FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Once Arkansas got to the LSU bullpen Saturday afternoon, the Tigers did not stand a chance.
A four-spot in the fifth inning and an insurance swing in the eighth powered Arkansas to a 6-2 victory, which secured a series sweep at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The early innings were about as stressful as they could get for the Hogs, although LSU only came away with one run.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins allowed five hits and three walks in the first three frames, but he escaped from a bases-loaded jam in the first, stranded two guys in scoring position in the second and worked around a pair of one-out walks in the third.
He only paid for a leadoff single in the second, which became a run on center fielder Dylan Crews’ two-out double.
Wiggins sat down four of the eight hitters he faced in the next couple innings on strikes, and the Razorbacks finally got to work on offense in the fifth.
It all started with a leadoff walk to senior center fielder Braydon Webb, which prompted the Tigers to change pitchers.
Evan Taylor’s brother Grant entered for LSU, but he was not as effective as his older brother was earlier in the series for Arkansas. He faced four batters, all of whom reached base.
Senior shortstop Jalen Battles singled and freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall scored Webb on a fielder’s choice that produced no outs. Sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace drove in both guys with a single, and senior designated hitter Brady Slavens brought one more home on a sacrifice fly.
Wiggins allowed two hits, one of which was an RBI single, in the sixth, and Arkansas elected to go with Zack Morris to minimize the damage. The sophomore lefty retired both hitters he faced, keeping the 4-2 lead intact.
Morris worked two more innings without surrendering a run, and he got another boost in run support in between. With two outs in the seventh, Slavens went deep to right field for a two-run homer and a 6-2 Razorback lead.
Freshman righty Brady Tygart got the ball for the ninth inning, sitting the Tigers down in order and sealing the series sweep for Arkansas.
The Razorbacks will return to action Tuesday, when the Arkansas State Red Wolves come to town for two games. The first is set for 6:30 p.m., and the second will get underway at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Both games will stream live on the SEC Network+.
