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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 4-1-24
Hogs sweep LSU, Burns & NC State beat Duke, Edey carries Purdue past the Vols, Scrimmage on Sat, April Fool’s
Stovall’s homer puts final touch on Razorbacks sweeping LSU
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Louisiana native Peyton Stovall’s two-run blast put the exclamation mark on No. 1 Arkansas’ (23-3, 8-1 SEC) series-sweeping 7-5 win against No. 8 LSU (20-9, 2-7 SEC) Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Razorbacks, winners of four of its last five weekend series against LSU, has now swept two consecutive home weekend series against its Western Division rival. The Hogs also earned a series sweep against the Tigers in Fayetteville in 2022.
With Saturday’s win, Arkansas improved to 8-1 in SEC play for only second time under head coach Dave Van Horn, and for the first time since 2009. The 8-1 record marks the Hogs’ best nine-game start in league play in the Van Horn era.
Saturday’s series-sweeping win also extended the Razorbacks’ current winning streak at Baum-Walker Stadium to 17 consecutive games, setting a new program record. It surpasses the 16-game home winning streak accomplished by the 1997 Arkansas team, led by legendary head coach Norm DeBriyn, for the longest in Baum-Walker Stadium history.
Fireworks began in the very first inning as Arkansas and LSU exchanged solo home runs to get the afternoon started. Wehiwa Aloy’s homer to the Hog Pen was his sixth of the season, tying him with Kendall Diggs (6) for the team lead.
The Tigers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third on a two-out, two-run homer before extending their advantage to three with a two-out solo shot in the top half of the fourth. The Razorback offense, however, had plenty of runs left in store.
Arkansas responded with a two-out, three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning, thanks to Ty Wilmsmeyer’s two-RBI single and Stovall’s RBI single to right. The Razorbacks tied the game at four apiece and knocked Tiger starter Gage Jump, who they tagged for four runs on a season-high seven hits and two walks over 3.2 innings, out of the ballgame.
Brady Tygart, meanwhile, departed after four innings of work on the mound, allowing a season-high four runs on five hits with three strikeouts. In relief of Tygart, Koty Frank (3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 SO), Hunter Dietz (0.2 IP, 1 SO) and Will McEntire (1.1 IP, 1 SO) emerged from the bullpen and kept LSU’s offense at bay over the game’s final five frames.
The Razorback offense would break the 4-4 deadlock in the bottom half of the sixth with its second three-run inning of the afternoon. Following Wilmsmeyer’s go-ahead RBI fielder’s choice scored Will Edmunson, who led off the inning with a double, from third, Stovall cranked a two-run homer, his fourth of the season, to left to give Arkansas a 7-4 lead.
Stovall finished Saturday’s game with two hits and three RBI, raising his season slash line to a team-best .364/.446/.636 in 14 games. Wilmsmeyer also had three RBI, while Edmunson notched a team-leading three hits and two runs scored.
Frank, who allowed just one run in his three innings in relief, locked down the Razorbacks’ 7-5 victory and earned his first win of the season in the process. McEntire, who struck out eight in relief in Thursday’s series-opening win, worked Saturday’s final 1.1 innings and earned his third save of the year, as well as his second multi-inning save of the season.
Up next, Arkansas continues its 10-game homestand with a midweek affair against in-state foe Arkansas State. First pitch between the Hogs and Red Wolves is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, on SEC Network+.
Razorbacks’ QBs Jacolby Criswell, Taylen Green, Malachi Singleton on scrimmage
Three guys trying to get top spot on offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and perfectionist ways with Hogs’ offense.
(Very) Unofficial Scrimmage Stats
Passing
Taylen Green 10-23/156/2 TD/1 INT
Malachi Singleton 11-15/96
Jacolby Criswell 8-15/57
KJ Jackson 8-11/70
Rushing (includes sack yards)
Rashod Dubinion 15-64
Ja’Quinden Jackson 9-41/TD
Isaiah Augustave 10-26
Braylen Russell 7-40/TD
Dominique Johnson 4-26/TD
Taylen Green 6-30
Malachi Singleton 8-18
KJ Jackson 5-negative 4
Jacolby Criswell 2-negative 1
Jezreel Bachert 3-2
Emmanuel Crawford 1-4
Receiving
Isaiah Sategna 5-83/TD
Var’keyes Gumms 4-45
CJ Brown 4-38
Isaac TeSlaa 1-7
Isaiah Augustave 3-13
Jordan Anthony 3-23
Walker Castavis 2-12
Dazmin James 2-13
Tyrone Broden 2-34
Kamron Bibby 2-17
Emmanuel Crawford 1-6
Luke Buchanan 1-17
Braylen Russell 4-28
Luke Hasz 2-40/TD
Ja’Quinden Jackson 1-3
Razorbacks’ Xavian Sorey, Jaylon Braxton on defense in scrimmage
They feel they won the day with a strong finish to the scrimmage and getting an interception at the end of Saturday morning’s scrimmage.
