#4 Arkansas Clinches Series Win against South Carolina with Late-Game Rally
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Down to its final out, No. 4 Arkansas (18-6, 4-1 SEC) scored the game-tying run on throwing error in the ninth before stringing together a rally in the top of the 10th to pull out a 3-2 come-from-behind win against South Carolina (12-12, 0-5 SEC) Saturday afternoon at Founders Park and secure its second SEC weekend series of the year.
With Saturday’s series-clinching win, the Razorbacks have now won six consecutive regular season series against the Gamecocks (2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026). Arkansas has not lost a series played in Columbia since 2016.
The Hogs, now 4-1 in league play, will go for the sweep tomorrow. First pitch in the finale is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CT Sunday, March 22, on SEC Network+ with Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Grayson Greiner (analyst) on the call.
Arkansas can improve to 5-1 through its first six SEC games for the third straight year and sixth time in the last seven full seasons with a win tomorrow. The Hogs started 5-1 through six SEC games in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025.
Saturday began as a pitchers’ duel between the starters. Arkansas’ Hunter Dietz tossed 6.2 innings of two-run ball with a career high-tying 12 strikeouts, while South Carolina’s Amp Phillips fired seven innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts.
Arkansas opened the scoring in the top half of the third inning on Damian Ruiz’s two-out solo shot to center field. Ruiz’s third home run in his last four games gave Dietz and the Razorbacks an early 1-0 advantage to work with.
South Carolina tied the game at one in the bottom of the fifth before taking a 2-1 lead in the seventh on a two-out RBI single. In relief of Dietz, Cole Gibler emerged from the bullpen and twirled 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
With Gibler keeping the Gamecocks at bay, the Hogs clawed their way back in the ninth. Ryder Helfrick drew a one-out walk, his third of the game, before scoring on a two-out throwing error, which sent the game to extras tied at two.
TJ Pompey’s leadoff double and Nolan Souza’s single in the top of the 10th inning set the stage for Camden Kozeal’s go-ahead RBI groundout to second, which put Arkansas up. Gibler retired the side in order in the bottom half of the frame to seal the Razorbacks’ 3-2 comeback win and hand them their second SEC weekend series win of the campaign.
Colin Fisher (2-1, 1.95 ERA) will take the mound for Arkansas tomorrow in the series finale against South Carolina. The Razorback left-hander will go up against Gamecock right-hander Brandon Stone (2-1, 2.14 ERA) with a sweep on the line.
For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).
