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Smith sets new Hogs’ record, but 1-0 loss puts damper on celebration

Will McEntire walks in winning run in 11th inning to start final regular-season series against Texas A&M after rain-delayed start.

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Hagen Smith had nothing to do with a 1-0 loss to the Texas A&M Aggies in the first game of the last series of the regular season Thursday night. At least that’s when it started.

At least when they got around to playing a game that took 11 innings to finish. The start was delayed an hour and a half due to stormy weather and the A&M grounds crew getting the field clear because there was basically a temporary pond in center as they were getting ready to finally start things. Smith was long gone by the end when the usually reliable walked the winning run across the plate in the 11th inning that ended things that threatened to cross over into the early hours Friday.

The Hogs couldn’t push a run across the plate, despite out-hitting A&M 9-5 throughout the game. None of them came when they got runners on base and Arkansas left 10 runners on base, including Jared Sprague-Lott, who nearly had half of that total (stranded four times).

“We walked them in,” Van Horn said. “So it was disappointing. But really proud of the way the guys fought and really proud of the way we pitched.”

Smith threw six innings. Van Horn knows there will be postseason games to play, no matter how the SEC West and tournament next week in Hoover, Ala., plays out. It was his 11th quality start of the year. He allowed just two hits while striking out 14 batters on 98 pitches (63 strikes) for his 11th double-digit strikeout performance of the season.

Aggies starter Ryan Prager was nearly just as good. He lasted seven scoreless innings, giving up five scattered hits and a walk while striking out nine on 101 pitches (72 strikes). A&M wanted to win the series, which is the only way they can win the West regular-season title.

Until the 11th inning, the Hogs hadn’t walked a single batter. Jake Faherty, Parker Coil and McEntire gave up walks in that final inning, which had been a problem a few times coming down the stretch, but hadn’t shown up Friday night until that final inning.

The Razorbacks will now put Gage Wood on the mound Friday in the second game of the series. The Hogs only need one win to take the West regular-season title and get a bye in the SEC Tournament next week. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. if the continuing bad weather conditions hold off. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. You can hear the game on HitThatLine and on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

Pregame with Phil Elson and Bubba Carpenter starts at 6:30 p.m.

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 TechW, 35-14
Sat, Nov 30@ MissouriL, 28-21

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.