Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn talked after the win about getting players time that hadn’t seen much previously in big Saturday win.
Pallette had fastball working against SEMO in extended outing
Peyton Pallette (5 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts) with the media after extending himself in solid outing getting win Saturday.
Listen here or on ESPN Arkansas as Hogs look to avenge earlier loss to LSU
• Who: 20 Arkansas Razorbacks (18-5, 10-4 SEC) vs. LSU Tigers (14-7, 9-5 SEC)
• What: Razorbacks lost 92-76 in the teams’ first meeting this year.
• When: Saturday, Feb. 27, 1 p.m. (pregame starts at 12:30 p.m.)
• Where: Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville
• TV: ESPN2 (Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes) CLICK HERE
• ONLINE: HitThatLine.com LISTEN HERE
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
The 20th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks play host to the LSU Tigers today. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
Pregame coverage starts at 12:30 p.m. and you can LISTEN HERE or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman will have all the coverage.
• This will be the 71st meeting between Arkansas and LSU and 62nd since the Razorbacks joined the SEC. Arkansas leads the all-time series, 37-33, and is 33-28 versus the Tigers since joining the SEC. Arkansas leads 20-8 in games played in Fayetteville.
• After the game Saturday, Arkansas will honor its five seniors including Khalil Garland, Vance Jackson Jr., Emeka Obukwelu, Justin Smith and Jalen Tate.
• The Southeastern Conference office announced that Arkansas will host Texas A&M on March 6. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be on SEC Network.
• Even though Arkansas lost at Oklahoma State on Jan. 30 in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge, Arkansas is riding an eight-game SEC win streak.
This is Arkansas’ first eight-game, SEC win streak since winning 11 games to close the 1993-94 season.
• Thanks to making 27 free throws last time out versus Alabama, Arkansas ranks 13th in the NCAA / 2nd in the SEC in free throws made.
Moses Moody was 16-of-19 at the line versus Bama and now ranks 13th in the NCAA / 3rd in the SEC in free throws made (105). LSU is 15th in the NCAA in free throws made.
• This game will feature two of the top scoring freshmen in the country. LSU’s Cameron Thomas leads all freshmen, ranks fourth In the NCAA and leads the SEC in scoring at 22.7 ppg.
He also ranks second in the nation in free throws made (143). Arkansas freshman Moses Moody is fifth among NCAA freshmen in scoring (16.5 ppg).
Gymbacks tie floor season high, but lose team score to Bama
Arkansas closed out its final home meet of the year in Barnhill Arena, tying its season high on the floor.
Four Gymbacks scored 9.925 en route to the team’s 49.575 in the final rotation. Arkansas ultimately fell to No. 7 Alabama, 197.325-197.000.
On vault, Arkansas saw big performances from junior Savannah Pennese and Sarah Shaffer. Pennese’s Yurchenko full and Shaffer’s Yurchenko layout half both scored a 9.800 towards Arkansas’ 48.850 team total.
The Gymbacks continued their upward climb on the bars with every countable routine scoring 9.825 or higher.
Back in the lineup this week, freshman Jensen Scalzo showed off her blind-change jaeger to immediate overshoot and scored a season-best 9.875.
Maggie O’Hara beautifully executed her bail handstand and double-layout dismount and earned a 9.950 in the anchor spot and secured her fifth event title of the season.
Moving along to the third rotation, sophomore Kiara Gianfagna scored a career-high as the leadoff for Arkansas, nailing her back-handspring layout to score a 9.875.
O’Hara continued her success as a specialist, performing her routine wonderfully and sticking her side-ariel 1.5 dismount to score a 9.875 in the number three spot.
The Gymback anchors were crucial to the solid all-around team performance Friday night, as Kennedy Hambrick stepped up on beam and registered a 9.950 after sticking her cartwheel, gainer-full dismount.
Arkansas matched its season-high from last week against Missouri on floor, thanks to all six Gymback routines scoring 9.850 or better.
Abby Johnston kick-started the floor party with a career-high 9.925, wowing the crowd inside Barnhill with her double-pike first pass. Hambrick’s fun and energetic routine, complete with an exciting double-tuck opening pass, scored a 9.925 as well.
Shaffer and Sophia Carter performed their final routines at Barnhill Arena and rightfully earned a standing ovation from fans, both Gymbacks signed off with a 9.925 on floor.
Seniors Shaffer, Carter, O’Hara and former Gymback, now student manager Sydney Laird were honored after the meet for their dedication to the program.
