The Tennessee baseball team jumped early. Then never again.
No. 6 Arkansas scored five straight runs in a 5-2 win over the No. 15 Volunteers in Friday night’s series opener from Baum-Walker Stadium. The win kept Arkansas atop the SEC West at 9-4 in league play.
Hunter Hollan and Hagen Smith were the biggest reason why. Hollan gave up two runs on three hits in the first inning to Tennessee. The rest of the way, Hollan allowed no more runs and just two more hits as he worked six total innings, striking out that same number and walking just one.
Smith followed with a three-inning save, retiring seven of the nine batters he faced via strikeout. He gave up just a single knock in the ninth.
Meanwhile, the Arkansas lineup came back in pieces, though kind of all at once.
The Razorbacks scored three runs in third inning to take the only necessary lead. One scored on an error and Tavian Josenberger plated two with his home run. For good measure, another would score in the fourth on a double-play and Jace Bohrofen would add a solo shot in the fifth to cap things.
The two teams are back at it Saturday at 6 p.m. from Baum-Walker Stadium.
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