FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 9 Arkansas had an easy time of Tuesday defeating visiting Oral Roberts 10-2 in game that saw the two teams combine to send 16 pitchers to the mound.
The Razorbacks pounded out 12 hits with Missouri State transfer Zack Stewart leading the way with three of them. Stewart hit a double, two singles and drew a walk in his five plate appearances. Stewart is hitting .356 on the season with three home runs. He served as designated hitter against ORU and has played the corner outfield positions this season.
"I definitely saw the ball well," Stewart said. "I'm just trying to work it best I can and get my pitch. If I get the pitch I want I swing."
Stewart hit the ball 106 miles per hour off the bat, second at bat 110, third 107 and fourth 114 off the bat.
"When I get my pitch I want to hit it whether it's early or late in the count," Stewart said.
Kuhio Aloy topped the team with four runs batted in. He had two hits. The Razorbacks only had one home run on the day, but it was the first as a Razorback by third baseman TJ Pompey, who transferred in from Texas Tech in the offseason. It came in the fourth inning.
ORU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but it was short lived. The Razorbacks scored four times in the bottom of the second and was never threatened again. Stewart and Maika Niu each had singles in the fourth. Carson Brumbaugh reached on an error on ORU shortstop Hudson Ellis. Damian Ruiz reached on a fielder's choice. Each of those four scored in the inning.
The Razorbacks didn't score again until the bottom of the fourth when they plated four more runs including Pompey's solo shot to start the inning. The home run traveled 437 feet. Ruiz walked, Ryder Helfrick singled and then Aloy hit a double to allow both Ruiz and Helfrick to score. Aloy tagged and went to third when Reese Robinett flied out to center field. Aloy then scored on a wild pitch.
Pompey walked to start the bottom of the fifth. Ruiz followed with a single. The pair eventually scored.
ORU's Kole Dudding pinch hit in the top of the seventh and greeted Arkansas' Joey Lorenzini with a solo shot over the fence in left field. It was Dudding's first hit on the season.
The Razorbacks started James DeCremer on the mound. He worked two innings, allowed five hit and one run. He walked a hitter and struck out one. He was followed by Ethan McElvain who struck out the side in his one inning of work. McElvain (2-0) is a transfer from Vanderbilt and picked up the win.
The Razorbacks followed with Tate McGuire, Jackson Kircher, Lorenzini, Mark Brissey and Jordan Martin on the day. The seven pitchers combined to allow two runs, nine hits, struck out 11 and only walked two.
ORU (5-7) starter former Razorback Jackson Farrell on the mound. He pitched one inning and allowed two hits. The second pitcher Keaton Ruthardt (0-1) took the loss. He allowed four runs while striking out two. The nine ORU pitchers combined to allow 12 hits, walked six and struck out nine.
Arkansas (10-3) will host Stetson for a four-game series this weekend. Friday's game will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday starts at 2 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. and then noon on Monday.
