Trying the NBA Draft instead of joining talented recruiting class coming to Hogs could prove interesting decision for future.
Matt Jenkins recapping a big WrestleMania event this weekend
Former Halftime co-host at biggest annual event in professional wrestling and gave a report on what was, again, an extravaganza.
Diamond Hawgs S2E16: Mississippi State Series Recap, Weekend MVP’s and SEC Standings
Join Mason Choate and Robert Stewart as they recap each game of Arkansas’ series victory over Mississippi State. They guys do a deep dive on how the Hogs fared, pick weekend MVP’s and take a look around the SEC to round it out.
LIVE Halftime is LIVE. CBB Natty, CFB, Hogs BSB, MLB and more… 877-377-6963
11:30 – Connor O’Gara
KU vs. UNC; Gamecocks Win WBB natty; Hogs take 2 of 3 from Hail State; Best Fan Fielding Call or text, 877-377-6963
Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: JD Notae heading to the NBA Draft
Tye & Tommy on JD’s decision, the baseball series win, Smackdown joins from Wrestlemania and more!
Diamond Hogs fall to Mississippi State in extras
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas repeatedly struggled to deliver Mississippi State a fatal blow Sunday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium, hitting 0-8 with runners in scoring position.
The defending national champs hung two runs on the Hogs in the 12th inning, salvaging the a game in the series with a 5-3 win.
The first five runs of the contest all came on solo homers, with Mississippi State scoring the first two. First baseman Luke Hancock hit his second bomb in as many games in the first inning, and second baseman RJ Yeager doubled the lead in the third.
Arkansas junior left fielder Zack Gregory hit an opposite-field shot, his second longball of the series, in the bottom of the third, and senior center fielder Braydon Webb tied it in the fourth with his team-leading sixth big fly of the season.
Razorback starter Jaxon Wiggins’ outing came to a close after just 80 pitches. The sophomore righty got through five innings, allowed two singles, a walk and a hit batter in addition to the two solo homers and struck out five Bulldogs.
Senior left-hander Evan Taylor entered in the sixth inning, and he allowed the fifth solo blast of the afternoon to Mississippi State catcher Logan Tanner, who went deep in Friday’s game as well. The Hogs responded in the bottom of the sixth, as graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli scored on a sacrifice fly by senior designated hitter Brady Slavens.
Senior righty Zebulon Vermillion bailed Taylor, who hit the leadoff man, out with three outs on five pitches in the seventh, and freshman righty Brady Tygart struck out all six hitters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.
Arkansas loaded the bases in the ninth with one out, and the Bulldogs turned to right-hander Jackson Fristoe to keep the game alive. He did exactly that, fanning freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall and punching out graduate catcher Michael Turner.
Tygart surrendered a leadoff single in the top of the 10th, but he stranded the runner at third following a sacrifice bunt and a pair of groundouts.
After a quiet bottom of the 10th, he returned for a fourth inning of work.
After a groundout, his first walk, his seventh strikeout and a hit batter, the Razorbacks turned to Kole Ramage for the final out. The senior righty struck out left fielder Brad Cumbest on three pitches, giving the Hogs another chance to walk it off.
With runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the 11th, Stovall hit a liner to first, which was caught and thrown to second base for a double play.
After recording two outs in the 12th, Ramage walked third baseman Kamren James on five pitches and allowed RBI singles to Hancock and Tanner.
Fristoe capped off 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 12th.
The Razorbacks are set to return to action at 6 p.m. Tuesday, when Central Arkansas visits Fayetteville.
The game will stream live on the SEC Network+ and on HitThatLine.com plus on ESPN Arkansas radio stations.
Notae declaring for NBA, getting an agent
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — JD Notae’s career at Arkansas is over.
The transfer who was the second-leading scorer in the SEC this season announced his decision on social media Sunday morning.
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Notae was a third-team AP All-American, first-team All-SEC performer and was recognized on the All-West Regional team for his efforts in Arkansas’ run to the Elite Eight that included wins over Vermont, New Mexico State and top-overall seed Gonzaga.
In four NCAA Tournament games this season, Notae averaged 17.5 points, 5.25 rebounds and 4.25 assists for the Razorbacks.
