Oliver Grigg
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Will McEntire’s complete game powered No. 8 Arkansas (12-2) to a series-clinching 6-1 win over Louisiana Tech (8-6) on Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
With the win, the Hogs clinched their 26th consecutive non-conference home weekend series win. Arkansas has not lost a non-conference home weekend series in the regular season since dropping two of three to South Alabama in 2014.
McEntire was the story of the ballgame. His nine-inning complete game was the first by a Razorback pitcher since Dominic Taccolini’s 10-inning complete game shutout against SEC East foe Kentucky in 2016.
Three Arkansas pitchers — Zach Jackson (at Kentucky, 2016), Trevor Stephan (at Tennessee, 2017) and Kacey Murphy (vs. Florida, 2017 SEC Tournament) — threw seven-inning complete games between Taccolini and McEntire’s complete game performances.
The Bryant, Ark., native did not allow an earned run on Saturday, totaling six strikeouts while giving up only three singles. McEntire, who improved to 3-0 and lowered his season ERA to 3.48 in the win, threw just 97 pitches and did not issue a free pass until the ninth inning.
Behind McEntire’s strong performance on the mound, Arkansas cruised to its seventh consecutive win. Brady Slavens’ RBI double in the first put the Razorbacks up, 1-0, before Kendall Diggs and Peyton Holt hit back-to-back homers in the bottom half of the second to give Arkansas an early 3-0 lead.
The home run parade continued in the fourth when Jace Bohrofen led off the inning with a solo shot to right, putting the Hogs ahead by four. Bohrofen’s home run was his fourth in as many games and his fifth of the young season.
Peyton Stovall extended Arkansas’ lead with an RBI double in the bottom of fifth before tripling and scoring on a single by Jared Wegner in the eighth, which pushed the Hogs’ lead to 6-1. Stovall finished 3-for-4 and a homer shy of the cycle, while Wegner collected his team-leading 23rd RBI in the win.
Arkansas, now 10-1 during its 18-game homestand, goes for its second consecutive weekend series sweep in tomorrow’s finale against Louisiana Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, March 12, on SEC Network+.
Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Action Sports
Razorback head baseball coach Dave Van Horn waits patiently before the start of their game against Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback junior pitcher Will McEntire (#41) from Bryant, AR throws an off-speed pitch for a strike against Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback junior third baseman Peyton Holt (#24) from Greenwood, AR throws for a putout against Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback sophomore second baseman Peyton Stovall (#10) from Haughton, LA watches the ball into his glove against Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback junior right fielder Jace Bohrofen (#8) from Oklahoma City, OK celebrates a homerun against Louisiana Tech with Kendall Diggs (#5) Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback junior pitcher Will McEntire (#41) from Bryant, AR celebrates his complete game against Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.