Razorback Report: Week 3

Overall Record: 9-2
SEC Record: 0-0
Streak: W5

In The Polls – Week 2
D1Baseball – #2
Perfect Game – #2
Baseball America – #3
NCBWA – #5
USA Today Coaches – #5

Week 3 Results (4-0)
Tuesday, Feb. 27 – vs. Grambling – W, 21-1 (7)
Friday, March 1 – vs. Murray State – W, 5-1
Saturday, March 2 – vs. Murray State – W, 11-1 (8)
Sunday, March 3 – vs. Murray State – W, 5-3

Week 4 Schedule
Tuesday, March 5 – vs. UCA – 3 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Friday, March 8 – vs. McNeese State – 3 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Saturday, March 9 – vs. McNeese State – 2 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Sunday, March 10 – vs. McNeese State – 1 p.m. [SEC Network+]

Player of the Week
OF Jayson Jones

Stats (4 GP/4 GS): 5-for-15, 5 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB

Outfielder Jayson Jones turned in a big week offensively, highlighted by his two-homer, six-RBI game in Arkansas’ 21-1 run-rule win against Grambling State. The Savannah, Texas, native had at least one hit in all four games played, including his two home runs in the Razorbacks’ lopsided midweek win over the Tigers. Jones hammered a two-run home run before swatting a grand slam later in the ballgame to finish with a career-high six runs batted in. He stayed hot in Arkansas’ sweep against Murray State, totaling four RBI during the three-game series. Jones had a two-RBI double in Friday’s series opener and drove in another pair of runs in the Hogs’ series-clinching win on Saturday.

Pitcher of the Week
LHP Hagen Smith

Stats (1 APP/1 GS): 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO, .053 B/AVG

Ace Hagen Smith followed up his historic 17-strikeout performance with a 12-strikeout gem in the series opener against Murray State to help lead the Razorbacks to a three-game series sweep and their 29th consecutive non-conference home weekend series win. The left-hander, who earned the win and logged his second consecutive quality start, struck out double-digit batters for the second week in a row as he limited Murray State to just one hit and one walk on 81 pitches over six innings. After allowing a leadoff home run to begin the game, Smith retired the next 18-of-19 batters faced, piling up 12 strikeouts along the way.

Freshman of the Week
INF Nolan Souza

Stats (3 GP/2 GS): .667/.750/1.333, 4-for-6, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB

True freshman infielder Nolan Souza recorded a hit in all three games played in during the week and helped lead Arkansas to a three-game series sweep against Murray State, marking the Razorbacks’ 29th consecutive non-conference home weekend series win. The Honolulu, Hawai’i, native began his week with a run scored, a double and a walk in the Hogs’ midweek win against Grambling on Feb. 27. Souza started at second base in the second game of the series against Murray State and delivered a two-RBI single in addition to a walk and a stolen base. In the series finale, Souza again started at second and belted his first career home run – a solo shot – before driving in two more runs on an single to finish with a career-high five runs batted in.

Razorback Notes

• With the series win against Murray State, Arkansas clinched its 29th consecutive non-conference home weekend series. The Razorbacks have not lost or tied a non-conference regular season weekend series at Baum-Walker Stadium since dropping two-of-three games against South Alabama in 2014.
• TheArkansas pitching staff recorded 50 strikeouts to just four walks over 26.0 innings in the three-game series against Murray State. Razorback pitchers allowed only five runs, good for a 1.73 ERA on the weekend.
• All three Razorback starting pitchers, including Hagen Smith (12), Brady Tygart (10) and Mason Molina (10), racked up double-digit strikeouts during the series.
• Over the last eight games, Arkansas starting pitchers have allowed just three runs on 15 hits, including three solo homers, and eight walks while combining for a jaw-dropping 0.69 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 39.0 innings of work.

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