Razorbacks Close Season-Opening Trip to Globe Life with Win over Tarleton State

ARLINGTON, Texas – Behind the pitching staff’s 13 strikeouts, No. 7 Arkansas (3-1) closed out its season-opening trip to Globe Life Field with a 3-1 win against Tarleton State (3-1) Monday afternoon in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.

With the win, the Hogs improved to 12-4 in games played at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. Arkansas’ .750 winning percentage in Arlington is the highest among all college teams that have played at least 15 games in the venue.

Arkansas pitchers Peyton Lee, Ethan McElvain and Mark Brissey combined for nine innings of one-run ball with 13 strikeouts in Monday’s win. Lee, a true freshman from Maumelle, Ark., made his collegiate debut in his start on the mound, allowing only one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five over his 4.1 innings of work.

The Razorback offense provided the right-hander early support with three runs in the first inning. Maika Niu, Reese Robinett and Nolan Souza each collected an RBI in the top half of the game’s opening frame to put Arkansas up, 3-0.

Arkansas would never relinquish the lead thanks to the strong work of Lee and the bullpen. After Tarleton State cut its deficit to two in the fifth, McElvain entered in relief with a runner on second and quickly extinguished the threat.

The left-hander fired 2.2 shutout innings with five strikeouts to silence the Texans and earn the win. McElvain turned the ball over to Brissey, who locked down the final two frames in his collegiate debut with three strikeouts to earn the save.

Offensively, Niu (2-for-4, RBI) and Robinett (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) led the way with two hits apiece. Damian Ruiz, meanwhile, drew a walk and singled in his first two at-bats to extend his reached base streak to 13 consecutive plate appearances before he was retired for the first time since the fifth inning of Arkansas’ Opening Day win against Oklahoma State.

After a four-game set at Globe Life Field to begin the 2026 campaign, the Razorbacks return inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium for a season-long 18-game homestand. Up first, the Hogs welcome in non-conference foe Xavier for a three-game series from Feb. 20-22, with first pitch on Opening Day in Arkansas set for 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20.

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