No. 3 Arkansas rallied in the top of the ninth including a 3-run home run by Wehiwa Aloy and defeated No. 13 Ole Miss 12-9 in a wild baseball game that was just short of four hours.
Ole Miss scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 9-8 lead into the ninth. It appeared the Rebels were going to get a win with two outs in the top of the ninth. Arkansas' Rocco Peppi reached on a single and then Ryder Helfrick got on base on a fielder's choice. But with two outs, Charles Davalan hit a clutch single to plate Gabe Fraser, who was pinch running for Peppi. Then Wehiwa Aloy unloaded to hit his game-winning blast. Dave Van Horn was relieved to get the win and was pleased with Aloy's big hit.
"That was fun," Van Horn said. "That was one of those team wins. We ended up finishing the game with an infielder (Fraser) playing outfield. He made a big catch. [Wehiwa] knocked in a lot of RBIs today, five I think with two big swings."
Carson Wiggins (1-0) pitched the eighth and ninth innings for Arkansas to gain the win. He was the sixth Hogs pitcher on the day. He worked 2.0 innings, allowing one run, walking three and striking out a trio.
Arkansas got a big boost from reliever Will McEntire working 3.1 innings. He allowed just two hits, one run and struck out five while not issuing a free pass. He came in for Landon Beidelschies who struggled in the start and fell behind early. Beidelschies lasted just 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, four runs, two walks and only struck out a pair while hitting one batter.
Christian Foutch, Dylan Carter and Colin Fisher also took the mound for the Hogs. The three combined to pitch 1.1 innings, allowing three hits, a trio of runs, walking three and no strikeouts.
Ole Miss used four pitchers with Collin Spencer the last of the group and he took the loss which was his first decision this season. Ole Miss starter Mason Nichols worked 4.2 innnings. He was followed to the mound by Walker Hooks and Brayden Jones.
Arkansas had 16 hits on the day, committed one error and stranded nine runners. Ole Miss had 10 hits, two errors and left a dozen on the bases.
Ole Miss scored two in the bottom of the first and third for a quick 4-0 lead. Arkansas got its first run in the top of the fourth when Logan Maxwell got the first of his three hits. He singled, then Brent Iredale walked. Cam Kozeal singled to plate Maxwell for a two-out rally.
In the top of the fifth, Helfrick singled to lead off the inning. After two strikeouts, once again the Hogs put together a two-out rally. Wehiwa Aloy doubled to move Helfrick to third. Kuhio Aloy singled to plate Helfrick while Maxwell also hit a single to get Wehiwa Aloy across the plate to pull within 4-3.
Arkansas took its first lead of the game with four runs in the top of the sixth. Kozeal started the inning with a walk. Carson Boles delivered a pinch hit single. Nolan Souza then doubled to plate Kozeal. Davalan hit a grounder that allowed Boles to score. Then Wehiwa Aloy blasted his first of two home runs allowing he and Souza to score for a 7-4 lead.
Ole Miss moved to within 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth. Maxwell doubled to begin the top of the seventh. He scored on a Kozeal single to move back up 8-5. Ole Miss tied it back up at 8 in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by Mitchell Sanford and then two singles and a walk.
That set up for heroics of Davalan and Wehiwa Aloy in the top of the ninth. Wiggins did walk two hitters with a pair of outs in the bottom of the ninth. But he struck out Ryan Moerman, who has seven home runs on the season, to end the thriller.
Arkansas (18-2, 2-1) returns home to host Oral Roberts (12-6) for two midweek games. Tuesday's game will begin at 6 p.m. and then 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Both games can be streamed on the SEC Network+.