Arkansas travels to Auburn next Friday for the regular-season finale beginning at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Haff throws no-hitter in Razorbacks’ sweep of Tech, SEMO
Pitcher Mary Haff threw her second career no-hitter and the offense tied a single-game school record hitting five home runs, as No. 24 Arkansas defeated Texas Tech, 9-0 (5 innings), in game one of a doubleheader at Bogle Park.
The Razorbacks won their eighth consecutive game over Southeast Missouri, 9-3, behind infielder Braxton Burnside’s second multi-homer game of the season.
Against Texas Tech, coach Courtney Deifel became the fastest coach in program history to record her 150th win at Arkansas, doing so in 259 games.
Haff threw the first no-hitter by a Razorback since Autumn Storms in 2018 against Central Connecticut State and her first since 2018 against Northern Colorado. It’s the ninth no-no in Hog history.
Game 1: No. 24 Arkansas 9, Texas Tech 0 (5 innings)
After Haff struck out two in the top of the first, outfielder Hannah McEwen launched a solo jack to left, opening the day’s scoring parade.
The Hogs then hit three more bombs in the inning as designated player Linnie Malkin, catcher Kayla Green and outfielder Keely Huffine all hit two run homers to go ahead, 5-0.
The four jacks in the first inning alone were tied for the second most homers in a game in program history. Malkin leads the team with six long balls in just 11 games, after smashing six in 25 games last season.
Arkansas finished its scoring in the second inning as infielder Hannah Gammill hit another two run home run, tying the school record set in 2017 against both North Texas and Loyola Marymount.
All of the team’s hits went for extra bases, which included pinch hitter Aly Manzo’s double.
Haff (5-1) was sensational throwing 48 strikes on 61 total pitches and totaled six strikeouts.
She was one error away from a perfect game. Erin Edmundson (2-1) started the first 0.2 innings for TTU but could not escape the first inning, surrendering five earned runs.
Game 2: No. 24 Arkansas 9, Southeast Missouri 3
Malkin kickstarted another nine-run outburst singling home McEwen in the first inning for her team-leading 18th RBI.
Infielder Audrie LaValley blasted her third homer of the year, a three-run blast to right, to give Arkansas a 4-0 lead after the first.
Burnside hit a solo homer to left center in the second inning, adding to Arkansas’ lead.
SEMO responded to make it a three-run game at 5-2, scoring two in the fourth, but with one swing of the bat, Burnside gave the Razorbacks breathing room in the bottom of the inning.
With the bases juiced and Burnside down 1-2 in the count, she unloaded, depositing a grand slam into the Bogle Park left field parking lot.
The Redhawks added a run in the sixth on a single to center.
Jenna Bloom (2-1) recorded the win in a starting assignment throwing 4.1 innings and allowing three hits, two runs and one walk with four strikeouts.
Lauren Howell struck out a season-best three in 2.2 relief innings while allowing two hits and a run. Paytience Holman (0-3) took the loss, throwing 2.0 innings and allowing five runs.
The Razorbacks are back in action at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday for a rematch against SEMO.
All Saturday games at the Razorback Invitational have been moved up 30 minutes from their original start time.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Hogs’ go long four times to down Southeast Missouri on Friday
Arkansas found the bats early for a change.
Four home runs were more than enough firepower to lead the Hogs to a fifth straight win past Southeast Missouri State, 7-3, on Friday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Second baseman Robert Moore, right fielder Cayden Wallace, catcher Charlie Welch and center fielder Christian Franklin each went yard in the win to help the Razorbacks erase an early multi-run deficit for the second day in a row.
The victory moves Arkansas to 5-0 on the season, marking the third consecutive year that the Hogs have started out with five straight wins.
Right-hander Connor Noland came out of the bullpen in relief to earn the win.
He allowed only one run (unearned) on two hits with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work, silencing SEMO’s bats after the Redhawks opened a two-run lead in the top of the third.
Moore’s homer to left in the bottom of the third tied the ballgame at two, but it was Wallace’s two-run blast that decided it.
The freshman hit a soaring shot over the wall in left to put the Hogs ahead, 4-2.
Welch gave Arkansas even more breathing room with his two-run dinger later in the inning.
His first hit as a Razorback was a stinger that sailed over the left-field fence, bringing home first baseman Brady Slavens to extend the lead to 6-2.
SEMO tacked on a run in the seventh to cut it to three, but Franklin delivered the final blow in the eighth.
The consensus preseason All-American launched his second home run in as many days, hitting a solo shot over the wall in right field to make it a 7-3 game.
Right-hander Kevin Kopps shut the door on SEMO for good in the top of the ninth, striking out two to secure the win.
Saturday’s contest, which was originally scheduled for 3 p.m., will now start at 11 a.m.
