Category: Arkansas baseball

Arkansas infielder Nolan Souza named SEC Freshman of the Week

We’ll hear arguments for Souza being Arkansas’ best postional player this year, even.

Quick, name Arkansas baseball’s best positional player so far in 2024.

Debates can be had certainly, as the Diamond Hogs, the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, have been excellent through the halfway point of the season. But when it comes to newcomers, mostwould agree on the same answer.

Arkansas freshman Nolan Souza was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday after hitting .571 and slugging 1.286 with three home runs and nine RBI in the Razorbacks’ spotless week last week.

Souza has been dynamite since becoming a regular starter. He leads Arkansas in batting average (.357), slugging (.732) and on-base percentage (.471). Those numbers have come in just 56 at-bats, which is eighth on the team, but they’re also strong enough, expect Souza to keep his name in Dave Van Horn’s lineup most of the rest of the way.

The Hawaiian frosh had multiple hits in three of Arkansas’ four games last week as the Razorbacks beat Arkansas State and swept Ole Miss. Souza even burst for a grand slam against the Red Wolves in that runaway.

Souza is the second Arkansas player to win Freshman of the Week honors from the SEC. Colin Fisher, Arkansas’ left-handed pitcher, won back in February after 10 strikeouts and no earned runs allowed in 7 1/3 innings in his team debut.

Razorbacks sweep another SEC opponent, extend home winning-streak to 21

What’s better than two SEC series sweeps? Well, three, of course.

Three weeks of pure dominance in Baum-Walker.

The Diamond Hogs’ 7-4 win over Ole Miss didn’t just give them another SEC sweep. It also extended Arkansas’ home-game winning streak to 21. That’s literally three weeks’ worth of games.

For the first six innings, the game was back-and-forth. However, the first four were all Brady Tygart. His outings in the past few series haven’t been his best, but on Saturday, he recorded 7 strikeouts, a hit, and 2 walks through four innings. Unfortunately, in the fifth, he began to lose control of the strike zone and gave up 3 more hits, a walk, and 2 earned runs.

A host of other pitchers came in relief, but Gabe Gaeckle pitched the most innings with 2 2/3 for an earned run, 2 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. Combined, the staff gave up 9 hits and 4 walks with 15 strikeouts on 4 earned runs.

Nolan Souza started things off at the plate with a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth, but it was in the seventh where he really shined. After back-to-back walks by Ole Miss’ Connor Spencer, Souza hit a 3-run homer to put the Hogs up by 3. Another run would score in the inning, bringing the score to 7-3, Arkansas.

Ole Miss attempted a rally in the ninth, scoring a one-out RBI single, but the deficit was too much for the Rebels to overcome.

The Razorbacks have a schedule chock full of games this coming week, including two midweek games versus San Jose State and a series at Alabama. The Tide have shown flashes of being a good baseball team but have struggled mostly since starting SEC play with a 4-7 record.

No. 1 Arkansas takes Game 2, series, from Ole Miss on Saturday

Arkansas continued to look like the best team in the country. The Hogs go for a sweep Saturday.

The flirtation between Arkansas and Ole Miss only extended to basketball this weekend. On the baseball field, the Diamond Hogs wanted no part of it.

Top-ranked Arkansas clinched the series win Friday night with an 8-3 victory over the Rebels. The win came after a 5-2 triumph the night before an ensured another weekend in which Arkansas would not drop a series.

Things began quickly for the Diamond Hogs offense after Andrew Fischer gave Ole Miss a lead in the top of the first on a solo home run. Arkansas responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame to provide more than enough runs for the win.

Kendall Diggs walked with the bases loaded, Jared Sprague-Lott followed with a two-run single and Ryder Helfrick’s RBI groundout provided the fourth run.

Ole Miss did manage to chase Arkansas starter Mason Molina before he reached five innings. Molina allowed three runs on three hits and three walks and coach Dave Van Horn inserted Koty Frank. Frank, who would pick up the win, was the recipient of two more Arkansas runs in the bottom of the sixht as Wehiwa Aloy popped a two-run home run.

Arkansas will go for the sweep on Saturday at 2 p.m. from Baum-Walker Stadium.

No. 1 Diamond Hogs handle Ole Miss in series opener

Hagen Smith’s number were middling…for Hagen Smith. Anyone else would kill for such a day.

Even Hagen Smith’s middling days are awfully good.

Arkansas’ left-handed ace and front-runner for most national pitching awards struck out 11 batters in six innings to help the No. 1 Diamond Hogs to a series-opening win over Ole Miss on Thursday, 5-2.

Smith, whose earned-run average sits at 1.76 after allowing both runs to the Rebels, walked four batters and allowed four hits. Both runs came in the third inning as Ole Miss picked up three of its four hits against Smith in that frame and one of the walks.

