Hogs Blast past Bears with 10-Run Inning
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Highlighted by TJ Pompey’s grand slam, No. 4 Arkansas (19-7) used a 10-run fifth inning to blast its way past in-state opponent UCA (13-12) in a lopsided 15-2 run-rule win Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
With the win, the Razorbacks improved to 6-1 in midweek games this season. Arkansas also improved to 30-6 overall against in-state foes and 9-3 overall against UCA, including a perfect 7-0 record in the Dave Van Horn era (2003-pres.).
Pompey stuffed the stat sheet in Tuesday’s win against the Bears, finishing 2-for-2 with three runs scored, two home runs, five RBI and two walks. The Razorback third baseman, now slashing .263/.341/.538 with six homers and 15 RBI on the year, was one of four Arkansas players to record a multi-hit game ad one of four players to log a multi-RBI game.
UCA maintained a 2-1 lead through four innings of play, but Arkansas took control of the ballgame with its 10-run fifth innings. The Razorbacks brought 10 consecutive batters to the plate and scored all 10 runs before recording an out.
Camden Kozeal collected an RBI single to even the game at two apiece before Zack Stewart, who had hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, drew a bases-loaded walk to put Arkansas ahead, 3-2. The Hogs would never look back as Maika Niu roped a two-RBI double, Stewart scored on a wild pitch and Carter Rutenbar collected a pinch-hit RBI double, setting the stage for Pompey’s rally-capping grand slam, his first of two home runs, which extended the lead to 11-2.
Arkansas added to its lead with four more runs in the sixth, including three on Rutenbar’s first career homer and one on Pompey’s solo shot, his second dinger of the game, to grow its advantage to 15-2 and invoke the run rule in the seventh.
On the mound, Peyton Lee started and tossed two innings of one-run ball with two strikeouts before handing the ball over to Parker Coil, who spun three innings of one-run ball with one strikeout to log his first win of the season. Mark Brissey (1.0 IP, 3 SO) and Tye Briscoe (1.0 IP, 3 SO), making his collegiate debut, logged scoreless frames in relief.
Along with Pompey, Kozeal (2-for-3, 2B, RBI), Niu (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Rutenbar (2-for-2, 2B, HR, 4 RBI) each tallied multiple hits in Tuesday night’s win. Stewart, who launched his 49th career homer Tuesday, finished with two RBI.
Up next, Arkansas, 4-2 in the SEC, dives back into league play with a home weekend series against Florida (20-6, 3-3 SEC). First pitch between the Razorbacks and Gators is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, March 27, on SEC Network+.
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