#5 Arkansas Dominates Series Finale to Complete Sweep against #16 Tennessee
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 5 Arkansas (29-7, 11-4 SEC) finished off its three-game sweep against No. 16 Tennessee (23-13, 5-10 SEC) with a dominant 7-2 win in Sunday’s series finale at Baum-Walker Stadium.
With the series-sweeping win, the Hogs improved to 11-4 in SEC play for the third consecutive season. Arkansas has eclipsed the 10-win mark in SEC play by the midway point in the conference schedule five times in the last six seasons.
The Razorbacks demoralized the Volunteers from the get-go, pounding starter Drew Beam, who lasted just 1 2/3 innings, for six runs on four hits and four walks. Arkansas scored three in the first before putting up another three in the second.
Peyton Stovall and Caleb Cali each collected an RBI in the first, helping the Hogs get out to a 3-0 lead. Arkansas continued to do damage in the second, doubling its lead on Brady Slavens’ bases-clearing triple down the line in right.
Slavens, who also drove home a run on a sacrifice fly in the first inning, finished the ballgame with a team-leading four RBI. His 173 career runs batted in, including 29 RBI this season, are the most among all active SEC hitters.
Provided with a six-run lead, Razorback starter Ben Bybee twirled 3 1/3 innings of two-run ball on the mound. The right-hander struck out three while allowing just one hit and issuing four walks before giving way to the bullpen.
In relief of Bybee, Dylan Carter (4.2 IP, 3 SO) and Christian Foutch (1.0 IP, 1 SO) combined to toss 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Carter, who earned the win and improved to a perfect 6-0 on the year, pitched a career-long 4 2/3 innings and matched his career high with three strikeouts in his impressive outing on Sunday.
After Tennessee put two runners on to start the ninth, Foutch was called upon to close out the ballgame. The true freshman did exactly that, striking out the first batter he faced and setting down the final two Volunteer hitters to preserve the Razorbacks’ 7-2 series-sweeping victory.
Arkansas also extended its nation-leading home run streak to 32 games in the win, thanks to Tavian Josenberger’s solo blast in the sixth. Josenberger, who finished 1-for-2 with a team-high three runs, two walks and stolen base, is now slashing .333/.444/.561 with a career-best seven homers and 25 RBI to go with a team-leading nine steals on the year.
The Razorbacks will conclude their six-game homestand at Baum-Walker Stadium with a midweek contest against UCA. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, on SEC Network+.
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