FAYETTEVILLE -- It's another day and another run rule walk-off victory for No. 3 Arkansas as they took a 10-0 win over Portland on Saturday thanks to a two-out home run by Kendall Diggs at Baum-Walker Stadium.
It was the fourth run-rule game in a row for the Razorbacks. Arkansas had two outs in the bottom of the seventh when Brent Iredale doubled to left field. Diggs then stepped into the box and drilled one over the fence in right center field to end the game. Both teams were scoreless until the bottom of the third when Nolan Souza reached on an error by Portland's second baseman and Justin Thomas Jr. was hit by a pitch. Wehiwa Aloy then delivered a double with one out that scored both of the runners. Dave Van Horn was pleased with another good outing by his squad.
"The first two innings seemed like 20 minutes," Van Horn said. "The fourth inning was a really good inning."
The fourth inning that Van Horn talked about saw Arkansas plate five runs with two outs. Iredale walked to start the inning. Souza delivered a single that allowed Iredale to score. Then Thomas hit a blast that allowed Souza to score. After Charles Davalan singled then Wehiwa Aloy, who knocked in four runs on the day, unloaded a two-run blast over the fence.
Davalan hit a solo shot over the fence in the bottom of the sixth to put Arkansas up 8-0 and set up the next inning for Diggs' heroics. Diggs has had a history of big hits late in games with the Hogs.
"Today he just hit the ball hard," Van Horn said. "His at bat before the home run he got a pretty good slider and just missed it and popped it up. This time he hit it. He has gotten some big hits for us whether they were singles or homers that has propelled us to some wins over the years."
Zach Root started on the mound for Arkansas and was outstanding. He pitched six innings allowing three hits, walked one and struck out 10. Root (2-0) picked up the win. Colin Fisher pitched the other inning for the Hogs allowing one hit and striking out a hitter.
"He has gotten bigger and stronger here," Van Horn said of Root. "Give credit to our pitching coach. Zach is a very good pitcher. He's got a really good mix and he can locate it. Just a little bit of everything. I think he has been outstanding for us."
Root didn't allow a hit until the top of the fifth. It seemed like after third baseman Cole Katayama-Stall hit a dribbler for a single Root found another gear.
"I think any good starter when they give up a hit find another level to get to," Van Horn said. "He gave up the hit off the end of the bat. His thought process was they're not going to score on me."
Arkansas (14-1) finished the game with four home runs, 10 hits and only stranded three runners. Portland (5-10) had four hits, one error and stranded five. The two teams will finish up the three game series on Sunday with the first pitch set for noon. The game can be streamed on the SEC Network+. Landon Beidelschies will take the mound for the Hogs looking to complete the sweep over the Pilots.
Photos: Craven Whitlow
