Fisher's Complete-Game One-Hit Shutout Leads Hogs to Series Sweep against Musketeers
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Colin Fisher fired a complete-game one-hit shutout with a career-high 11 strikeouts to lead No. 8 Arkansas (6-1) to an 11-0 series-sweeping win in eight innings against Xavier (2-5) Sunday at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Razorbacks, winners of five straight games, have won 33 consecutive non-conference weekend regular season series at home. Arkansas has not lost or tied a non-conference weekend series at home since 2014 against South Alabama.
Kuhio Aloy swatted the walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, his second game-winning hit in as many days, to extend the Hogs’ lead to 11-0 and invoke the run rule. The Razorback right fielder, who is slashing a team-leading .474/.524/.947 with three home runs and eight RBI through five games this season, was one of five Arkansas players to tally multiple base hits and one of four players to record multiple RBI in Sunday’s lopsided victory.
Fisher was the story of the afternoon, however, spinning what is believed to be the first eight-inning complete-game shutout as well as the first eight-inning one-hitter in program history. The left-hander allowed an infield single in the second inning before retiring the final 20 batters he faced to punctuate his career-best outing on the mound.
Offensively, Arkansas scored early and often, including three runs in the first inning on Camden Kozeal’s RBI single and Reese Robinett’s two-RBI double. Zack Stewart belted his first home run as a Razorback and 45th of his collegiate career in the second inning before Ryder Helfrick’s RBI double later in the frame extended the Hogs’ advantage to 5-0.
In the fourth inning, Helfrick blasted his fourth home run of the season to put Arkansas ahead by seven. The Razorback catcher went 2-for-4 with two extra-base hits and three RBI on the day to raise his season slash line to .310/.394/.759.
Kozeal and Aloy sealed the Hogs’ run-rule win in the eighth. After Nolan Souza’s single and Carter Rutenbar’s pinch-hit walk, Kozeal came through an RBI single, his second base knock and second run batted in of the afternoon, to grow Arkansas’ lead to 8-0 before Aloy mashed the game-winning three-run blast to center and clinched the series sweep.
Through seven games, Kozeal is slashing .385/.515/.962 with four home runs and a team-leading 10 RBI. His 10 base hits this season lead the Razorbacks, and his four home runs are tied with Helfrick’s four homers for the team lead.
Up next, Arkansas squares off in-state foe Arkansas State in a double midweek at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch in the series opener between the Razorbacks and Red Wolves is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, on SEC Network+.
For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).
