Stovall’s homer puts final touch on Razorbacks sweeping LSU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Louisiana native Peyton Stovall’s two-run blast put the exclamation mark on No. 1 Arkansas’ (23-3, 8-1 SEC) series-sweeping 7-5 win against No. 8 LSU (20-9, 2-7 SEC) Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Razorbacks, winners of four of its last five weekend series against LSU, has now swept two consecutive home weekend series against its Western Division rival. The Hogs also earned a series sweep against the Tigers in Fayetteville in 2022.

With Saturday’s win, Arkansas improved to 8-1 in SEC play for only second time under head coach Dave Van Horn, and for the first time since 2009. The 8-1 record marks the Hogs’ best nine-game start in league play in the Van Horn era.

Saturday’s series-sweeping win also extended the Razorbacks’ current winning streak at Baum-Walker Stadium to 17 consecutive games, setting a new program record. It surpasses the 16-game home winning streak accomplished by the 1997 Arkansas team, led by legendary head coach Norm DeBriyn, for the longest in Baum-Walker Stadium history.

Fireworks began in the very first inning as Arkansas and LSU exchanged solo home runs to get the afternoon started. Wehiwa Aloy’s homer to the Hog Pen was his sixth of the season, tying him with Kendall Diggs (6) for the team lead.

The Tigers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third on a two-out, two-run homer before extending their advantage to three with a two-out solo shot in the top half of the fourth. The Razorback offense, however, had plenty of runs left in store.

Arkansas responded with a two-out, three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning, thanks to Ty Wilmsmeyer’s two-RBI single and Stovall’s RBI single to right. The Razorbacks tied the game at four apiece and knocked Tiger starter Gage Jump, who they tagged for four runs on a season-high seven hits and two walks over 3.2 innings, out of the ballgame.

Brady Tygart, meanwhile, departed after four innings of work on the mound, allowing a season-high four runs on five hits with three strikeouts. In relief of Tygart, Koty Frank (3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 SO), Hunter Dietz (0.2 IP, 1 SO) and Will McEntire (1.1 IP, 1 SO) emerged from the bullpen and kept LSU’s offense at bay over the game’s final five frames.

Peyton Stovall (Craven Whitlow / HitThatLine.com)

The Razorback offense would break the 4-4 deadlock in the bottom half of the sixth with its second three-run inning of the afternoon. Following Wilmsmeyer’s go-ahead RBI fielder’s choice scored Will Edmunson, who led off the inning with a double, from third, Stovall cranked a two-run homer, his fourth of the season, to left to give Arkansas a 7-4 lead.

Stovall finished Saturday’s game with two hits and three RBI, raising his season slash line to a team-best .364/.446/.636 in 14 games. Wilmsmeyer also had three RBI, while Edmunson notched a team-leading three hits and two runs scored.

Frank, who allowed just one run in his three innings in relief, locked down the Razorbacks’ 7-5 victory and earned his first win of the season in the process. McEntire, who struck out eight in relief in Thursday’s series-opening win, worked Saturday’s final 1.1 innings and earned his third save of the year, as well as his second multi-inning save of the season.

Up next, Arkansas continues its 10-game homestand with a midweek affair against in-state foe Arkansas State. First pitch between the Hogs and Red Wolves is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, on SEC Network+.