Razorback Report: Week 8

Oliver Grigg April 12, 2021

Overall Record: 26-5
Conference Record: 9-3, 1st in SEC West
Streak: W1

In The Polls – Week 8
Baseball America – #1
D1Baseball – #2
NCBWA – #2
Perfect Game – #2
USA Today Coaches – #2
Collegiate Baseball – #2

Week 8 Results (4-1)
Tuesday, April 6 – vs. Little Rock – W, 7-2
Wednesday, April 7 – vs. Little Rock – W, 10-3
Saturday, April 10 – at Ole Miss (DH) – W, 7-3
Saturday, April 10 – at Ole Miss (DH) – L, 13-6
Sunday, April 11 – at Ole Miss – W, 18-14

This Week
Tuesday, April 13 – vs. UA Pine Bluff – 6:30 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Wednesday, April 14 – UA Pine Bluff – 4 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Friday, April 16 – vs. Texas A&M – 6:30 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Saturday, April 17 – vs. Texas A&M – 6:30 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Sunday, April 18 – vs. Texas A&M – 1:30 p.m. [SEC Network+]

Player of the Week
Jalen Battles
Stats: 3 GP/3 GS, .462/.563/.462, 6-for-13, 3 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB, SB

Battles was constantly on-base in all three games of Arkansas’ series-winning weekend at Ole Miss, collecting a team-best six hits while scoring three runs and driving in three. He had at least one hit in each of the three games contests, including three in the 18-14 finale win on Sunday. His two RBI in game three helped the Razorbacks win a series in Oxford for the first time since 2010 and take sole ownership of first place in the SEC West. The shortstop also played errorless defense all weekend long.

Pitcher of the Week
Kevin Kopps
Stats: 2 appearances, 1-0, 1 SV, 6.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

Kopps continued his dominance out of the bullpen, locking down the final three innings in each of Arkansas’ two wins at Ole Miss over the weekend. He earned his fourth save of the year in Saturday’s game one, striking out four in three innings of work to secure the Hogs’ 7-3. It was Kopps’ third multi-inning save of the year, including his second of 3.0 or more inning. He came back the very next day, logging another three innings out of the pen and striking out five to earn his fifth win of the season in Arkansas’ 18-14 series-clinching victory on Sunday. Kopps’ efforts helped the Razorbacks win a series in Oxford for the first time since 2010 and take sole ownership of first place in the SEC West.

Newcomer of the Week
Robert Moore
Stats: 3 GP/3 GS, .273/.471/.364, 3-for-11, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 5 BB, SF

Working out of the leadoff spot, Moore found ways to get on base and score runs all weekend long in Arkansas’ series-winning trip to Ole Miss. He drew a team-leading five walks, scored three runs and collected two RBI himself, helping the Razorbacks win a series in Oxford for the first time since 2010 and take sole ownership of first place in the SEC West.

Freshman of the Week
Cayden Wallace
Stats: 3 GP/3 GS, .267/.353/.600, 4-for-15, 2 R, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB

Wallace slugged his way through the road trip to Ole Miss, launching his team-leading eighth homer of the year and driving in a team-high six RBI on the weekend. The first-year newcomer had at least one hit in all three games of the series and collected multiple RBI in two of the three contests. He swatted a three-run homer in the third inning of Sunday’s 18-14 series finale win, helping the Razorbacks win a series in Oxford for the first time since 2010 and take sole ownership of first place in the SEC West. Through the first 29 games of his collegiate career, Wallace leads Arkansas in batting average (.302) and homers (8).

Razorback Notes

Arkansas has won two consecutive series against Ole Miss, also taking two of three game from the Rebels when the two teams met in an NCAA Super Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium during the 2019 season.
Before this year, the Hogs last won a series in Oxford, Miss., in the 2010 campaign. Arkansas also took two of three games from the Rebels that season.
The Hogs scored 18 runs in Sunday’s series finale win, doing so for the first time since an 18-1 win against Dayton (Feb. 18, 2018).
The Razorbacks’ 17 walks drawn in Sunday’s ballgame represents the second-most single-game total in program history. Arkansas drew 19 walks in a 20-2 win against Alabama A&M (March 12, 2013).

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