Razorback Report: Week 7

Overall Record: 23-3
SEC Record: 8-1
Streak: W4

In The Polls – Week 6
Baseball America – #1
D1Baseball – #1
NCBWA – #1
Perfect Game – #1
USA Today Coaches – #1

Week 7 Results (4-0)
Tuesday, March 26 – vs. Little Rock – W, 11-0 (7)
Thursday, March 28 – vs. #8 LSU* – W, 7-4
Friday, March 29 – vs. #8 LSU* – W, 4-3 (10)
Saturday, March 30 – vs. #8 LSU* – W, 7-5

* SEC opponent

Week 8 Schedule
Tuesday, April 2 – vs. Arkansas State – 6 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Thursday, April 4 – vs. Ole Miss* – 6 p.m. [SEC Network]
Friday, April 5 – vs. Ole Miss* – 6:30 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Saturday, April 6 – vs. Ole Miss* – 2 p.m. [SEC Network+]

* SEC opponent

Player of the Week
INF Peyton Stovall

Stats (4 GP/4 GS): .500/.579/1.000 (8-for-16), 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI

Peyton Stovall had three multi-hit games and two multi-RBI performances during the Hogs’ undefeated 4-0 week, which included a home weekend series sweep against nationally ranked LSU. For the week, the second baseman led Arkansas in every major offensive category, racking up a team-leading eight hits with four extra-base hits, including two doubles and two home runs, as well as a team-high seven RBI. Stovall began his week with a two-run homer in Arkansas’ midweek win against Little Rock on March 26. The Louisiana native had at least one RBI in all three games and turned in all three of his multi-hit games against LSU, including a season-best three hits with two doubles in the Hogs’ series-clinching win on March 29. Stovall matched his season-high with three RBI in the series finale, drilling a two-run homer to punctuate Arkansas’ second consecutive home weekend series sweep against LSU.

Pitcher of the Week
LHP Hagen Smith

Stats (1 APP/1 GS): 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO

Ace Hagen Smith continued to make his case for the best pitcher in all of college baseball, recording his team-leading fifth double-digit strikeout game and logging his team-best fifth quality start of the season in the Razorbacks’ series-opening win against nationally ranked LSU. The junior left-hander struck out 10 and did not issue a walk over his six innings of two-run ball against the Tigers. For the season, Smith, who earned the win against LSU to improve to a perfect 5-0, boasts a 1.54 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 35.0 innings over seven starts. The Bullard, Texas, native has allowed just six runs on 16 hits, including four home runs, and 10 walks all year.

Freshman of the Week
RHP Gabe Gaeckle

Stats (1 APP): 0.00 ERA, 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO

True freshman Gabe Gaeckle was superb in his relief outing against nationally ranked LSU. The right-hander emerged from the bullpen and struck out three over 2.2 scoreless innings in the Razorbacks’ series-clinching extra-inning win against the Tigers on March 29. Behind Gaeckle’s strong effort, Arkansas secured its second consecutive home weekend series sweep against LSU.

Razorback Notes

• Arkansas, winners of four of its last five weekend series against LSU, has now swept two consecutive home weekend series against its Western Division rival. The Razorbacks also earned a weekend series sweep against the Tigers in Fayetteville in 2022.
• With Saturday’s win against LSU, Arkansas improved to 8-1 in SEC play for only second time under head coach Dave Van Horn, and for the first time since 2009. The 8-1 record marks the Hogs’ best nine-game start in league play in the Van Horn era.
• Saturday’s series-sweeping win also extended the Razorbacks’ current winning streak at Baum-Walker Stadium to 17 consecutive games, setting a new program record. It surpasses the 16-game home winning streak accomplished by the 1997 Arkansas team, led by legendary head coach Norm DeBriyn, for the longest in Baum-Walker Stadium history.

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