Tag: Jalen Battles

Arkansas blasts UIC in Game 1, rallies late to win Game 2

A late Arkansas rally in the second game of the doubleheader gave the Razorbacks two wins Thursday.

Two games. Two different types of wins.

Arkansas and Illinois-Chicago played a doubleheader Thursday in advance of expected snow in Fayetteville on Friday. The result was sweep of the day for the third-ranked Diamond Hogs, 12-4 and 5-4.

Connor Noland, Arkansas’ senior starting pitcher, was excellent in the Diamond Hogs’ win in the first of the two games. Noland had 11 strikeouts and gave up just four hits and three runs in the opener.

In Game 2, the Arkansas bats went cold until the eighth, when the Razorbacks plated four runs to turn a three-run deficit into a one-run lead heading into the final frame.

Cayden Wallace, Jalen Battles and Brady Slavens all homered for the Diamond Hogs in the opener, while Michael Turner’s RBI single in the second game proved to be the difference.

Both teams are off Friday before returning Saturday for expected 60-degree temperatures at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch that day is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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Bats awaken as Arkansas hammers Nebraska-Omaha

Arkansas’ cold stretch of hitting is over after the Diamond Hogs reached base 25 times on Wednesday against Omaha.

The Arkansas lineup smashed three home runs and Diamond Hogs pitchers scattered 10 hits in the Razorbacks’ 15-3 win over Nebraska-Omaha on Wednesday.

The game was only a one-off as Arkansas prepares next for a weekend series against Southeastern Louisiana at Baum-Walker Stadium. The No. 3 Razorbacks’ win moved them to 5-2 on the season.

In all, the Diamond Hogs reached base 25 times. Catcher Michael Turner had the best day at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly. Shortstop Jalen Battles had two hits, a walk and two runs. Chris Lanzilli went 2 for 4 with a double, three RBI and a run. Peyton Stovall and Brady Slavens also homered.

Arkansas took control of the game with a five-run fifth and exploded it with a seven-run fifth.

All the while six Arkansas pitchers struck out eight Mavericks batters while walking just three with the only extra-base hit being a double. Senior left-hander Evan Taylor picked up with the win when he retired the side in order in fifth and sixth.

First pitch against SELA is Friday at 3 p.m.

Jalen Battles’ homer lifts Arkansas in Round Rock finale

Arkansas won two of three in Texas after beating Louisiana on Sunday night.

With just five outs between Arkansas and a losing weekend in Texas, Jalen Battles came up huge.

The senior shortstop cranked a three-run home run with Arkansas trailing by one in the eighth inning to help lift the Razorbacks, 6-4, over Louisiana in the final game of the Round Rock Classic.

Chris Lanzilli and Jace Bohrofen walked ahead of Battles when he took the second pitch from Drew Shiflett over the rightfield wall to move the Diamond Hogs ahead, 5-3. The knock was Battles’ only one of the game as Louisiana held the Razorbacks to just six hits.

Arkansas pitching was even better. The Ragin’ Cajuns had just three hits, all of which came off starter Jaxon Wiggins who worked six innings while allowing just three runs.

The No. 2 Hogs had lost earlier to No. 8 Stanford, 5-0, in the first of a doubleheader. Weather had caused that game to be postponed from Saturday.

Arkansas is back at Baum-Walker Stadium on Wednesday for a one-off game against Nebraska-Omaha. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Sticks of the Game: Slavens perfect as Hogs take series from Illinois State

It’s harder to more at the plate than Brady Slavens did in Arkansas’ 4-2 win on Sunday. Perfect is just fine.

Arkansas racked up 12 hits and drew five walks in Sunday’s 4-2 over Illinois State and almost everyone got in on the act.

Unfortunately, the Diamond Hogs left 12 runners on base, but runs in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings were enough to keep the Redbirds from a would-be surprise season-opening series win.

Eight of Arkansas’ nine starters reached base, though none as efficiently as Brady Slavens, who served as the designated hitter.

He was joined in a multi-hit game by freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall, preseason All-American Robert Moore, and slick-fielding shortstop Jalen Battles.

Four of the Hogs’ 12 hits went for extra-bases, including Battles’ RBI double in the eighth that provided a run of insurance for reliever Kole Ramage, who picked up a four-inning save.

Here is a closer look at Arkansas’ Sticks of the Game.

Arkansas takes season-opening series with win over Illinois State on Sunday

Eight of Arkansas’ nine starters reached base while Jaxon Wiggins and Kole Ramage limited Illinois State in the Diamond Hogs’ win.

Arkansas baseball salvaged a series win after dropping the season opener on Friday, beating Illinois State, 4-2, Sunday afternoon in Fayetteville.

Chris Lanzilli and Brady Slavens hit back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth to break a 1-all tie while Jaxon Wiggins and Kole Ramage worked around trouble over nine to limit Illinois State.

The Redbirds pulled within a run in the eighth when Ryan Cermak hit a solo home run off Ramage to start the inning. But Arkansas’ right-hander retired the next three to keep Illinois State at bay.

Arkansas built the lead back to two in the bottom of the inning when Jalen Battles doubled home Zack Gregory, who walked as the inning’s first batter.

Wiggins allowed seven baserunners and a run in his five innings of work, striking out five, as well. He worked himself into trouble in the second when he allowed back-to-back singles at the beginning of the inning and a wild pitch gave Illinois State runners at second and third. A fielder’s choice allowed the Redbirds to score first, but Wiggins induced a flyout and groundout to get out of it.

Ramage worked four innings in relief, striking out six and giving up two hits, including the solo homer.

Slavens went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a walk. Battles, Robert Moore and Peyton Stovall each had two hits with Moore crossing the plate twice and Stovall once.

Arkansas will travel to Round Rock, Texas, on the weekend for three games as part of the Karbach Round Rock Classic. The Diamond Hogs play Indiana on Friday, Stanford on Saturday and Louisiana on Sunday.

A Look at the Omahogs Top Returning Everyday Players

Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, we can finally say it: Welcome to baseball season. 

Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, we can finally say it: Welcome to baseball season.

The Omahogs begin their SEC championship defense this Friday when they host Illinois State for a three-game set at Baum-Walker Stadium. The Razorbacks open the season ranked in the Top Ten in most polls. There are three groups – D1Baseball, Baseball America, USA Today Coaches – widely regarded as the best of the bunch when it comes to assessing the college baseball world. In those three the Hogs rank #2, #8, and #4, respectively.

So why do the national pundits and coaches regard this team so highly? It’s a combination of coaching, returning players, and new blood. Combine those things with the recent success the team has had under Dave Van Horn and the tradition of winning in Fayetteville, and anyone can see that it would be unwise to overlook the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Today we will take a look at the core of this team – the returning offensive firepower.