#22 Arkansas Completes Road Weekend Series Sweep of #8 Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Behind lights-out pitching and clutch hitting, No. 22 Arkansas (24-13, 8-7 SEC) completed its road weekend series sweep of No. 8 Alabama (26-11, 8-7 SEC) with a 3-2 win Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

With the win, the Razorbacks secured their first sweep against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. It also marks Arkansas’ second road sweep of Alabama in history, previously accomplishing the feat in Hoover, Ala., during the 2015 campaign.

Tate McGuire (3.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 SO), Parker Coil (2.0 IP, 2 SO), Gabe Gaeckle (2.0 IP, 2 SO) and Ethan McElvain (2.0 IP, 4 SO) combined for nine innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts to hold off the Crimson Tide in Sunday’s series finale. Alabama held a 2-0 lead through the first five innings, but Arkansas chipped away at its deficit beginning in the sixth.

After Ryder Helfrick’s one-out triple to right center in the top of the sixth, Maika Niu put the Razorbacks on the board with a sacrifice fly to right. Arkansas would tie the game at two apiece in the seventh inning on Nolan Souza’s RBI single.

Camden Kozeal provided the go-ahead run in the eighth. After Helfrick’s walk and stolen base, the Razorback shortstop stepped up to the plate with two outs and ripped a double down the first base line to bring him home from second.

Given a one-run lead to protect, McElvain closed out the final two frames to seal Arkansas’ 3-2 series-sweeping win and secure his second save of the season. The left-hander retired all six batters he faced, striking out three in the process.

For the season, McElvain boasts a 1.40 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 19.1 innings of work across 11 relief appearances. He has allowed just three runs on 12 hits and six walks while holding opposing hitters to a meager .164 batting average.

Offensively, TJ Pompey continued his breakout weekend with a two-hit performance in Sunday’s series finale. The Hogs’ third baseman had at least one hit in all three games of the series, raising his season slash line to .267/.345/.543.

Up next, Arkansas heads to CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Ark., for a midweek matchup against in-state opponent UAPB. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, on SEC Network+.

For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).