First pitch was moved up due to forecasted rain as well as to minimize conflicts for fans attending both the Arkansas baseball and men’s basketball games tomorrow.
Hogs go ‘beyond expectations’ advancing 18 to SEC finals
Arkansas scored 25 points on the second day of the SEC Indoor Championships, while advancing 18 entrants to Saturday finals at Randal Tyson Track Center.
Women’s coach Lance Harter was surprised.
“That’s beyond any expectations, to say the least,” said Harter. “The SEC is so loaded and talented, and to be able to step up in very challenging prelims and have 18 of 19 entrants advance that is beyond any person’s wildest dreams.
“We had some kids run some lifetime bests, and definitely season best marks. So, the number of scoring opportunities we have tomorrow are better than anyone else here. The kids did a great job today to take care of tomorrow.”
Current team scores, through 7 of 17 events, have Arkansas in third place with 37 points. Georgia leads with 49 points while Ole Miss is second with 38. Following the Razorbacks are LSU (36), Texas A&M (23), Florida (22), Auburn (16.5), and Alabama (16).
Eleven points were scored by Arkansas in the 5,000m as well as the pole vault while three more were added in the long jump.
Katie Izzo finished second in the 5,000m while Abby Gray placed sixth. Izzo clocked 15:47.82 in finishing behind Auburn’s Joyce Kimeli, who won in a meet record of 15:46.88 to better the previous record of 15:48.34 set by Izzo in winning the 2020 title. Gray, who handled the early pacing duties, ran 16:24.08.
“The 5k was one of the best races I’ve seen in the 5,000 in a long time, tactically and talent-wise,” noted Harter. “There were four proven All-Americans sizing each other up. They made Abby Gray do most of the early journey-man’s work. When they put the hammer down Katie ended up finishing second by an eyelash.”
Three pole vaulters scored for Arkansas with Nastassja Campbell leading the trio with a clearance of 14-3¼ (4.35). Bailee McCorkle finished fifth with a clearance of 14-1¼ (4.30) while Mackenzie Hayward placed seventh at 13-9 ¼ (4.20).
“Eleven points in the pole vault came from three scorers and that is right on cue,” said Harter.
After claiming a pentathlon bronze yesterday, G’Auna Edwards returned to place sixth in the long jump with a mark of 20-9¾ (6.34).
Advancement from prelim races had the Hogs sending five in the mile, three each in the 200, 400 and 60 hurdles along with a pair in the 60 and 200.
The Razorbacks produced a plethora of career best times in advancing to the final across a range of events.
In the mile, Arkansas sent five runners to the final. Lauren Gregory (4:38.37) led the crew which included Isabel van Camp (4:38.88 PR), Gracie Hyde (4:42.08), Krissy Gear (4:42.18) and Kennedy Thomson (4:43.91).
The career best times set in the 60 hurdles by Daszay Freeman (8.10) and Jayla Hollis (8.15), moved the pair to No. 4 and No. 6, respectively, on the UA all-time list. Paris Peoples clocked a career best of 52.27, equal No. 5 on the UA all-time list, to lead three qualifiers into the 400m final.
In the 60, Jada Baylark (7.20) and Tiana Wilson (7.29) set PRs that moved them to equal No. 2 and No. 8 on the Razorback all-time list. Baylark’s performance matches the time Veronica Campbell-Brown set in 2004.
Baylark led an Arkansas trio advancing in the 200, posting a time of 23.09 that ranks her No. 6 on the UA all-time list, while Tiana Wilson set a best of 23.23, which is No. 7.
Saturday’s session for the women begins at 4:30 p.m. with field events while running finals start at 6 p.m.
Van Horn on another strong performance from bullpen in win
Hogs coach Dave Van Horn praised his bullpen again after the starter struggled, then the bats warming up in 7-3 win Friday afternoon.
Noland on waiting for chance that came against Southeast Missouri
Hogs pitcher Connor Noland (4.2 innings, 2 hits, 5 strikeouts) had his best outing since he’s been in Fayetteville and just waited for opportunity.
Arkansas moves into lead on second day of SEC Indoor
Arkansas moved into the team lead during the second day of the SEC Indoor Championships by scoring 50 points Friday from three finals inside Randal Tyson Track Center.
The Razorbacks have scored 57 points overall and lead the field by 23 points through six of 17 finals. Following the Hogs are LSU (34), Ole Miss (25), Alabama (20), Auburn (18.5), Georgia (17), Tennessee (16), Texas A&M (16), and Florida (15).
“I’m so proud of our guys, they were dialed in and ready to go,” stated Arkansas men’s coach Chris Bucknam. “Ryan Brown got us started with an incredible jump and that was an amazing competition.
