Razorback Report: Week 1

Overall Record: 4-0
Streak: W4

In The Polls – Preseason
Baseball America – #4
D1Baseball – #5
NCBWA – #5
USA Today Coaches – #5
Perfect Game – #13

Week 1 Results (4-0)
Friday, Feb. 14 – vs. Washington State [DH-1] – W, 3-2 (10)
Friday, Feb. 14 – vs. Washington State [DH-2] – W, 14-2 (7)
Saturday, Feb. 15 – vs. Washington State – W, 5-2
Monday, Feb. 17 – vs. Washington State – W, 12-2 (7)

Week 2 Schedule
Friday, Feb. 21 – vs. Kansas State & – 7 p.m. [FloCollege]
Saturday, Feb. 22 – vs. #22 TCU & – 6 p.m. [FloCollege]
Sunday, Feb. 23 – vs. Michigan & – 11 a.m. [FloCollege]

& Amegy Bank College Baseball Series presented by Kubota

Player of the Week
INF Brent Iredale

Stats (4 GP/4 GS): .467/.526/.933 (7-for-15), 4 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SF

Arkansas infielder Brent Iredale powered the Razorbacks to an Opening Weekend series win against Washington State as well their 30th consecutive non-conference home weekend series win, slashing a team-leading .467/.526/.933 with two home runs and nine RBI in four games. The Sydney, Australia, native, making his Arkansas debut after beginning his collegiate career at New Mexico JC, recorded a hit and drove in a run in all four games of the series, logging two multi-hit games and three multi-RBI performances in the process. In Arkansas’ Opening Day doubleheader sweep against Washington State (Feb. 14), Iredale hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th of game one to seal the Hogs’ first walk-off win in extras on Opening Day since 2009. In game two of the twin bill, the Razorback third baseman had a team-high three hits, including a double, and a team-leading four RBI. Iredale continued his tear in the third game of the series against Washington State (Feb. 15), turning in his second multi-hit and second multi-RBI efforts of the weekend with a two-homer day to help Arkansas cruise to an Opening Weekend series-clinching 14-2 run-rule win. In the series finale against Washington State (Feb. 17), Iredale closed out his weekend with a base hits and two more RBI as the Razorbacks completed their sweep of the Cougars.

Pitcher of the Week
RHP Gabe Gaeckle

Stats (1 APP/1 GS): 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO, .063 B/AVG

Arkansas right-hander Gabe Gaeckle earned the Opening Day start against Washington State (Feb. 14) and was dominant on the mound, striking out a career-high seven over five shutout innings. Making the first start of his collegiate career, Gaeckle limited the Cougars to just one hit and one walk as the Razorbacks pulled out a 3-2 win in 10 innings and recorded a walk-off win on Opening Day for the first time since 2009.

Freshman of the Week
RHP Carson Wiggins

Stats (1 APP): 0.00 ERA, 1 SV, 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO

Arkansas right-hander Carson Wiggins locked down his first career save in his collegiate debut on the mound against Washington State (Feb. 15), tossing a scoreless inning with a strikeout to finish off the Razorbacks’ Opening Weekend series-clinching win. The true freshman from Roland, Okla., threw 13-of-20 pitches (65%) for strikes and struck out the final batter he faced swinging on 3-2 fastball to end the game. Wiggins threw 16 fastballs that averaged a velocity of 99.1 mph, including the first four pitches of his debut thrown at 100 mph. He was the only freshman pitcher in the SEC to record a save on Opening Weekend.

Razorback Notes

• Arkansas recorded a walk-off win on Opening Day for the first time since 2009.
• With their Opening Weekend series win, the Razorbacks have now won 30 consecutive non-conference home weekend series in a streak dating back to 2015.
• The Hogs have not lost or tied a non-conference regular season weekend series at Baum-Walker Stadium since 2014, when Arkansas lost two-of-three games to South Alabama in its final non-conference home weekend series.
• Monday’s win marked the Razorbacks’ 700th victory in the 30-season history of Baum-Walker Stadium, where Arkansas maintains an all-time record of 700-243 (.742).
• Since Dave Van Horn’s first season as head coach in 2003, the Razorbacks have swept 12 of their Opening Weekend series.

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