FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Behind Zach Root’s career-high 11 strikeouts, No. 11 Arkansas (38-9, 15-7 SEC) spun a combined two-hit shutout to roll past No. 1 Texas (38-6, 19-3 SEC), 9-0, in Thursday night’s series opener at Baum-Walker Stadium.
With their series-opening win, the Razorbacks improved to 28-3 at home this year to clinch their eighth consecutive season with 28 or more victories inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium: 2017 (29 wins), 2018 (34 wins), 2019 (33 wins), 2021 (30 wins), 2022 (28 wins), 2023 (32 wins), 2024 (34 wins) and 2025 (28 wins).
The Hogs will look to secure a series win against their longtime Southwest Conference foe tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Friday on SEC Network with Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Kyle Peterson (analyst) on the call.
Root was sharp from the start Thursday night, striking out the side in the top half of the first and retiring the first six batters he faced to begin the game.
The left-hander, who allowed only two hits and issued a pair of walks, worked a career-long eight innings and racked up a career-high 11 strikeouts in his dominant performance on the mound.
The Razorback offense provided Root with plenty of run support, beginning with Carson Boles’ two-run homer in the bottom of the second.
Boles’ blast, his second of the season, put Arkansas ahead, 2-0, and the Hogs never looked back.
Cam Kozeal’s two-out, three-run shot to right center in the third extended the advantage to 5-0 before the Razorbacks broke the game open with a four-spot in the fourth.
Justin Thomas Jr.’s one-out RBI single set the table for Wehiwa Aloy’s two-run double and Kuhio Aloy’s RBI single with two outs in the inning as Arkansas took a commanding 9-0 lead.
With his three-RBI night, Kozeal is now slashing .362/.409/.656 with 11 homers and 52 RBI on the year.
Wehiwa Aloy, meanwhile, improved his team-leading season slash line to .369/.454/.723 thanks to his multi-RBI performance.
Veteran right-hander Will McEntire secured the Hogs’ combined two-hit shutout with his scoreless inning of relief in the ninth.
McEntire worked around a walk and struck out three to lock down Arkansas’ 9-0 series-opening shutout win.
