Guests: Mike Irwin, Nate Olson, Connor O’Gara
The Gimme The Hawgs Chuck Podcast: Ep. 214- Spring Game Thoughts, Transfer Portal
Presented by Weichert Realtors – The Griffin Company
Crimson Tide shuts out Razorbacks to win series Sunday
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 Arkansas (30-5, 12-3 SEC) was shut out for the first time since 2022 and dropped its first SEC weekend series of the year, suffering a 5-0 loss in the finale at No. 25 Alabama (24-12, 6-9 SEC) Sunday afternoon.
With Sunday’s setback in Tuscaloosa, Arkansas moved to 12-3 through 15 games of SEC play for only the third time in program history. The Hogs also began 12-3 through 15 games of SEC play during the 1999 and 2010 seasons.
The Razorback offense was stifled by Crimson Tide starter Zane Adams, who tossed eight scoreless innings with five strikeouts, and reliever Alton Davis II, who twirled a scoreless ninth with a strikeout. The Hogs recorded only four hits all game, including two each from Jared Sprague-Lott (2-for-4) and Ben McLaughlin (2-for-4), and drew just two walks.
Arkansas starter Brady Tygart, meanwhile, turned in a stellar outing on the mound, spinning five innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts. The junior left-hander lowered his season ERA to 2.59 in 41.2 innings over nine starts this year.
Alabama did most of its damage against the Arkansas bullpen, tagging relievers Koty Frank and Will McEntire for four runs in three innings. Tygart took the hard-luck loss, however, the first loss by a Razorback starting pitcher this season.
The Hogs will return to the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium, where they have won 23 consecutive games, for their second double midweek series in as many weeks. First pitch in the two-game set between Arkansas and Texas Tech is slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, on ESPN2 with Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Kyle Peterson (analyst) on the call.
Three homers not enough in 10-inning loss to Alabama on Saturday
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 Arkansas (30-4, 12-2 SEC) swatted three homers, including Peyton Holt’s two-out, game-tying solo shot in the top of the ninth, but lost, 4-3, in 10 innings against No. 25 Alabama (23-12, 5-9 SEC) Saturday evening.
The Razorbacks and Crimson Tide will close out the weekend series with a winner-take-all rubber game tomorrow afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, April 14, on SEC Network+.
Arkansas starter Mason Molina logged his first quality start of the year, spinning six innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts. The junior left-hander lowered his season ERA to 3.32 in 43.1 innings over nine starts this season.
Alabama did its only damage against Molina with a pair of solo home runs, jumping out to an early two-run advantage over Arkansas. The Razorback offense, however, would respond in the fifth and sixth innings on solo blasts by Peyton Stovall, his fifth of the season, and Jared Sprague-Lott, his fifth of the year and second in as many nights, respectively.
Alabama scored the go-ahead run on a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth, breaking a 2-2 tie to take a one-run lead into the ninth. Crimson Tide closer Alton Davis II retired the first two he faced before Holt stepped up to the plate.
The Greenwood, Ark., native unloaded on the first pitch he saw, hammering the ball over the wall in left center to tie the game at three apiece in the top half of the ninth. Holt, who was making his first career start in left field, finished Saturday’s game with a team-leading three hits, including his first home run of the season, a run scored and an RBI.
In the bottom of the ninth, right fielder Kendall Diggs laid out to make a sensational diving catch on the warning track to rob Alabama infielder Justin Lebron of a game-winning hit and help force extra innings. Arkansas could not capitalize in the top of the 10th, however, as Davis retired the Razorbacks’ 9-1-2 hitters in order.
After a leadoff double, the Crimson Tide would score the game-winning run on a throwing error to pull out a 4-3 victory, snapping the Hogs’ 11-game winning streak and forcing tomorrow afternoon’s rubber game to decide the series.
Arkansas right-hander Brady Tygart, who is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 36.2 innings over eight starts this season, will toe the rubber and go up against Alabama lefty Zane Adams (2-2, 4.85 ERA) in Sunday’s series finale.
What Sam Pittman thought of spring after Red-White game Saturday
Likes team in practices getting ready for 2024 season, but a break now before fall camp in August begins.
Hogs hold off late Alabama rally to keep win streak going
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas made things look a little closer against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday night to open a weekend series with a 5-3. Giving up three runs after getting a 5-0 lead will tend to make things look a little close.er It also may have had a little to do with Hagen Smith being out by that time after another quality start. Those are getting routine.
The Razorbacks extended their winning streak to 11 games and are on the best 13-game start in SEC play in program history at 12-1. Smith threw six scoreless innings for his fifth shutout performance of the season while lowering his ERA to 1.53. He gave up two hits and three walks while striking out six batters on 96 pitches (56 strikes) and took a no-hit bid to the sixth. The Bullard, Texas, native passed David Walling (283) for third all-time in strikeouts in Razorback history and is 13 punch outs away from tying Matt Carnes for second-most (301).
The Hogs jumped on the Crimson Tide early with back-to-back jacks in the top of the first inning. After Wehiwa Aloy worked a one-out walk, Ben McLaughlin launched his sixth home run of the season to left field and Jared Sprague-Lott followed up with a solo shot to left five pitches later off of Alabama pitcher Ben Hess for his fourth dinger of the year.
Arkansas put up a two-run frame in the top of the third with two outs and runners on the corners after Sprague-Lott was hit by a pitch and Kendall Diggs sent a single to right. Hudson White planted a single to right field for his 11th run batted in of the season while reaching 100 career RBIs. Diggs scored on the next pitch after Hess threw the ball to the backstop to give the Hogs a commanding 5-0 lead.
Alabama put up a three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth to cut the deficit to two and Gabe Gaeckle came out of the Arkansas bullpen to put out the fire with one out and runners on the corners. He struck out pincher hitter William Hamiter and forced Evan Sleight to ground out to second to get the Razorbacks out of the jam in his 12 relief appearance of the season. Gaeckle tossed a perfect ninth inning to obtain his sixth save of the year.
Ruscin & Zach get a surprise phone call from ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes
We wrap up the week with baseball, a little basketball and a surprise phone call from ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes.
Former Razorbacks pitcher Scott Tabor on John Calipari, baseball
Even with Dave Van Horn’s team at No. 1, news of new basketball coach jumped in front this week.
