Oliver Grigg

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Strong performances on the mound from Hunter Hollan and Hagen Smith led No. 5 Arkansas (27-7, 9-4 SEC) to a 5-2 series-opening win against No. 16 Tennessee (23-11, 5-8 SEC) on Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Razorback left-handers combined for 13 strikeouts in the win. Hollan started and went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out six to log his fourth quality start of the season and improve to 6-1 on the year.

Smith, meanwhile, was dominant in relief, striking out seven of 10 batters faced. He emerged from the bullpen to begin the seventh and twirled three shutout innings to preserve the Hogs’ 5-2 win and secure his second save of the season.

Tennessee jumped out to an early two-run lead with a leadoff home run and a run-scoring balk in the top of the first inning. Hollan sharpened up after his tumultuous opening frame and silenced the Volunteers the rest of the way, allowing the Razorback offense to find its rhythm against Tennessee starter Andrew Lindsey.

Trailing by one in the third, Tavian Josenberger launched the go-ahead two-run shot to put Arkansas ahead, 3-2. His blast, one of two Razorback homers in the game, extended the Hogs’ nation-leading home run streak to 30 games.

Josenberger, who finished the game with a team-high two RBI, is slashing .339/.442/.551 with six home runs and 24 runs batted in over 33 games on the year.

Jace Bohrofen provided Arkansas’ second home run of the ballgame, blasting a solo shot to right in the fifth inning off of Tennessee reliever Seth Halvorsen to extend the Hogs’ lead to 5-2. Bohrofen, who has homered in three consecutive games, has put together a team-leading .415/.542/.755 slash line with nine homers and 30 RBI across 33 contests.

Kendall Diggs finished with a team-leading two hits as well as a stolen base in Friday night’s win. The Razorbacks’ primary designated hitter raised his season slash line to .353/.492/.686 with his seventh multi-hit effort of the year. 

Arkansas, which has not lost a regular-season weekend series to Tennessee in Fayetteville since 1996, will look to clinch the series win tomorrow night. First pitch between the Hogs and Vols is 6 p.m. Saturday, April 15, on SEC Network+.

Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Action Sports