Razorbacks Upended by Mavs in Series Opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 6 Arkansas (7-3) scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning but came up short in the series opener against UT Arlington (3-6), suffering a 4-3 loss Friday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Friday’s setback marks the Razorbacks’ first loss in the opening game of a weekend series against a non-conference opponent at Baum-Walker Stadium since 2022 when Arkansas lost the opening game of its non-conference weekend series at home on two occasions, doing so against Illinois State and Southeastern. Arkansas went on to win both series.

UT Arlington’s Caylon Dygert turned in the best pitching performance of his career Friday, tossing 8.2 innings of two-run ball (both unearned) with 11 strikeouts. The Hogs had no answers until the ninth when the Maverick right-hander, who threw 130 pitches in the start, walked Ryder Helfrick with two outs before a fielding error would extend the inning.

The error knocked Dygert out of the ballgame, and the Razorbacks, trailing by four runs, finally broke through against the Maverick bullpen. Kuhio Aloy’s two-RBI double to right center cut Arkansas’ deficit to two before Reese Robinett, the very next batter, lined an RBI double to left center to bring the Hogs within a run of tying the contest at four apiece.

Hayes Melville, who relived Dygert, survived Arkansas’ late rally and earned his first save of the season by inducing a scorching 110-mph groundout from Maika Niu to third base with Robinett, representing the game-tying run, at second.

Gabe Gaeckle started on the mound for the Hogs and worked 5.1 innings of four-run ball with five strikeouts. In relief, Cole Gibler spun 3.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts to give Arkansas the opportunity to rally back in the ninth.

Offensively, Camden Kozeal (2-for-4) recorded the Razorbacks’ lone multi-hit game of the afternoon to improve his season slash line to .364/.488/.818 in nine games played. Aloy raised his team-leading RBI total to 11 this season with his two-RBI double in the ninth, while Robinett collected his team-leading fifth double with his RBI two-bagger in the ninth.

Arkansas, winners of 33 consecutive non-conference weekend regular season series inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium, will look to even the series against UT Arlington tomorrow afternoon. First pitch in the second game between the Razorbacks and Mavericks is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, on SEC Network+.

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