Maybe the most that will be missed is how well he worked with coach Eric Musselman.
“His growth in his game has been remarkable on both sides of the basketball,” Musselman said at a press conference last month. “He and I are connected on … I don’t have to say words sometimes to him.
“He kind of reads my mind, but he has had two really phenomenal years, and he had a phenomenal sit-out year too. He has a personality where everybody on the team likes him, and when you have a leading scorer and everybody likes you, it talks about his personality and how connected he is to the guys.”
Arkansas swats four home runs, wins series against Mississippi State
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas teed off against Mississippi State pitching all night long, using four home runs and some clutch two-out hitting to beat the Bulldogs 12-5 Saturday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The victory was the Hogs’ fourth straight, and it clinched their third consecutive Southeastern Conference series win.
It was the Bulldogs who struck first in the high-scoring affair, punishing Razorback starter Hagen Smith for three early walks.
The freshman lefty allowed a sacrifice fly to center field, but he recorded a looking strikeout to avoid any further damage.
https://youtu.be/EBo5Ysgu4kI
Arkansas did not trail for long, as Bulldog starter Parker Stinnett issued three free passes of his own in the second.
Senior shortstop Jalen Battles drove in the first run on a fielder’s choice, sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace brought home two more with a bases-loaded single and junior left fielder Zack Gregory scampered home on a wild pitch to make it 4-1.
The Hogs hung another four-spot on the Bulldogs in the third.
After being benched Friday night in favor of sophomore Jace Bohrofen, senior designated hitter Brady Slavens made his return to the lineup in a big way, recording his first SEC hit of the year, a long two-run homer to right field.
Wallace delivered his second two-out, two-run hit — a double to left — in as many innings three batters latter.
The home run festivities continued in the fourth inning, as graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli and junior second baseman Robert Moore went back-to-back with one out.
The Bulldogs got those two runs back in the fifth, cashing in on a leadoff triple with a two-run homer by first baseman Luke Hancock. Gregory led off the bottom of the fifth with a longball of his own, making it 11-3.
Slavens delivered with two outs once again in the sixth, scoring Moore from first base with a double to the left-center field gap to re-establish a nine-run lead.
Smith finished his day with a quality start, striking out seven hitters over six innings and 87 pitches, with three hits, three walks and three earned runs allowed.
Sophomore right-hander Gabriel Starks was the first Razorback out of the bullpen, and he kept things under control for Arkansas.
Both runs he allowed were unearned, scoring on two-base errors by Lanzilli in the seventh and Wallace in the eighth. Senior righty Elijah Trest shut the door in the ninth, facing the minimum three batters to knock off Mississippi State once again.
The Razorbacks will try to sweep the Bulldogs for the third time in a row at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Sophomore right-hander Jaxon Wiggins is set to start for Arkansas, opposite Mississippi State righty Cade Smith. The game will stream live on the SEC Network+ and you can hear it at HitThatLine.com or on ESPN Arkansas radio stations.
Diamond Hogs outslug Mississippi State, win series opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas strung together four two-out hits to take a six-run lead in the second inning en route to an 8-1 victory over Mississippi State on Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Senior shortstop Jalen Battles got the party started with one out in the second.
After senior center fielder Braydon Webb led off with a walk, Battles turned on a first-pitch fastball, sending it 420 feet into the Hog Pen.
Graduates Michael Turner and Chris Lanzilli both delivered RBI knocks with two outs to make it 4-0, and junior second baseman Robert Moore drove the catcher and the right fielder in with a triple.
Battles went deep again in the third to make it 7-0, but Mississippi State catcher Logan Tanner got the run right back in the top of the fourth with a solo homer of his own.
It was the Bulldogs’ only run of the game, and one of just four hits allowed by Razorback starter Connor Noland.
The senior right-hander twirled a seven-inning gem, striking out six Bulldogs and walking none as he picked up his fourth win and fourth quality start of the season. After the homer in the fourth, he allowed just one baserunner before the end of his outing.
While Noland was dealing for the Razorbacks, they could not generate any more offensive momentum. They did not record a hit in the middle innings, but they wasted six walks and an error, leaving the bases loaded in both the fourth and the sixth.
