Razorbacks Roll Tide with Blowout Win to Clinch Series in Tuscaloosa
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 22 Arkansas (23-13, 7-7 SEC) posted a pair of five-spots in the eighth and ninth to roll past No. 8 Alabama (26-10, 8-6 SEC), 15-6, Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium and clinch its second road series win.
With the win, the Razorbacks secured their first series win in Tuscaloosa since 2019 as well as their second SEC road weekend series win of the season after also doing so at South Carolina on March 20-22. Arkansas will go for its first road series sweep of Alabama since 2015 in tomorrow’s finale, which is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday, April 12, on SEC Network+.
TJ Pompey stole the show for the second game in as many days, going 3-for-4 with double, a home run and a team-leading four RBI at the plate to power the Hogs past the Crimson Tide. He was one of four Razorbacks, along with Carter Rutenbar (2-of-5, 2B, RBI), Kuhio Aloy (3-for-4, RBI) and Nolan Souza (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI), to finish with multiple hits.
Arkansas maintained a one-run lead through seven innings before breaking the game open with five runs in the top of the eighth and five more in the top of the ninth. Pompey did the brunt of his damage with a three-run home run in the eighth followed by a run-scoring single in the ninth, which gave him his fourth and final RBI of Saturday’s ballgame.
The Razorbacks hammered the Crimson Tide pitching staff for 15 runs on 14 hits, two walks and a pair of hit batsmen, tagging starter Zane Adams for four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over six innings. Alabama’s bullpen fared no better against Arkansas’ lineup, allowing 11 runs on nine hits and two walks across three innings of relief work.
Damian Ruiz returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering an injury on March 29, finishing 1-for-2 with two runs scored, an RBI single and a pair of walks. Cole Gibler, meanwhile, made his first career start on the mound and gave the Razorbacks exactly what they needed, working 4.1 innings of three-run ball (two earned) with two strikeouts.
In relief of Gibler, Steele Eaves (1.2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 SO) and Colin Fisher (3.0 IP, 2 R, 1 SO) combined for 4.2 innings of three-run ball (two earned) with four strikeouts to close out Arkansas’ series-clinching victory against Alabama.
The Razorbacks will start Tate McGuire (0-0, 3.86 ERA) in tomorrow’s series finale against the Crimson Tide. The right-hander will square off against Alabama right-hander Myles Upchurch (4-2, 3.60 ERA) with an opportunity for a sweep.
For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).