In the sixth inning, Wehiwa Aloy’s three-run home run provided Arkansas the lead, 4-2, after Jared Sprague-Lott’s RBI groundout in the fourth put the Razorbacks on the board. Sprague-Lott would then follow Aloy two batters later in the sixth with a solo home run to provide Smith a lead on his way out the door.

Will McEntire worked 2 2/3 innings to nearly finish before Stone Hewlett entered to collect the game’s final out.

The win provided Arkansas (25-3, 9-1) with a two-game lead in the SEC West, but the Diamond Hogs have just a half-game lead over Kentucky out in the East. Game Two is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m. from Baum-Walker Stadium.

Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy named national Shortstop of the Week

Wehiwa Aloy’s slow start to his Arkansas baseball career is picking up lately.

Wehiwa Aloy‘s slow start to the 2024 season is picking up the pace lately.

Arkansas’ first-year shorstop, a transfer from Sacramento State, was named national shortstop of the week by the folks who run the Brooks Wallace Award on Tuesday. In Aloy’s games against LSU and Little Rock, he went 6 for 14 with two home runs, four walks, five RBI, four runs and three stolen bases.

An All-American at Sacramento State, Aloy’s adjustment to SEC baseball has taken some time. He’s hitting just .277 on the season, but Little Rock coach Chris Curry, who used to be an assistant at Arkansas under coach Dave Van Horn said Aloy’s game is that of the Big Leaguers.

“His batting average is not great for a classic three-hole hitter, but I would like to see his batting average on balls put in play,” Curry said. “I would bet his batting average on balls put in play is very high. If he makes contact, he’s doing damage.”

Aloy’s six home runs and 26 RBI this year lead the team and his five stolen bases are tied for the team lead.

Arkansas, the No. 1 team in the country, is back in action starting Thursday when the Diamond Hogs host Ole Miss for a three-game set.

Top-ranked Diamond Hogs one-hit Arkansas State in run-rule win

Remember when Arkansas brass was afraid playing in-state would tarnish the brand?

For decades, the Arkansas athletics policy was to avoid playing in-state schools. The Razorbacks’ brass didn’t want to take a chance on losing to smaller programs and risk tarnishing the brand.

Such modes of thinking are outdated and Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn embraced playing his Natural State cohorts as recently as 10 years. He was not afraid of falling.

On Tuesday at Baum-Walker Stadium, his Diamond Hogs, the No. 1 team in the nation, proved why. Arkansas’ pitching staff gave up just one hit to Arkansas State and the Razorbacks hitters collected 12 knocks in a 13-0 run-rule victory.

Seven different pitchers took the mound for Van Horn in the seven-inning affair. Starter Colin Fisher was the only to go more than a full inning. He and the six relievers combined for 13 strikeouts.

Designated hitter Nolan Souza led the lineup. His third-inning grand slam was the biggie in a nine-run inning as Arkansas took its 13-run lead in that frame. Ben McLaughlin joined Souza in having a big day as he went 3 for 4 with a home run, three runs and three RBI.

The top-ranked team in the nation, Arkansas will have a tougher time starting Thursday when Ole Miss visits Baum-Walker Stadium for a three-game set in SEC play.

Diamond Hogs sweep No. 8 LSU, break home winning streak

Y’all got your brooms out yet? The Diamond Hogs just earned their second SEC sweep of the season against No. 8 LSU!

Broom sales have just skyrocketed in Fayetteville.

No. 8 LSU goes down for the third time in a row as Arkansas earns its second SEC sweep of the season, 7-5. The win not only marks the Hogs second SEC sweep, but it extended their home winning streak to 17, breaking the record at Baum-Walker.

The game opened with instance offense. LSU’s one-hole hitter, Tommy White, took his second pitch of the day yard for an early 1-0 lead. Wehiwa Aloy answered that shot with his own in the bottom of the inning.

LSU then scored 3 unanswered runs through the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers made it look like Arkansas was going to be run off its own field.

Starting pitcher Gage Jump retired the Hogs’ first two batters in eight pitches, but the Razorbacks stormed back with four straight hits that brought in 3, two-out RBIs.

Then Arkansas saw LSU’s 3 unanswered runs and doubled the pot, scoring 6 of its own between the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings.

Starting with a solo shot in the seventh from Mac Bingham, the Tigers attempted to make a comeback late and nearly succeeded. With one out in the top of the ninth, down two runs, LSU puts two runners on base with none other than White on deck.

White hits a monster shot to left field, potentially taking the lead. Fortunately for the Hogs, the hit was called foul and stood after a video review. On the next pitch he sees, White line-drives it to Jared Sprague-Lott, who turned a double play at second before the runner could tag up.

Ballgame.

Peyton Stovall was, again, the man for Arkansas, going 2/4 at the plate with 3 RBIs and a home run. Will Edmunson was also spectacular, batting a 1.000 for two runs.