After Noland walked off the mound to a standing ovation at the seventh-inning stretch, the Arkansas bats woke up for an insurance run. Sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace doubled to lead off the frame, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Turner.
Senior right-handed pitcher Zebulon Vermillion was the first Razorback out of the bullpen, and he retired the side in order in the eighth. Senior righty Kole Ramage got the ball for the ninth, and he did the same, icing the victory with a looking strikeout of Tanner.
The Razorbacks and Bulldogs are set to square off again at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Freshman lefty Hagen Smith is expected to start against Mississippi State righty Parker Stinnett.
The game will stream live on the SEC Network+ and the radio broadcast at HitThatLine.com plus you can listen to the game on ESPN Arkansas radio stations.
Listen to Razorbacks’ series with Mississippi State here, ESPN Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — One of the best series in college baseball this weekend is at Baum-Walker Stadium starting tonight.
No. 2 Arkansas (19-4, 5-1 SEC) hosts Mississippi State (16-10, 3-3 SEC), the defending national champion, in a three-game set, getting underway with a nationally televised first pitch at 6 p.m. Friday, April 1, on SEC Network.
Game two is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2, on SEC Network+. The series finale begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 3, on SEC Network+.
Arkansas, winners of its last six games against Mississippi State, is seeking its 13th consecutive SEC series win this weekend. The Hogs currently own the league’s longest active consecutive series win streak (12) as well as the SEC’s longest consecutive home series win streak (9).
Schedule
6 p.m., Friday vs. Mississippi State – SEC Network — Listen — Live Stats
6:30 p.m., Saturday vs. Mississippi State — SEC Network+ — Listen — Live Stats
2 p.m. Sunday, vs. Mississippi State — SEC Network+ — Listen — Live Stats
How to Watch and Listen
Friday’s series opener against Mississippi State will broadcast on SEC Network with Mike Morgan (play-by-play) and Mike Rooney (analyst) on the call. Saturday and Sunday’s games will stream on SEC Network+ with Josh Haley and Troy Eklund handling play-by-play and analyst duties, respectively.
The series can also be heard on HitThatLine.com and ESPN Arkansas radio stations 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home with Phil Elson (play-by-play) and Bubba Carpenter (analyst) on the call.
Matchups
Game 1
Mississippi State RHP Preston Johnson (2-1, 3.41 ERA) vs. Arkansas RHP Connor Noland (3-1, 3.41 ERA)
Game 2
Mississippi State RHP Parker Stinnett (3-0, 4.67 ERA) vs. Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith (4-1, 3.45 ERA)
Game 3
Mississippi State RHP Cade Smith (4-1, 2.91 ERA) vs. Arkansas RHP Jaxon Wiggins (4-0, 3.71 ERA)
Series History
Since 1960, Arkansas is 52-56 all-time against Mississippi State. The Razorbacks have had much of their success at home, however, holding a 25-18 advantage over the Bulldogs in games played in Fayetteville.
Arkansas is on a six-game winning streak against Mississippi State, thanks in part to a three-game series sweep of the Bulldogs last season in Starkville. The Hogs have won their last six home series against the Bulldogs, including sweeps in the 2017 and 2019 seasons.
Leading Off
• Arkansas won its 12th consecutive SEC series last weekend at Mizzou. Vanderbilt (2012-14) and Florida (2017-18) hold the record for most consecutive SEC series wins (15).
• Dave Van Horn earned his 300th SEC win last Sunday on the road at Mizzou to become one of only five head coaches in history to reach the milestone. Mississippi State/Georgia’s Ron Polk, Ole Miss’ Mike Bianco, LSU’s Skip Bertman and Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin also have 300 or more career SEC wins to their name.
• The series opener between Arkansas and Mississippi State falls on April 1, also known as April Fools’ Day. Arkansas is 21-16 all-time on the day, including 11-4 at home.
• Arkansas is ranked 12th nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (7.3), 13th in strikeouts per nine innings (11.2) and 16th in earned run average (3.46).
• Defensively, Arkansas has been superb with a .986 fielding percentage, ranking first in the SEC and fifth nationally.
