FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 6 Arkansas bounced back on Saturday to defeat Texas Arlington 9-0 in front of 10,997 fans at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The offense that struggled Friday pounded out two home runs and 12 hits Saturday. Hunter Dietz (1-1) worked seven innings to get the win. Dietz allowed two hits, struck out eight and walk ed only one. Mark Brissey pitched the final two innings and only surrendered one walk while striking out three. Dietz was impressive throwing 93 pitches including 60 strikes.
"Everything was working for me today and I got better as the game went on," Dietz said. "The defense was great behind me too. My cutter was working today."
The Razorbacks took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Reese Robinett singled to start the inning. With one out, Maika Niu singled to left field moving Robinett to third. Nolan Souza, starting at third base, then lined a hit to left field to plate Robinett. Damian Ruiz delivered a two-out RBI single to score Niu.
The Razorbacks then added four more in the bottom of the third. Ryder Helfrick, Kuhio Aloy and Robinett all singled to start the inning and load the bases. Zack Stewart hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the first out, but allowing Helfrick to tag and score from third base. Niu then unloaded a three-run blast over the fence in left field for a 6-0 lead. The first two runs in the third were credited to UTA starter Dylan Skofield (0-3) who took the loss. Nick Perry gave up two runs including Niu's 341-foot home run.
In the bottom of the eighth, Carson Brumbaugh singled with two outs. Ruiz then singled to move Brumbaugh to second. Camden Kozeal then hit Landon Murphy's pitch off the flag pole in right field for a three-run home run. Dietz admitted he had some extra pressure on him due to the Hogs losing 4-3 on Friday,
"The main thing for me is not put pressure on myself," Dietz said. "Yeah there was some pressure going out there."
Skofield worked two hits allowing six hits, four runs, one walk and struck out a hitter. Perry worked three innings surrendering two hits, a pair of runs, walked two and struck out three. Murphy gave up three runs, four hits and struck out one.
Kozeal and Niu each had two hits and knocked in three runs each. Ruiz had two hits with one RBI and Robinett also contributed a pair of hits. Helfrick, Aloy, Souza and Brumbaugh each had one hit.
Arkansas (8-3) and UTA (3-7) will play the rubber match of the series Sunday with a starting time of 11 a.m. The game was moved up because of rain expected in the afternoon. The game can be streamed on the SEC Network+.
