Arkansas edges past South Carolina in opener

The Razorbacks improved to 29-3 at home and won their 18th SEC game with a 4-1 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks Friday night.

It’s Kendall Diggs’ world and we’re just living in it.

A pitchers duel ensued at Baum-Walker Stadium the first five innings, but No. 3 Arkansas was able to outlast visiting No. 6 South Carolina and take game one of the three-game series, 4-1.

The win gave the Razorbacks the sole lead in the Southeastern Conference standings with five games to go before the SEC Tournament in Hoover.

Hagen Smith hurled for 5 and 2/3 innings, surrendering only a single run and four hits while striking out seven Gamecocks. He did walk three.

Kendall Diggs laced an RBI single to right in the third inning to open the scoring, plating Peyton Holt.

South Carolina didn’t score until the fifth inning, and the Razorbacks took the lead back the following frame. After Jace Bohrofen drew a lead off walk, Ben McLaughlin moved him to third with a single, and then Caleb Cali hit into a double play but it scored Bohrofen.

Diggs again came through in the seventh. The Gamecocks loaded the bases and he ripped another base knock to right, driving in both John Bolton and Holt.

Gage Wood relieved Smith in the sixth and recorded the final 10 outs for his second win of the year. His first came against Alabama back in late March.

The series continues at 6 p.m. tonight. It is Dominic Fletcher Shirsey night and it is a red out.