It was an unusually rough day (in perspective) from the mound. The combined Arkansas bullpen gave up 5 earned runs, 9 hits, and only (again, in perspective) 7 strikeouts. Brady Tygart had another rough outing. He gave up 4 earned runs, including 3 homers in 4 innings.

Arkansas has little time to rest, however. The Diamond Hogs will take on in-state rival Arkansas State on Tuesday and No. 22 Ole Miss next weekend. The Rebs are currently down two games to zero against No. 15 Kentucky, but they stole a series win against No. 7 Tennessee in Knoxville just the week before.

Arkansas Baseball walk off the Tigers in the 10th

Hudson White walks off the Tigers! The Hogs take the series and have a chance to sweep tomorrow.

The Hogs put on a show tonight!

Arkansas beat LSU, 4-3, in a defensive masterpiece.

Both teams made incredible defensive plays throughout the game. Pitching was superb from both bullpens, but the real story was fielding.

LSU’s first baseman, Jared Jones made huge plays late in the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Jones rushed toward a Jared Sprague-Lott bunt and flipped it home with his glove to tag out Wehiwa Aloy. He also brought in a wild throw to first that ended the inning and might’ve saved the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth.

With Jones making plays like that at 6’4, 250 pounds, LSU head coach Jay Johnson might need to beat Brian Kelly off with a stick. But the Hogs had a playmaker of their own as well.

Peyton Stovall was outstanding at second base. Over and over again, he would make big-league plays, flipping ground balls to first in the nick of time. In the top of the sixth, Stovall fielded a chopper right in front of Michael Braswell III, tagged him, and got the double play at first.

Fortunately, Stovall wasn’t just excellent from the field, he was also the best at the plate. He went 3/5 with an RBI and two leadoff doubles.

But it was catcher Hudson White that took all the glory, however. Just like how Kendall Diggs’ 3-run homer stole the show on Thursday, White’s one-out double in the tenth drove Will Edmunson home to walk off the match. He was hilariously thanked by having his shirt ripped off and water dumped on his head.

The heavy-weight fight will continue tomorrow as the Hogs have a chance to sweep the No. 8 Tigers on Saturday.

Hogs pull away late in 7-4 win over LSU

Kendall Diggs 3-run homer was the difference as the Hogs pulled away late in a 7-4 win over LSU

Thanks to a big eighth inning, the Diamond Hogs pulled away late to take game one over No. 8 LSU.

All season long, the bats have been hot or cold, and Arkansas has relied heavily on its outstanding pitching staff to win games. Although his performance was immaculate—recording 10 strikeouts—LSU tested Hagen Smith for the first time this season.

The lefty had only given up one earned run since the opening series against James Madison, but the Tigers scored back-to-back homers to take the lead in the top of the fourth. Smith also gave up 5 hits, the most he’s allowed in a single game this season.

Still, LSU’s relative success against Smith would fall short. Arkansas looked like a different team at the plate. They forced LSU to burn through 7 pitchers, mainly because they were patient.

The Tigers’ bullpen had trouble finding the strike zone (but to be fair, it seemed to move around all night long), and Arkansas’ batters stayed patient. LSU walked Arkansas 11 times and three of the Razorbacks’ RBIs got on base via walks. And in the bottom of the seventh, LSU’s Cam Johnson walked another runner in with the bases loaded.

But the entire night collimated in the bottom of the eighth when Kendall Diggs hit a moon shoot to right-center field to all but seal the win for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas take its third SEC series tomorrow with a win tomorrow, but the Hogs will have a change of pace on Friday as Mason Molina is set to start in place of Brady Tygart. It’ll be his first game-two start with Arkansas, but the former Friday night guy for Texas Tech should have no problem adapting.

Former Diamond Hogs ace Isaiah Campbell makes first MLB Opening-Day roster

Campbell was a stud out of the bullpen for the Mariners last year, but this is his first season to begin the year in the Bigs.

Isaiah Campbell is an Opening-Day Major Leaguer.

The former Arkansas right-hander was named to the Boston Red Sox opening day roster Thursday as teams across the league prepared for the first games of the season.

Campbell will be pitching in his second season in the Big Leagues after cracking the Seattle Mariners’ club last year. He had a 2.83 earned-run average in 28 games for the Ms out of the bullpen. Campbell was trided to Boston in November for infielder Luis Urias.

A second-round pick of the Mariners in 2019, Campbell didn’t get to pitch professionally until 2021 at age 23. He quickly shot through Seattle’s system and jumped from Double-A Arkansas in the middle of last year to the big club, where he stuck for the season.

Campbell pitched for the Diamond Hogs for four seasons, although his second season with the Razorbacks was limited to just one game because of injury. He came into his own his final season in Fayetteville in 2019, striking out 122 batters and walking just 22 in 118 1/3 innings.

Boston opens its 2024 season Thursday night incidentally against those same Mariners.