Razorbacks continue hot streak, downing ORU before SEC opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Colin Fisher’s strong start on the mound, and Peyton Stovall’s two-RBI effort at the plate helped No. 1 Arkansas (14-2) hold off Oral Roberts (7-10), 4-2, on Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.

With the win over the Golden Eagles, the Razorbacks extended their season-long winning streak to 10 consecutive games. It marks Arkansas’ ninth winning streak of 10 or more games under coach Dave Van Horn.

In the final tune-up before SEC play begins, the Hogs received a strong start from Fisher, the true freshman from Noble, Okla., on mound. The left-hander tossed three scoreless innings with four strikeouts to lower his season ERA to 1.26.

Fisher, who earned the win to improve to 4-1 on the year, had the support of the Razorback offense, which provided him with three runs in the bottom half of the second inning. Peyton Stovall (1-for-5, 2 RBI) opened the scoring with his two-run single before Wehiwa Aloy (1-for-3, RBI, BB) extended Arkansas’ lead to 3-0 with an RBI single of his own.

Kendall Diggs (1-for-4, HR, RBI) gave the Hogs a four-run lead in the fifth, swatting his third homer of the season to right center. Through the first 16 games, the junior outfielder is slashing .345/.466/.533 with three home runs and 12 RBI.

In relief of Fisher, veteran pitcher Will McEntire fired two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. The right-hander has a 2.11 ERA and 22 strikeouts in a team-leading 21.1 innings of work over a team-high eight appearances this season.

Oral Roberts would answer back with runs of its own in the seventh and eighth innings, cutting Arkansas’ advantage to two runs. True freshman Gabe Gaeckle, however, emerged from the bullpen and locked down the Razorbacks’ win.

The righty faced the minimum over his 1.1 innings in relief and struck out two, earning his team-leading fourth save of the season and securing the Hogs’ 4-2 win. For the year, Gaeckle, who has a 2.92 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 12.1 innings, has not allowed an inherited runner to score (0-for-10) and has retired the first batter faced in all six appearances.

Up next, Arkansas will host Missouri on SEC Opening Weekend inside the friendly confines for Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch in the series opener between the Razorbacks and Tigers is 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, on the SEC Network+.