#17 Arkansas Clinches Series against #24 Oklahoma with Seven-Run Outburst in Eighth Inning
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A seven-run eighth inning propelled No. 17 Arkansas (34-17, 15-11) to a 12-8 series-clinching come-from-behind win against No. 24 Oklahoma (30-18, 12-14) Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Hogs improved to 6-3 in SEC weekend series, including a 3-2 series record at home, this season with Saturday’s win against the Sooners. Arkansas will close out the regular season and its SEC slate next weekend at Kentucky (May 14-16).
Oklahoma led 8-5 entering the bottom half of the eighth, but Arkansas turned the game on its head by scoring seven to open a four-run advantage. The seven-run frame included six hits, including five singles and a double, to go along with a walk and timely error, as the Razorbacks capitalized on the Sooners’ miscue to build a game-changing 12-8 advantage.
Consecutive runs batted in by Kuhio Aloy, Nolan Souza and Maika Niu with one out in the eighth inning tied the game at eight apiece before Zack Stewart’s go-ahead two-run double down the right field line put the Hogs up, 10-8. Back-to-back RBI singles by Carter Rutenbar and Damian Ruiz later in the frame would extend Arkansas’ lead to four.
Arkansas finished with 12 runs on nine hits, including a pair of home runs, and 11 walks in the win. Camden Kozeal and Ryder Helfrick each drew three walks, while Niu went 2-for-5 with a homer, his second in as many games, and three RBI.
TJ Pompey, meanwhile, belted his 12th home run of the season, third most on the team, in the second inning. The Razorback third baseman finished the contest with a pair of walks and a stolen base, his 12th of the campaign.
On the mound, Gabe Gaeckle started for the Hogs and turned in 4.2 innings of three-run ball with four strikeouts. Arkansas used four pitchers in relief of Gaeckle – Parker Coil (1.1 IP, 4 R, 2 SO), Steele Eaves (1.0 IP), Tate McGuire (1.0 IP, 1 R) and Ethan McElvain (1.0 IP, 2 SO) – to fend off Oklahoma and pull out Saturday’s series-clinching comeback win.
The Razorbacks will go for the sweep of the Sooners in tomorrow’s finale at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Sunday, May 10, on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) in the broadcast booth.
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