FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 1 Arkansas did just enough on Tuesday night to defeat Arkansas State 7-3 at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The two teams battled much of the way with 14 pitchers seeing action in the game. Arkansas State held a 2-1 lead when left fielder Charles Davalan blasted a 3-run home run in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-2 lead the Hogs never surrendered. Dave Van Horn felt that home run energized the Arkansas dugout.
"The dugout was a little more quiet than normal," Van Horn said. "I think that's a little bit of fatigue, but they are in the same boat over there traveling coming here. So maybe our fatigue is more mental than physical. That was a big swing, 3-run homer, that got us from one down to up two."
Arkansas State did push a run across the plate in the top of the sixth when Cason Campbell singled to plate Cross Jumper to pull within 4-3. But Kuhio Aloy hit a 2-run home run in the bottom half of the sixth to also get Cam Kozeal across the plate. Nolan Souza scored on a bases loaded walk to Davalan to finish the scoring in the game.
Arkansas State got off to a 2-1 lead on Arkansas starter Tate McGuire who worked three innings. He allowed five hits, two runs, walked one and fanned a pair.
"I don't feel like starting the game Tate had his best stuff," Van Horn said. "He was throwing strikes, but sometimes too many strikes. He would have a 1-2 count trying to bury a pitch and would leave it hanging and they hit it hard."
Jake Henry Williams doubled in the top of the second to plate Campbell for a 1-0 lead. The Hogs tied it back up in the bottom half of the inning when Nolan Souza delivered a two-out single to plate Carson Boles, who had reached on a single.
Wil French walked with one out in the top of the third. Jumper then singled moving French to third. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Cason Tollett for a 2-1 lead that held up until Davalan's blast in the fifth.
Dylan Carter was the fourth Arkansas pitcher to take the mound. Carter (4-0) picked up the win. He worked 1.1 innings allowing no hits or runs while striking out one. Ben Bybee, Colin Fisher, Cole Gibler and Carson Wiggins were the other Razorbacks who took the mound. They combined to allow seven hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Arkansas State sent eight pitchers to the mound. Carson Keithley (1-1) was the second one and he took the loss. Keithley worked 0.1 inning allowing two hits and a pair of runs. Kole Turner started and went 4.2 innings. Cooper Garrison, Isaac Sewell, Collin Maloney, Jack Nelson, Brett Foss and Chase Richter all pitched for Arkansas State. They allowed 11 hits while striking out 13 Hogs and walking only five.
Arkansas (31-3) will be at No. 7 Georgia for three games this weekend. Friday's first pitch is set for 5 p.m. followed at 3 p.m. Saturday and then noon on Sunday. All three games can be streamed on the SEC Network+.
Arkansas State (14-18) will be at home to host South Alabama. Friday and Saturday games will start at 6 p.m. and then 1 p.m. Sunday. All three games can be streamed on ESPN+.
Photos Craven Whitlow
