Razorbacks Race past Sooners in Run-Rule Win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Crooked numbers in the second and sixth innings powered No. 17 Arkansas (33-17, 14-11 SEC) to a 12-2 run-rule win against No. 24 Oklahoma (30-17, 12-13) in Friday afternoon’s series opener at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Razorbacks, winners of five consecutive series openers, can clinch their final SEC home series of the season with a win tomorrow or in Sunday’s finale. First pitch in game two between Arkansas and Oklahoma is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) in the broadcast booth.

After the Sooners opened the scoring with a run in the top half of the first, the Hogs responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame, punctuated by Damian Ruiz’s two-run homer. Arkansas tagged Oklahoma starter LJ Mercurius for five runs on six hits and a walk, knocking the right-hander out of the ballgame after 1.1 innings of work on the mound.

The five-run outburst would prove to be more than enough for Razorback ace Hunter Dietz, who turned in his first career complete game in Friday’s series-opening win. The left-hander twirled seven innings of two-run ball (one earned) with seven strikeouts to improve to 7-2 on the year and record his team-leading eighth quality start of the campaign.

Dietz lowered his season ERA to 3.22 in 72.2 innings of work across 13 starts on the mound while raising his season strikeout total to an SEC-leading 108. Opposing hitters are batting a meager .221 against the left-hander this year.

Arkansas extended its lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run by Alexander Peck, who entered as a defensive substitution for Carter Rutenbar in the second. The homer marked the first of Peck’s collegiate career.

Ahead 7-2 in the sixth, the Hogs tacked on four more on Camden Kozeal’s grand slam. The Razorback shortstop, who finished Friday with three hits and four RBI, belted his 15th home run of the year and raised his season RBI total to 57.

Maika Niu’s one-out solo shot in the bottom of the seventh would invoke the run rule and seal Arkansas’ 12-2 series-opening victory. It marked the Razorbacks’ 10th run-rule win of the season and third such victory against an SEC foe.

Arkansas will turn to right-hander Gabe Gaeckle (5-3, 4.35 ERA) with an opportunity to clinch the series win tomorrow afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium. Oklahoma will start left-hander Cameron Johnson (6-1, 2.96 ERA) on the mound.

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