
The Gamecocks began the game’s scoring with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fifth to open a 1-0 advantage. The Razorbacks, however, punched right back in the top half of the sixth, scratching out a pair of runs to take the lead.
After loading the bases with no outs, Arkansas scored a run on a wild pitch before Jack Wagner’s sacrifice fly to center brought home Nolan Souza from third, which put the Hogs ahead, 2-1, and proved to be the game-winning run.
Gaeckle protected the Hogs’ one-run lead, recording eight of the game’s final nine outs after Smith departed. The true freshman right-hander, who tallied five strikeouts, did not allow a base runner until a two-out double in the ninth.
Stone Hewlett logged the game’s final out on six pitches, taking over for Gaeckle and stranding a pair of runners in the ninth to secure his fourth save of the season and finish off the Razorbacks’ 2-1 series-opening win.
DQ’s birthday, Zach’s definitive NFL Draft bust list
We all celebrate DQ’s birthday and listen to her thoughts on the new Taylor Swift album. Then Zach has his definitive NFL Draft bust list and the texters have thoughts on it.
The Gimme The Hawgs Chuck Podcast: Spring Football w/ Matt Jones
Presented by Weichert Realtors – The Griffin Company
Former pitcher Scott Tabor on comeback wins happen at times
When he played it happened a few times both ways plus shaking off Norm DeBriyn got him in hot water.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 4-19-24
Kenny Payne hired, Hogs head to Columbia, Pro Hogs in the NBA
Scott Tabor joins!
Ruscin & Zach visit with Chuck Barrett plus we hear from Joe in Avoca’s dog
We have one of our best episodes in ages with Joe in Avoca and his dog howling at the moon plus Chuck Barrett on the first week of the Calipari era.
Former Louisville Cardinal, NBA player Kenny Payne joins Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE — Kenny Payne, who brings nearly 20 years of coaching experience on the collegiate and professional levels, was named associate head coach at the University of Arkansas, Razorback head coach John Calipari announced today.
A former Louisville Cardinal basketball great and first round NBA selection, Payne spent the past two seasons (2022-24) as head coach at his alma mater. He has additionally served as an assistant coach with the NBA’s New York Knicks as well as spending 15 years as a college assistant or associate head coach with both the University of Oregon and the University of Kentucky.
Payne has been a part of successful teams while on staff with the Knicks, Wildcats and Ducks. The Knicks posted a 41-31 record in 2020-21, finishing fourth in NBA Eastern Conference. In his 10 years at Kentucky, he helped the Wildcats win the 2010 NCAA Championship, play for the 2012 NCAA Championship, advance to four Final Fours, reach a total of eight Sweet 16’s, win six SEC Tournament titles and had 41 players drafted including 31 first round selections. At Oregon, the Ducks won the 2007 PAC-10 Championship and went to two NCAA Tournaments, including an Elite 8 berth in 2007.
For his contributions, Payne was honored in the A STEP UP Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2020 for his track record of success, outstanding and significant contributions to the game, as well as his high character, integrity and respect among colleagues.
Payne, who served as associate head coach at Kentucky from 2014-20, played a key role in assembling 11 impressive recruiting classes while at Kentucky, all of which were among the nation’s top three and five that were recognized as the No. 1 class, plus he helped gather a top 20 class at Oregon. As head coach at Louisville, his 2023 recruiting class was ranked in the top six nationally by both Rivals and 247Sports.
He has been nationally recognized for player development. In Payne’s 10 years at Kentucky, the Wildcats had a player selected in the NBA Draft lottery and had multiple players picked in the first round in every year, including two overall No. 1 selections. In addition, three Oregon players were selected in the first and second rounds of the NBA Draft in Payne’s time there.
As a student-athlete at UofL, Payne scored 1,083 points in his four years (1985-86), connecting on 40.1 percent of his career three-point goals (85-of-212, fourth-highest in UofL history). He was a member of Louisville’s 1986 NCAA Championship team as a freshman and during his collegiate career, Louisville participated in three NCAA Sweet 16’s and won three Metro Conference championships and three Metro tournament titles while posting a combined 98-41 record.
As a senior playing under Hall of Fame Coach Denny Crum, Payne averaged 14.5 points and 5.7 rebounds and was named to the All-Metro Conference second team as Louisville posted a 24-9 record and reached the NCAA Sweet 16.
He was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft with the 19th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, where he played four seasons (1989-93). He continued to play professional basketball abroad and in the Continental Basketball Association until 2000, with stops at the CBA Tri-Cities (Washington) and with teams in Italy, Japan, Brazil, the Philippines, Cypress, China, Argentina and Australia.
Payne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sport administration from Louisville in 2003.
He and his wife, Michelle, have two children: Alexis and Alexander (Zan), who played on the UofL basketball team.
PAYNE FILE
Born: Nov. 25, 1966 in Laurel, Miss.
Hometown: Laurel, Miss. (Northeast Jones HS)
Collegiate Playing Career: Louisville (1985-89)
Alma Mater: Louisville ‘03 (Sport Administration)
Family: Wife, Michelle. Children: Alexis and Alexander (Zan)
COACHING CAREER
2004–09, Oregon (Assistant Coach)
2010–14, Kentucky (Assistant Coach)
2014–20, Kentucky (Associate Head Coach)
2020–22, New York Knicks (Assistant Coach)
2022–24, Louisville (Head Coach)
2024–pres., Arkansas (Associate Head Coach)