DEFENSIVE STATS
Tackles (3 or more): Xavian Sorey 9, Cam Ball 7, Carson Dean 7, TJ Metcalf 7, Miguel Mitchell 6, Brad Spence 6, Nico Davillier 5, RJ Johnson 5, Kaden Henley 5, Anton Juncaj 4, Juju Pope 4, Jaheim Singletary 4, Doneiko Slaughter 4, Brooks Yurachek 4, Jaden Allen 3, Selman Bridges 3, Hudson Clark 3, Jayden Johnson 3, Keivie Rose 3, Alex Sanford 3
TFLs: Anton Juncaj 2-5, John Paul Pickens 1-5, Brooks Both 1-4, Brad Spence 1-2, Kaleb James 1-2, Donovan Whitten 1-1, Miguel Mitchell 1-1, Jaden Allen 0.5-1, Kaden Henley 0.5-1
Sacks: Cam Ball 1.5-7, Kaleb James 1.5-6, Kyle Thompson 1-8, Alex Sanford 1-7, Landon Jackson 0.5-2
Interceptions: Hudson Clark 1-0
PBUs: Jaylon Braxton 2, Hudson Clark, Snaxx Johnson, Jaheim Singletary, Quincy Rhodes
Fumble recoveries: Quincy Rhodes, Cam Ball
Forced fumbles: Landon Jackson
Hurries: Brad Spence, Kavion Henderson, Keivie Rose
Hogs close out win 10-inning win with walk-off hit from White
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas won the second game of a three-game set against No.8 LSU 4-3 in 10 innings courtesy of a Hudson White walk-off hit. The Razorbacks secured the series and improved to 7-1 in SEC play.
“I just felt like White had swung the bat well all night,” coach Dave Van Horn said. “He lined out to short. I felt good about him getting a hit. I didn’t know he was going to hit a double. But I like the matchup there. It was just a great game. I’m really proud of the team, the way they fought.”
In a cleanly fielded game by both teams, a routine grounder slipped under the glove of shortstop Michael Braswell III with one out in the bottom of the 10th for the first error of the series committed by either team in the series. White hit a double down the left field line. Will Edmunson’s speed proved to be the difference, walking the game off and scoring from first.
“I was just looking for something up and over the plate,” White said. “That’s what I got. I was able to put a swing on it. Will (Edmunson) is a really good baserunner and he was able to score.”
The Razorbacks had its hands full with LSU ace Luke Holman who entered the day with the third-best ERA nationally and tops in the SEC (0.78). Peyton Stovall wasted no time welcoming Holman to Baum-Walker Stadium, hitting the first pitch for a double into the left-center field gap for a leadoff double but Holman recovered to retire the next three Hogs.
After both teams stranded two runners in the second, Stephen Milam led off the top of the third with a single to left out of the nine-hole to set up the inning. Molina looked to have worked in and out of trouble getting to 0-2 on Josh Pearson with the bases loaded and two out, but Pearson got the last laugh, hitting a two-out two-run single to left to open the scoring.
Arkansas bats came to life in the bottom of the fourth. The Hogs put its fourth straight leadoff batter aboard with a Ross Lovich walk. Ty Wilmsmeyer, who continues to give Van Horn good production out of the nine-spot, drove in the first run on an RBI double into the left-field corner. Peyton Stovall tied the game at two with a RBI groundout and Ben McLaughlin followed with a go-ahead double to right. Holman allowed as many runs in the fourth as he had the entire season (three earned runs in 37 2/3 innings).
Molina started the sixth but lost his command, grazing Josh Pearson on the jersey before walking and allowing an infield single to load the bases with no outs. Van Horn opted to turn to Christian Foutch in a tough spot with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. After pinch-hitter Ashton Larson tied the game with a sac fly, Foutch got a 4-3 DP off the bat of Milam to extinguish the threat and retire the side. Stovall alertly tagged the runner in front of him on his way to second before throwing to first.
The Hogs put runners in the corners with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Jared-Sprague Lott opted to try and bunt the go-ahead run home, but the first baseman Jared Jones crashed and had ample time to throw out Wehiwa Aloy at the plate.
Outside of the one scare, Griffin Herring had no problem mowing down the Razorbacks, striking out eight in 4 2/3 innings scoreless work.
“It was just sweet winning the game [and] winning the series,” Van Horn said. “Now we have a chance to sweep somebody that’s really good. It’s like I told the players, it’s rare when you get a chance to sweep anybody in this league and if you get a chance, don’t get happy. Show up and play hard.”
The series concludes 2 p.m. Saturday with the Hogs looking to sweep the Tigers. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Ruscin & Zach on baseball and odd legal cases in Friday’s podcast
We come to you from Mock Legal Solutions in Fort Smith and talk baseball, odd legal cases and much more.
The Gimme The Hawgs Chuck Podcast Ep. 208: Hogs Take Game One From LSU
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Former pitcher Scott Tabor watched his strikeout record wiped out
Razorback pitcher on seeing his long-standing record for strikeouts fall to Hagen Smith on Thursday night not surprising.
