Oliver Grigg
OXFORD, Miss. – No. 5 Arkansas (24-6, 7-4 SEC) split its series-opening doubleheader against Ole Miss (18-12, 2-9 SEC) on Friday at Swayze Field, winning the first game of the day, 11-2, before dropping the nightcap, 7-4.
The Razorbacks and Rebels will play a rubber game tomorrow to decide the series. First pitch in the finale is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Kyle Peterson (analyst) on the call.
Arkansas is seeking its fourth consecutive regular-season weekend series win against Ole Miss in tomorrow’s finale in Oxford. The Razorbacks have not won four straight weekend series against the Rebels since 2000-03.
Game 1: Arkansas 11, Ole Miss 2
Razorback starter Hunter Hollan stole the show in game one of Friday’s doubleheader, leading Arkansas to an 11-2 win. The left-hander twirled six scoreless innings with four strikeouts while allowing three hits and three walks.
Hollan, who earned his third quality start of the season and improved to 5-1 on the year with the win, had plenty of run support from the offense. Every Razorback batter recorded at least one hit as Arkansas racked up 11 runs on 15 total base knocks, including two home runs, and five walks, led by Brady Slavens’ three-hit, five-RBI performance at the plate.
Caleb Cali’s two-run homer in the top of the second inning gave the Hogs an early two-run cushion, which they maintained until the fifth. Arkansas broke the game open with a six-run inning, punctuated by Slavens’ grand slam.
Jared Wegner tacked on the sixth run of the frame with his RBI single to left. He was one of five Razorback batters, including Cali (2-for-5, 2 RBI), Slavens (3-for-4), Tavian Josenberger (2-for-5) and Jace Bohrofen (2-for-4, 1 RBI) to record multiple hits in the win, finishing 2-for-5 with one run scored and an RBI.
On the mound, Right-handers Dylan Carter (2.0 IP, 1 SO) and Austin Ledbetter (1.0 IP, 1 SO) worked in relief of Hollan and preserved Arkansas’ 11-2 win in game one.
Game 2: Ole Miss 7, Arkansas 4
A strong outing by Arkansas starter Hagen Smith unraveled in the bottom of the sixth as Ole Miss scored five to take control of the game and split the doubleheader with a 7-4 win in the second game of Friday’s twin bill at Swayze Field.
The Razorbacks and Rebels were tied at two apiece before Smith allowed a leadoff home run to start the sixth, which knocked him out of the ballgame. Ole Miss continued its offensive barrage in the inning with four more runs after his departure, thanks in part to a three-run home run by Ethan Lege.
Smith, making his first start on the mound for Arkansas since against Louisiana Tech on March 10, was charged with four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings of work.
Trailing 7-2 in the ninth, Arkansas mounted a late rally as Tavian Josenberger drew a leadoff walk to set up Peyton Stovall’s two-run homer to right center. Stovall’s blast marked the Hogs’ 26th consecutive game with a home run.
After a pitching change, Jared Wegner was hit by a pitch, which put the tying run in the on-deck circle. The next three Razorback hitters, however, would record outs to seal Arkansas’ 7-4 defeat in Friday’s second game.
Stovall finished the ballgame with a team-leading three hits. He and Brady Slavens (2-for-4, 1 RBI) were the only two Razorback hitters to record multiple hits in the nightcap.