Much like they have done for a bulk of the season, Arkansas baseball found a way.
Trailing by three runs midway through the game, the Diamond Hogs scored five in the fifth inning to dispatch Alabama in the first game of the final series of the regular season, 7-3, on the road.
Peyton Stovall hit a two-run home run and Cayden Wallace hit a three-run shot to provide the punch. The rest of the way, Arkansas’ bullpen gave up just two Crimson Tide hits to keep Alabama at bay.
The Razorbacks entered the day tied for second in the SEC with Texas A&M. The two teams held a two-game lead over Auburn and a three-game lead over LSU, Vanderbilt and Georgia. The top four teams in the SEC standings draw byes for next week’s conference tournament.
Will McEntire started his first SEC game of the season as coach Dave Van Horn shook up his weekend rotation. McEntire, who had started midweek games for most of the season, gave up three runs in four innings on eight hits and two walks.
Alabama scored two runs in the second inning and another in the fourth to chase McEntire. Kole Ramage, Evan Taylor and Brady Tygart finished things off for the Razorbacks.
Jalen Battles hit a two-run double in the ninth for a bit of insurance. He finished 2 for 4 with the two RBIs and double and a run.
Game 2 of the series is Friday at 7 p.m.
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