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Razorbacks win 12 in row, clinching series with Auburn

Hogs’ Kendall Diggs delivers at plate, Will McEntire gives solid six innings downing Auburn, 9-2, to clinch series.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 7 Arkansas (17-2, 2-0 SEC) clinched its fifth consecutive weekend series win against Auburn (13-5-1, 0-2 SEC) with a 9-3 triumph on Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Saturday’s win was the Razorbacks’ 12th in a row, one shy of matching their longest winning streak since 2010. Arkansas, which has now won six straight series on SEC Opening Weekend, will go for its third consecutive weekend series sweep of the season in tomorrow’s finale against Auburn.

Arkansas’ offense smothered Auburn’s pitching from the start, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first thanks to Kendall Diggs’ two-out, bases-clearing double. The Razorback designated hitter hammered the first pitch he saw into the gap in left center, scoring Tavian Josenberger, Peyton Stovall and Brady Slavens on one swing.

After the Tigers got a run back in the top of the second, Josenberger jacked a two-run homer to left in the bottom half of the inning to extend the Hogs’ lead back to three.

It was more than enough run support for Arkansas starter Will McEntire, who spun six strong innings to improve to 4-0 on the year and record his second quality start in as many outings. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits, including two harmless solo homers, and two walks while matching his season high in strikeouts with six.

With McEntire on the mound, the Hogs tacked on four runs in the bottom of the fifth, effectively putting the Tigers away for good. A bases-loaded walk to Diggs was followed by an RBI single by Harold Coll and a pinch-hit RBI single by Hunter Grimes. John Bolton completed the four-run rally with his sacrifice fly to deep center, which brought home Diggs.

Diggs finished Saturday’s ballgame with a team-leading two hits and a team-best four RBI. For the season, he is slashing .327/.457/.727 with six home runs and 20 runs batted in, both of which rank second most among all Hog hitters.

Leading by six runs after six innings of play, Arkansas handed the ball over to emergent relief ace Dylan Carter, who locked down the final three frames. The right-hander twirled three scoreless innings with three strikeouts, earning his second save of the season while preserving the Razorbacks’ 9-3 series-clinching win.

Arkansas will have an opportunity to pick up its first sweep against Auburn since 2018 in the series finale, which is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19. Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) will have the call on SEC Network+.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

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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, 63-31
Sat, Nov 16vs TexasL, 20-10
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana Tech3:00 PM
ESPN+/SECN+
Sat, Nov 30@ Missouri2:30 PM
SEC Network
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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 (25)10-02681
2.Greenwood (2)10-02343
30Conway9-12022
4.Little Rock Parkview9-11714
5.Bentonville7-31625
6.Benton9-11486
7.Fayetteville8-21117
8.Pulaski Academy8-2898
9.Rogers7-3439
10.Joe T. Robinson9-122
Others receiving votes: Valley View 8, Mountain Home 7, Cabot 6, Little Rock Catholic 6, Shiloh Christian 6, Elkins 1, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (27)10-01351
2.Conway9-11022
3.Bentonville7-3813
4.Fayetteville8-2454
5.Pulaski Academy8-2395
Others receiving votes: Rogers 3.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (27)10-01351
2.Benton9-11082
3.Mountain Home8-2623
4.Shiloh Christian7-3494
5.Little Rock Catholic9-1345
Others receiving votes: Marion 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)9-11351
2.Joe T. Robinson9-11062
3.Valley View10-0793
4.Farmington9-1484
5.Hot Springs Lakeside8-2205
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 7, Harding Academy 7, Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (20)10-01261
3.Arkadelphia (5)8-2913
2.Little Rock Mills (1)10-0682
4.Warren8-2554
5.Dardanell (1)9-123
Southside Batesville10-023
Others receiving votes: Malvern 12, Gravette 5, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (12)10-01051t
2.Fordyce (10)10-0961t
3.Prescott (1)9-1704
4.Osceola (2)8-1543
5.Booneville (1)9-1395
Others receiving votes: Mansfield (1) 23, Rivercrest 10, Rison 4, Salem 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (20)10-01271
2.Conway Christian (7)10-01152
3.Des Arc8-2595
4.East Poinsett Co.7-352
5.Bigelow6-4183
Murfreesboro7-3184
Others receiving votes: Mount Ida 6, Junction City 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0811
2.Midland9-0532
3.Cedar Ridge8-1253
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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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.