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Dominant relief pitching levels Razorbacks with Aggies on Saturday

The Razorbacks tossed six scoreless innings in relief Saturday afternoon to hang on to a 3-1 victory over Texas A&M and even the series.

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Arkansas freshman left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith struggled to find his groove Saturday afternoon, but three relievers silenced the Aggies to secure a 3-1 victory for the Razorbacks to even the series at Blue Bell Park.

The Hogs struck in each of the first three innings, beginning with a solo home run by senior designated hitter Brady Slavens.

Graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli came home on a wild pitch in the second, doubling the lead after he led off the frame with a double. Slavens went yard again in the third to make it 3-0.

While offensive production was steady for Arkansas early on, Smith was battling to keep the lead intact. The Aggies stranded six baserunners — three walks, two doubles and a hit batsman — in the first three innings.

After two more walks in the fourth, head coach Dave Van Horn had seen enough. He turned to junior lefty Zack Morris to clean up the mess, which he did almost flawlessly. He retired all three batters he faced, but two of the outs were fly balls, allowing for Texas A&M to get on the scoreboard.

Morris faced seven more hitters in the next two frames, working around an infield hit and a walk in the fifth before tossing a 1-2-3 sixth. With his three scoreless innings, he earned his third win of the year.

Senior right-hander Zebulon Vermillion only retired one of the three batters he faced in the seventh, so the Hogs relied on senior lefty Evan Taylor to escape that jam. He did so successfully and kept the Aggies off the board in the eighth as well.

Freshman righty Brady Tygart got the ball for the Hogs in the ninth. He gave up a two-out hit to bring the tying run to the plate, but he induced a fly ball to center field to end it and earn his sixth save of the year.

The Razorbacks and Aggies will go at it in a rubber match at 1 p.m. Sunday, a contest that will stream live on the SEC Network+.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins is set to start for Arkansas. Texas A&M has not announced a starter.

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2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-35
Sat, Nov 16vs Texas11:00 AM
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana TechTBD
ESPN+/SECN+
Sat, Nov 30@ MissouriTBD
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2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (18)8-02521
2.Conway (6)8-02302
3.Greenwood (2)8-02103
4.Little Rock Parkview7-11714
5.Bentonville5-31416
6.Benton7-11265
7.Fayetteville6-21008
8.Pulaski Academy6-2757
9.Rogers5-3459
10.Shiloh Christian6-24010
Others receiving votes: Marion 13, Valley View 9, Joe T Robinson 8, Mountain Home 4, Cabot 3, Elkins 3.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (20)8-01241
2.Conway (6)8-01052
3.Bentonville5-3753
4.Fayetteville6-2455
5.Pulaski Academy6-2354
Others receiving votes: Rogers 5.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (26)8-01301
2.Benton7-11022
3.Shiloh Christian6-2713
4.Marion7-1524
5.Mountain Home7-131
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 4.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (23)7-11271
2.Joe T Robinson7-1902
3.Valley View (3)8-0803
4.Hot Springs Lakeside7-1484
5.Farmington7-130
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 4, Maumelle 4, Morrilton 3, Greenbrier 2, Harding Academy 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (19)8-01161
2.Arkadelphia (5)6-2792
3.Little Rock Mills (1)8-0703
4.Warren6-2404
5.Malvern (1)8-0315
Others receiving votes: Dardanelle 22, Southside Batesville 11, Mena 8, Bauxite 7, DeWitt 4, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
4.Bismarck (15)8-01054
5.Fordyce (4)8-0765
Prescott (3)7-1531t
1.Osceola (2)6-149
3.Mayflower (1)8-036
Others receiving votes: Booneville (1) 31, Rivercrest 19, Mansfield 14, Charleston 4, Rison 3.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (21)8-01211
2.Conway Christian (4)8-01042
3.Des Arc7-1663
4.Bigelow (1)6-2455
5.Murfreesboro6-230
Others receiving votes: Marked Tree 10, Mineral Springs 6, Junction City 5, Cross County 1, Mount Ida 1, Poyen 1
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (25)5-0761
2.Midland (1)7-0502
3.Cedar Ridge7-1253
Others receiving votes: Rector 5.

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ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.