FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 3 Arkansas received a walk-off 3-run home run from Wehiwa Aloy to complete a seven-inning run-rule win over South Carolina Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Arkansas (21-2, 3-1) held a 7-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh when they erupted for five runs to finish the game. Cam Kozeal and Ryder Helfrick singled to start the inning. With one out Justin Thomas Jr. doubled to plate Kozeal. Charles Davalan followed with another single off new reliever Ayden Palmer to score Helfrick. Palmer's second hitter to face was Aloy and the Arkansas shortstop sent one over the fence in right field to end the game.
In addition to the team clubbing 15 hits the Hogs also got a complete game from Zach Root (3-1). The lefty, who struggled against Ole Miss last week, responded this week allowing just six hits, two runs, walking one and striking out seven to get the win. Dave Van Horn praised Root.
"I thought Zach did a great job tonight," Van Horn said. "He had his curveball tonight. I think at one time he threw it three times in a row all in the zone. His fastball was good. He got up to the mid-90s when he needed to. He kept them off balance. Their plan was to be aggressive and attack."
The Hogs scored first in the bottom of the second. Thomas hit a two-out single to allow Kozeal to score. Kozeal had reached on a lead-off double.
The Razorbacks had four runners cross the plate in the bottom of the third. A double by Davalan to start the inning got it started. It was followed by a hit batter, three walks and an error on the South Carolina shortstop. Van Horn liked the Hogs approach at the plate particularly this inning.
"On the offensive end I thought it was really relentless fouling off pitch after pitch especially in the third inning," Van Horn said. "We got (Brandon) Stone's pitch count up and they pulled him after three innings. We did a good job up and down the lineup everyone contributed."
Davalan also singled to start the bottom of the fourth. Logan Maxwell came up and delivered a two-run home run to put Arkansas up 7-0.
South Carolina (17-6, 1-3) scored runs in the top of the fifth and sixth. Stone (1-2) took the loss. He pitched 3.0 innings, allowing five hits, five runs, walked three and struck out three. Matthew Becker followed Stone to the mound. He went 3.1 innings. The Hogs attacked him for eight hits, five runs, one walk and six strikeouts.
The two teams will play again Saturday at 2 p.m. Arkansas will send Gabe Gaeckle (1-0, 5.87) to the mound against righty Jake McCoy (2-1, 5.25). The game can be streamed on the SEC Network+.
Photos Crant Osborne
