Hogs Blast Gamecocks in 22-Run Onslaught

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Powered by Maika Niu’s two homers and six RBI, No. 4 Arkansas (17-6, 3-1 SEC) belted six long balls in its 22-6 run-rule win against South Carolina (12-11, 0-4 SEC) in Friday night’s series opener at Founders Park, scoring its second-most runs in an SEC game in program history as well as its most runs in an SEC game in the Dave Van Horn era.

The Hogs, now 3-1 in league play, go for their second consecutive SEC weekend series win tomorrow. First pitch is 3 p.m. CT Saturday, March 21, on SEC Network+ with Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Grayson Greiner (analyst) on the call.

Arkansas scored early and often in Friday’s series opener, landing the first punch with four runs in the top of the first before tacking on three in the second, two in the third, eight in the fourth, three in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The Razorbacks tagged Gamecock starter Josh Gunther for nine runs on six hits and three walks in 2.1 innings of work.

After Camden Kozeal’s RBI single opened the scoring in the first, Niu swatted a three-run homer later in the frame to put Arkansas ahead by four. The Hogs never looked back, homering twice more in the second inning on Damian Ruiz and Kozeal’s back-to-back blasts before Kuhio Aloy connected on a two-run shot in the third inning to extend the lead to 9-0.

Up nine after three innings, the Razorbacks kept their foot on the gas with eight more runs in the top half of the fourth to grow their advantage to 17-0. Following a bases-loaded walk by Zack Stewart, Niu and Reese Robinett each collected two-RBI doubles before Nolan Souza and Ruiz added RBI singles. The eighth and final run of the inning came on an error.

South Carolina responded to its 17-run deficit with a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth by taking advantage of a one-out error – one of Arkansas’ few miscues on the night. It was the only damage Gabe Gaeckle, who started on the mound for the Hogs, would suffer as he tossed five innings of four-run ball (two earned) with seven strikeouts to earn the win.

TJ Pompey hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth before Ryder Helfrick added an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center, pushing the Razorbacks’ lead to 20-4. Niu led off the sixth inning with his second home run and sixth RBI of the contest, and Kozeal drew a two-out bases-loaded walk later in the frame as Arkansas’ edge grew to an astounding 22-4.

South Carolina scored a pair on a two-run blast, its third homer of the game, in the bottom of the seventh, but Arkansas, with the help of Jordan Martin (1.0 IP) and Luke Cornelison (1.0 IP, 2 SO), would ultimately close out its 22-6 run-rule win. The Razorbacks’ 22 runs are their most in an SEC game since Norm DeBriyn’s Hogs won, 30-7, at South Carolina on March 30, 1997, without a run rule, and their 16-run margin of victory is their largest in an SEC road game under DVH.

Offensively, four Razorbacks finished with multi-hit games in Friday night’s lopsided win, including Ruiz (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Kozeal (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Niu (3-for-5, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI) and Pompey (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI). Niu, who tied a career high with six RBI, also made a remarkable full-extension diving catch in left center in the bottom of the second inning.

Hunter Dietz (2-2, 4.18 ERA) will toe the rubber for Arkansas tomorrow against South Carolina in the second game of the weekend series. The Razorback left-hander will go up against Gamecock right-hander Amp Phillips (2-2, 2.62 ERA).

Arkansas has won five consecutive regular season series against the Gamecocks (2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025), including road series at Founders Park in 2021 and 2024. The Razorbacks have not lost a series in Columbia since 2016.

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