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Hogs complete sweep of UNLV, now it’s all SEC rest of way

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 7 Arkansas (15-2) completed its midweek sweep of UNLV (5-10) with a 5-2 win on Wednesday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium behind a strong start from Ben Bybee and a two-run blast from Jared Wegner.

The Razorbacks extended their winning streak to 10 games with their takedown of the Hustlin’ Rebels in their final tune-up before SEC play begins. Arkansas has now strung together double-digit win streaks in each of the last three seasons.

Bybee, a true freshman, was impressive in his second start as a Razorback. The right-hander tossed five scoreless innings on the mound, striking out three while allowing six hits and one walk to earn his first career win.

The Razorback offense provided Bybee with an early run, thanks to Kendall Diggs’ RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the first. Arkansas maintained its one-run lead until Wegner’s team-leading eighth home run in the fifth.

With a runner on first, Wegner hammered the first pitch he saw over the wall in left center. He collected his team-leading 28th and 29th RBI with his fifth-inning blast, which put the Hogs up by three.

Bybee faced two batters in the top half of the sixth before giving way to fellow freshman right-hander Gage Wood. The Batesville, Ark., native stranded both runners, recording all three outs in the inning with two strikeouts in the process.

UNLV would cut its deficit down to one in the top of the seventh, but Arkansas struck back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to re-extend its lead to three. Diggs’ double down the left field line brought Jace Bohrofen home before Harold Coll laced an RBI single to center, which scored pinch runner Mason Neville and put the Hogs ahead, 5-2.

Zack Morris locked down the final three innings of the Razorbacks’ win, striking out a pair of batters while allowing two unearned runs on one hit and a walk. The left-hander earned his first save of the season and the second of his career.

Arkansas opens SEC play against Western Division foe Auburn (13-3-2) this weekend at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch of the three-game series between the Hogs and Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday on SEC Network+.

You can hear the game on the radio on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

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Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- March 15, 2023

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Slow-starting Illini can’t let Razorbacks get out too far and hope to catch up opening NCAA Tournament play.

HALFTIME IS LIVE. Hogs and UNLV finish up two game series today, MBB starts dancing tomorrow

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11:15 – Grant Hall

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Hogs are in Des Moines; New OmaHogs Lineup Slugs UNLV

Call or text, 877-377-6963

Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: Hogs practice later today, Baseball wraps up series with UNLV

Tye and Tommy talk Hogs and Fighting Illini, Spring practice, Baseball vs UNLV and more! Jeremy Werner, Publisher at IlliniInquirer.com joins the show to break down tomorrow’s matchup in Des Moines.

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The Gimme the HAWGS Chuck Podcast E76: Hogs and Fighting Illini square off tomorrow from Des Moines

Presented by Weichert Realtors – The Griffin Company

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Hogs start midweek series with 13-7 win over UNLV

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Timely two-out hitting helped the Hogs overcome an early deficit and pick up their ninth win in a row as No. 7 Arkansas (14-2) fended off UNLV (5-9), 13-7, on a chilly Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.

“It was one of those games that make you a little nervous,” Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn said later. “They just kept scoring.”

The Razorbacks went 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate with two outs and collected six two-out RBI, including all five of their runs that came in the bottom of the fourth, in the win.

The five-run fourth featured four run-scoring singles with two outs.

It truly was a strange game to start the final non-conference series of the season as forecasts call for the temperatures to continue to get cooler.

Van Horn has told his players to get used to it, especially want to play at the major league level but it doesn’t particularly bother him.

“I’m good, I don’t play,” Van Horn said. “I’ve got handwarmers, foot warmers.”

It was a light-hearted moment in a night with some crazy stuff, including a brief delay after a pitching change when Hogs first baseman Brady Slavens was still in the dugout when they were ready to resume play. Everybody waited.

Harold Coll was the night’s offensive hero, finishing 3-for-5 with two runs scored, two doubles, a home run and a team-leading four RBI. His homer, a solo shot in the bottom of the second, was his first as a Razorback.

UNLV maintained a 4-2 lead entering the bottom half of the fourth inning, but Arkansas’ five runs turned the game around. Freshman Reese Robinett delivered the biggest blow of the inning, driving in a pair of two-out runs on a single to put the Hogs ahead, 7-4.

Jace Bohrofen also came up big in the inning, driving in a run on a two-out single. The Razorback captain finished his night 2-for-5 at the plate with a double and a pair of RBI, moving his season slash line to a team-leading .442/.565/.856.

Jared Wegner, meanwhile, extended his team-best hitting streak to nine game and collected his team-leading 27th RBI in Tuesday night’s win. Kendall Diggs, hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season, racked up an RBI on three hits, including a double, and a pair of walks.

On the mound, freshman left-hander Parker Coil made his second career start and lasted 2 1/3 innings. He struck out a career-high four while allowing four runs on four hits and a walk.

In relief of Coil, emergent relief ace Dylan Carter threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings with a strikeout before giving way to Austin Ledbetter, who followed him with 2 2/3 innings of three-run ball and matched his career high in strikeouts with five. Cody Adcock (1.1 IP, 1 SO) and Gage Wood (1.0 IP) locked down the final 2 1/3 innings and did not allow a run.

Arkansas will go for the midweek series sweep against UNLV tomorrow afternoon. First pitch in the finale between the Hogs and Hustlin’ Rebels is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, on SEC Network+.

Hogs coach Sam Pittman on former coach in attendance at practice

Pittman knew former defensive coordinator Barry Odom was in town and was at Razorbacks’ practice Tuesday afternoon.