“Obviously, the heptathletes were working hard for two days and picked up some big team points along with some personal best scores. There’s more in the tank with those guys. I’m excited to watch those guys in the national championship.”
Arkansas totaled 27 points in the 5,000m final off a 2-3-4-5-6-8 finish. Gilbert Boit led the squad, producing a time of 14:01.25 as the silver medalist, while Jacob McLeod earned the bronze medal with a 14:03.98.
“I was hoping to win,” stated Boit. “Everything is about the points we can score, and we ended up with 27 as a team which is a nice total for the distance guys. We had to decide to help each other as team since we had six guys in the race.”
The Razorback distance crew also included Ryan Murphy with a career best of 14:04.88 in fourth place, along with Matt Young (5th, 14:10.61), Emmanuel Cheboson (6th, 14:11.66), and Myles Richter (8th, 14:14.65).
“In the 5k, the team points we scored there were huge,” noted Bucknam. “I’m pleased with that group, it was outstanding.”
Arkansas totaled 17 points from three Razorbacks finishing 2-4-5 in the heptathlon. Markus Ballengee repeated as silver medalist with a career best score of 5,898 points, improving his tally at the No. 4 position on the UA all-time list. Georgia’s Kyle Garland defended his title with a career best score of 6,012.
“It’s another great year with a repeat of last year,” said Ballengee. “We did even better this year. I think we’re right on the border of having all three of us qualifying for NCAA Indoor, which is super exciting. It’s so nice having teammates competing with you in an event like this, where we can rely and lean on each other.
“A silver medal is nice again. I’m just happy we got points for our team in the SEC Championships. It gets us closer to winning another team title.”
Daniel Spejcher set a career best of 5,654 points, moving to No. 7 on the UA all-time list, while Etamar Bhastekar scored 5,650 and was just shy of his PR of 5,680.
Ballengee’s second day included an 8.10 (957 points) in the 60m hurdles, a 15-11 (865) pole vault and 2:47.10 (796) in the 1,000m. Spejcher generated marks of 8.12 (952), 14-11 (775), and 2:45.19 (817). Bhastekar’s day included 8.27 (915), 16-6 ¾ (926) and 2:46.18 (806).
In a long jump competition including a pair of leaps over 27 feet and four more entrants over 26 feet, the Razorbacks collected a bronze medal and six points from Ryan Brown, who produced a career best of 26-7 ¾ (8.12) competing in the first flight of jumpers.
“I don’t even have the words to explain it,” Brown said of his stellar jump. “It was well overdue. It was time to produce.
“It really was a great competition. I’ve been dreaming of a competition like this coming from a DII school. Being in this competition and finishing in the top three, I’m elated.”
Brown, who bettered his previous indoor best of 26-5¾ (8.07), ranked 12th among SEC jumpers with a season best of 24-9 (7.54). His career best effort moves him to No. 7 on the UA all-time indoor list.
LSU’s JuVaughn Harrison claimed the long jump title with a meet record mark of 27-4 (8.33), which bettered the previous mark of 27-0¾ (8.25) by Florida’s Marquis Dendy in 2013. Silver medalist Carey McLeod of Tennessee matched the previous meet record.
Arkansas qualified eight from prelim races to Saturday’s finals and will total 19 entries on the final day.
Advancing to finals were Amon Kemboi and Andrew Kibet in the mile, Phillip Lemonious and Tre’Bien Gilbert in the 60 hurdles, James Milholen in the 400, Roman Turner and Kristoffer Hari in the 60, and Kieran Taylor in the 800.
“You have to get those guys in if you want to score points,” noted Bucknam. “So that was really good. Overall, we have 19 athletes competing tomorrow and that’s the most of any team. We’re sitting in a good position, now we just need to close the hatch. We need to finish it off.”
Lemonious set a career best time of 7.68 to finish as the top qualifier in the hurdles. His time ranks No. 4 on the UA all-time list. Gilbert also set a career best of 7.74, third best among qualifiers, and moved to No. 5 on the UA all-time list.
“Phillip is getting smoother and really comfortable over the hurdles,” said Bucknam. “That takes time, and we didn’t have him available for our first three meets this season. Seeing his progression with Coach Case, he’s doing a phenomenal job. Tre’Bien had another big race and that’s been in the works.”
Another career best was turned in by Milholen with a 46.59, which secured the eighth and final spot to reach the final.
The men’s session on Saturday starts at 12:30 p.m. with field events while running finals begin at 2 p.m.
Musselman previews game with LSU, home crowd advantage
Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman talked with the media Friday on the matchup with the Tigers and how students have provided great atmosphere.
