It took just one inning to completely flip the script on Tuesday night.
No. 4 Arkansas used a stunning 10-run fifth inning, capped by a TJ Pompey grand slam, to roll past in-state rival UCA 15-2 under the run rule at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Razorbacks improved to 19-7 on the season and moved to 6-1 in midweek games in 2026.
It wasn’t a close game by the time it was over, but it had the makings of one early. The Bears came in at 13-12 and held their own through the first four innings, carrying a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth. That’s when Arkansas flipped the switch.
The Hogs sent 10 consecutive batters to the plate in the fifth and scored all 10 runs before registering a single out. It was the kind of inning that can define a midweek game — and Tuesday’s had plenty of individual performances to go along with it.
TJ Pompey does it all
Pompey was the story of the night. The Razorback third baseman went 2-for-2 with three runs scored, five RBI, two home runs and two walks.
His grand slam in the fifth put Arkansas comfortably ahead at 11-2 and drained whatever momentum UCA had built. He wasn’t done either — he added a solo shot in the sixth to finish the job.
Pompey’s evening pushed his season line to .263/.341/.538 with six homers and 15 RBI on the year. He was one of four Arkansas players with a multi-hit game and one of four with multiple RBI on the night.
The grand slam gave the Razorbacks a lead they’d never give back. In fact, by the time Pompey connected, the Hogs had already chased a deficit and turned it into a comfortable cushion in the span of a few at-bats.
The fifth inning breakdown
The comeback started with Camden Kozeal, who roped an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2. Zack Stewart had already launched a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, and he’d make his presence felt again in the fifth — drawing a bases-loaded walk to push Arkansas in front 3-2.
From there, the Hogs kept rolling. Maika Niu followed with a two-RBI double to push the lead to 5-2.
Stewart then scored on a wild pitch before Carter Rutenbar came through with a pinch-hit RBI double to set up Pompey’s grand slam.
By the time the inning was over, Arkansas had sent the Bears to the dugout with a 10-run deficit they had no chance of recovering from.
More offense in the sixth
The Hogs didn’t stop there.
Arkansas tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning, with Rutenbar delivering the highlight — a first career home run — that went for three RBI.
Pompey added his second dinger of the night, a solo shot, to cap the scoring at 15-2. The run rule was enforced in the seventh.
Rutenbar finished the night 2-for-2 with a double, a homer and four RBI. Kozeal and Niu each went 2-for-3 with a double and multiple RBI.
Stewart, who hit the 49th home run of his career on Tuesday, finished with two RBI.
Pitching staff holds up
Arkansas got solid work from multiple arms in the win. Starter Peyton Lee went two innings, allowing one run while striking out two.
Parker Coil came on in relief and spun three innings of one-run ball with one strikeout to earn his first win of the season.
Mark Brissey worked a scoreless inning with three strikeouts and Tye Briscoe, making his collegiate debut, also worked a clean inning with three strikeouts of his own.
The pitching staff collectively limited UCA to two runs on the night, keeping the Razorbacks in position to let their bats take over when the opportunity came.
A dominant in-state record
Tuesday’s win also added to an already strong record for Arkansas against in-state competition.
The Razorbacks improved to 30-6 all-time against in-state opponents and moved to 9-3 overall against UCA.
Under coach Dave Van Horn, who’s been in Fayetteville since 2003, the Hogs are now a perfect 7-0 against the Bears.
Arkansas, sitting at 4-2 in SEC play, returns to conference action this weekend with a home series against Florida (20-6, 3-3 SEC).
First pitch between the Razorbacks and the Gators is set for 6 p.m. Friday, March 27, on SEC Network+.
