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Three homers not enough in 10-inning loss to Alabama on Saturday

Late errors end any chances as Crimson Tide get walk-off win to even series heading to rubber match Sunday.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 Arkansas (30-4, 12-2 SEC) swatted three homers, including Peyton Holt’s two-out, game-tying solo shot in the top of the ninth, but lost, 4-3, in 10 innings against No. 25 Alabama (23-12, 5-9 SEC) Saturday evening.

The Razorbacks and Crimson Tide will close out the weekend series with a winner-take-all rubber game tomorrow afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, April 14, on SEC Network+.

Arkansas starter Mason Molina logged his first quality start of the year, spinning six innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts. The junior left-hander lowered his season ERA to 3.32 in 43.1 innings over nine starts this season.

Alabama did its only damage against Molina with a pair of solo home runs, jumping out to an early two-run advantage over Arkansas. The Razorback offense, however, would respond in the fifth and sixth innings on solo blasts by Peyton Stovall, his fifth of the season, and Jared Sprague-Lott, his fifth of the year and second in as many nights, respectively.

Alabama scored the go-ahead run on a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth, breaking a 2-2 tie to take a one-run lead into the ninth. Crimson Tide closer Alton Davis II retired the first two he faced before Holt stepped up to the plate.

The Greenwood, Ark., native unloaded on the first pitch he saw, hammering the ball over the wall in left center to tie the game at three apiece in the top half of the ninth. Holt, who was making his first career start in left field, finished Saturday’s game with a team-leading three hits, including his first home run of the season, a run scored and an RBI.

In the bottom of the ninth, right fielder Kendall Diggs laid out to make a sensational diving catch on the warning track to rob Alabama infielder Justin Lebron of a game-winning hit and help force extra innings. Arkansas could not capitalize in the top of the 10th, however, as Davis retired the Razorbacks’ 9-1-2 hitters in order.

After a leadoff double, the Crimson Tide would score the game-winning run on a throwing error to pull out a 4-3 victory, snapping the Hogs’ 11-game winning streak and forcing tomorrow afternoon’s rubber game to decide the series.

Arkansas right-hander Brady Tygart, who is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 36.2 innings over eight starts this season, will toe the rubber and go up against Alabama lefty Zane Adams (2-2, 4.85 ERA) in Sunday’s series finale.

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.