Razorback Report: Week 13

Overall Record: 39-10
Conference Record: 19-8, 1st in SEC West
Streak: W1

In The Polls – Week 13
Baseball America – #1
D1Baseball – #1
NCBWA – #1
Perfect Game – #1
USA Today Coaches – #1
Collegiate Baseball – #1

Week 13 Results (3-1)
Tuesday, May 11 – vs. Arkansas State – W, 8-4
Friday, May 14 – at Tennessee – W, 6-5
Saturday, May 15 – at Tennessee – L, 8-7
Sunday, May 16 – at Tennessee – W, 3-2

This Week
Thursday, May 20 – vs. Florida – 6 p.m. [SEC Network]
Friday, May 21 – vs. Florida – 7 p.m. [SEC Network]
Saturday, May 22 – vs. Florida – 2 p.m. [SEC Network+]

Player of the Week
Brady Slavens
Stats: 3 GP/3 GS, .385/.385/.769, 5-for-13, 4 R, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI

Brady Slavens was the spark plug in each of the Razorbacks’ wins over the weekend at #4 Tennessee, helping #1 Arkansas take the series on Rocky Top. The Hog first baseman racked up a team-best five hits on the weekend, including three extra-base knocks, and scored four runs while driving in two. He had three hits and two RBI in game one of the series, swatting a two-run homer and coming a triple shy of the cycle to help Arkansas storm back from a 5-0 first-inning deficit and win, 8-7. Slavens came up big in the series finale with two runs scored, including the game-winning tally in the top of the ninth. His leadoff single started set the table for teammate Robert Moore’s RBI single, which extended Arkansas’ lead to 3-1. The Razorbacks would hold on in the bottom of the ninth to win, 3-2, and clinch their ninth straight SEC series victory.

Pitcher of the Week
Kevin Kopps
Stats: 2 app., 2-0, 1.35 ERA, 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Kevin Kopps continued his dominant season out of the bullpen, carding two wins in relief to help #1 Arkansas take the series against #4 Tennessee on Rocky Top. The right-hander pitched 6 2/3 innings over two games, striking out six while allowing only one run. In the series opener, Kopps twirled three scoreless innings of relief and struck out a pair to secure Arkansas’ 8-7 comeback win. He back in Sunday’s series finale and locked down the final 3 2/3 innings of the ballgame, striking out four more and earning his ninth victory of the season while leading the top-ranked Razorbacks to their ninth consecutive SEC series win.

Newcomer of the Week (SEC)
Robert Moore
Stats: 3 GP/3 GS, .200/.182/.500, 2-for-10, R, HR, 5 RBI, BB, 2 SF

Robert Moore filled up the stat sheet, reaching base safely in all three games over the weekend while finding numerous ways to drive in runs and help #1 Arkansas take the series against #4 Tennessee on Rocky Top. The Razorback second baseman finished the three-game set with a team-leading five RBI, two of which came on his two-run homer in the series opener. Moore finished Friday night’s game with three RBI, helping Arkansas dig out of an early five-run deficit and earn a come-from-behind 8-7 win. He collected two more RBI in the series finale on Sunday, including the go-ahead run as well as the eventually game-winning run to power the top-ranked Hogs to their ninth consecutive SEC series win.

Freshman of the Week
Cayden Wallace
Stats: 3 GP/3 GS, .308/.308/.385, 4-for-13, R, 2B, RBI

Cayden Wallace racked up the second-most hits of any Razorback over the weekend to help #1 Arkansas take the series against #4 Tennessee on Rocky Top. The true freshman had a hit in all three contests, including a pair of singles in the series opener. He also drove in a run in Friday night’s tilt, helping power the Hogs to an 8-7 come-from-behind win. He singled in Saturday’s contest before doubling in the finale on Sunday afternoon and played errorless defense all weekend long as the top-ranked Razorbacks went on to clinch their ninth consecutive SEC series win.

Razorback Notes

• Arkansas is the third SEC team to win its first nine series in a season, joining Vanderbilt (2013) and Florida (2018). Vanderbilt is the only SEC team in history to win all of their conference series (2013).
• Dave Van Horn moved into fifth place for most victories (739) by an SEC baseball coach with Sunday’s win, passing former South Carolina coach Ray Tanner (738).
• Arkansas sits alone atop the SEC standings. The Razorbacks have a two-game lead over Mississippi State in the SEC West and will claim at least a share of the division title with one win during the upcoming three-game series against Florida. With two wins, Arkansas can control its only destiny and clinch its first outright division title since 2011.
• With Sunday’s win, the Hogs finish the regular season with a 13-5 record in road games. Arkansas is 16-5 in all games away from Baum-Walker Stadium, including the season-opening trip to the State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

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