Entering Saturday’s game against Texas A&M, [autotag]Arkansas baseball[/autotag] had only lost consecutive games this season once. A fall against the Aggies in College Station would make it twice.
[autotag]Brady Slavens[/autotag] wasn’t having it.
The Arkansas outfielder hit a pair of solo home runs to help the Diamond Hogs to tie the series against A&M with a 3-1 win on Saturday.
Slavens’ first jack came in the first inning. Batting from the 2-hole, the senior outfielder planted a 2-1 pitch over the right field wall to open the scoring. [autotag]Chris Lanzilli[/autotag] made it 2-0, Arkansas, when he scored on a wild pitch in the second and Slavens’ other homer came in the third to centerfield.
Slavens went 2 for 3 with the two homers and two walks on the day.
Texas A&M had its chances, especially early. The Aggies chased starter [autotag]Hagen Smith[/autotag] after just three innings, but they left six runners on in the first three frames, including leaving the bases loaded in the first. Smith exited after allowing two hits and five walks with just one strikeout.
The Arkansas bullpen stiffened. Zack Morris, Zebulon Vermillion, Evan Taylor and [autotag]Brady Tygart[/autotag] pitched the final six innings and gave up just six baserunners.
The rubber game between the two teams is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.