Tag: Will McEntire

Diamond Hogs upset by Alabama in SEC Tournament

Arkansas’ bullpen stifles Alabama, but it was too late as the Diamond Hogs lost to the Tide for the third time in four games.

That was moderately unexpected.

Arkansas baseball, the No. 3-seeded team in the SEC Baseball Tournament, fell to No. 11 Alabama on Wednesday in the second round, 4-3. The Razorbacks are now in the elimination bracket and can’t lose again or they’re gone from Hoover.

Alabama jumped out to a 4-1 lead after four innings, chasing Diamond Hogs starter Will McEntire after just 2 1/3. His bullpen gave up just two hits the rest of the way, but the Arkansas lineup managed just five hits itself for the whole game.

Chris Lanzilli popped a two-run home run in the sixth to pull the Razorbacks within a run. But Jalen Battles was the only player to collect a hit after that point, his single putting him on first base with two outs in the ninth. Jace Bohrofen struck out to end the game.

Arkansas’ opponent the next round is to-be-determined. Rain washed out the entire rest of Wednesday’s four-game schedule. Three second-round games remain, plus, in theory, Thursday’s originally scheduled games. It’s unclear how the league will proceed. Rain is expected all morning Saturday in the greater Birmingham, Alabama, metro area, though it’s supposed to clear by 2 p.m. and remain that way the rest of the weekend.

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Big inning propels Arkansas to Game 1 win over Alabama

Peyton Stovall and Cayden Wallace each homered in Arkansas’ win over the Crimson Tide on the final weekend of the regular season.

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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Arkansas Baseball: Changes coming to weekend rotation for Alabama series

For the first time all season, Arkansas will shake up the weekend rotation. Expect to see a new face on the mound for Friday’s opener in Tuscaloosa.

For the final weekend of the regular season, head coach Dave Van Horn is shaking up the weekend rotation for the first time all year.

The no. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks have played 13 weekend series in the 2022 season with the same weekend rotation of Connor Noland, Hagen Smith, and Jaxon Wiggins. As the Razorbacks travel to Alabama to face the Crimson Tide, one pitcher will have one extra day of rest while one has been removed from the rotation altogether.

For Thursday’s opener, [autotag]Will McEntire[/autotag] will get his first start in SEC play. McEntire has been used mostly as a midweek starter, going 1-1 with four starts. Recently, he has been used in relief. He made his first appearance in a weekend series in Arkansas’ 7-4 win over Auburn on May 8, and grabbed a three-inning save against Vanderbilt on May 14.

The usual Friday starter, [autotag]Connor Noland[/autotag], will be moved to game two of the series to allow him a full week between starts. Noland has not had the best luck over the last five SEC starts, as he has either taken a loss or left the mound without recording a decision. Head coach [autotag]Dave Van Horn[/autotag] says that Noland is staying positive, but he looks to change his approach in the Alabama series and beyond.

“He feels healthy, no issues there physically,” says Van Horn. “Just pitch to contact more, don’t worry about getting strikeouts. I don’t think that he is, that’s just what we try to tell him, “hey, just let them hit it. We will field it.” Hopefully he will be good this weekend.” 

The only pitcher to remain in his role will be [autotag]Jaxon Wiggins[/autotag], who will close out the series on Saturday afternoon. Wiggins pitched well enough to get the win last Sunday at home against Vanderbilt, striking out eight batters over 4.1 innings of work. But he allowed two earned runs while the Commodores shut down any chance of run support, which set him up for the loss.

Freshman [autotag]Hagan Smith[/autotag] will be out of the rotation this weekend. No reason has been given for Smith’s removal, but according to Whole Hog Sports, it could be because of his struggles working deep into games. Over his last five starts, Smith has only lasted six innings or more twice.

Arkansas begins their week-long stay in Alabama on Thursday night, when they face Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CDT.

Diamond Hogs get huge win, series victory over Auburn on Sunday

Arkansas batters reached base 21 times in a big win over Auburn on Sunday.

Arkansas’ game against Auburn on Sunday didn’t quite meet the must-win category. The Razorbacks would feel a lot better about their final two weekends of the regular season with a victory, though.

Done and done. Arkansas dispatched Auburn, 7-4, in the finale of the three-game set to take the series two games to win. The Razorbacks hold a two-game lead for second place in the SEC with six league games remaining. Texas A&M and LSU are chasing in a tie for third.

The Diamond Hogs teed off on Auburn starter Joseph Gonzalez, chasing him from the game after 2 2/3 innings in which he gave up five runs on nine hits, including four that went for extra bases. Braydon Webb’s three-run home run in the third was the big blast.

[autotag]Will McEntire[/autotag], Arkansas’ midweek starter over the last few weeks, came out of the bullpen in the sixth and worked 3 1/3 innings while giving up just one run on three hits. He struck out four. Jaxon Wiggins picked up the win upon going the first five innings, giving up three runs, only one of which was earned.

Arkansas racked up 13 hits, six walks and the Hogs batters were hit by two pitches. [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Battles[/autotag] each had two RBI.

The Razorbacks’ final homestand of the regular season starts Friday against Vanderbilt. Arkansas closes the year with Alabama on the road.

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Razorbacks escape Central Arkansas’ upset effort in extra inning win

The Razorbacks took advantage of a late-inning mishap by Central Arkansas to grab the win.

It took extra innings, but the Razorbacks pulled it out.

A 10th inning mishap by Central Arkansas with runners in scoring position gave Arkansas the break they needed as they walked off victorious, defeating the Bears, 2-1 Tuesday at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

Tied 1-1 heading to the 10th inning, Central Arkansas would strand a runner at third base to end their half of the inning, giving Arkansas a chance to walk away was winners. [autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag] would reach on a single and a walk respectively.

[autotag]Michael Turner[/autotag] would reach base at the expense of Wallace being thrown out at second base on a fielder’s choice but would advance Moore to third base. [autotag]Brady Slavens[/autotag] stepped in the box and would take a base on balls with a full count, but the last pitch escaped the pitcher, allowing Moore to score and to give Arkansas the win.

Defense was the name of the game prior to the 10th inning walkoff. Arkansas took their first lead of the game in the 5th inning, breaking a scoreless tie. [autotag]Braydon Webb[/autotag] opened the inning with a single to left field, and scored two at-bats later on a single to left field by [autotag]Dylan Leach[/autotag] to give the Razorbacks the 1-0 lead.

Central Arkansas answered in the top of the 6th inning. Hunter Hicks grounded out to score Kolby Johnson, who reached with a leadoff double, from third base.

Pitching wise, both teams received production from their bullpens. For Arkansas, starter [autotag]Will McEntire[/autotag] allowed three hits and an earned run in 6.0 innings, striking out four batters. [autotag]Zack Morris[/autotag], [autotag]Evan Taylor[/autotag], [autotag]Mark Adamiak[/autotag], and [autotag]Heston Tole[/autotag] would carry the load for the remaining four innings, with neither reliever allowing a hit.

Central Arkansas’ Oliver Laufman tossed seven innings in his start, allowing six hits and an earned run. Andrew Shoultz struck out four batters and allowed a hit in 2.2 innings of relief.

Webb led the Arkansas offense with two hits, while Leach led in RBI with one.

The Razorbacks return to Baum-Walker Stadium on Friday to host Ole Miss. First pitch of the weekend-opener is set for 6:30 p.m. CT

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