Razorbacks Win Midweek Finale against Demons

Oliver Grigg April 29, 2026

Box Score Presser: DVH Presser: Ethan McElvain & Carter Rutenbar

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 22 Arkansas (30-16) concluded the midweek portion of its regular season with a 5-2 win against Northwestern State (25-20) Wednesday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium. With the win, the Hogs finish the campaign with a 10-2 record in midweek games, including an 8-1 mark in midweek matchups at Baum-Walker Stadium.

After the Demons scored a pair of runs in the top half of the first, the Razorback pitching staff tossed eight shutout innings the rest of the way. Arkansas starter Tate McGuire worked two frames of two-run ball with a strikeout before giving way to the bullpen, which combined for seven scoreless innings and five strikeouts to seal Wednesday’s win.

Colin Fisher (4.0 IP, 3 SO), Steele Eaves (1.0 IP), Parker Coil (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Ethan McElvain (1.0 IP, 1 SO) were strong in relief of McGuire. Eaves earned the win to improve to 5-1 on the year, while McElvain logged his team-leading fifth save.

Offensively, Arkansas rallied from its early two-run deficit with five unanswered runs. Carter Rutenbar, who finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, was responsible for the Hogs’ first two runs, driving in Kuhio Aloy on a sac fly to center in the bottom of the second before tying the game at two apiece on his single to left in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Maika Niu’s go-ahead sac fly in the bottom of the seventh put the Razorbacks up before Aloy’s single through the left side extended the lead to 4-2. Ryder Helfrick drove in Arkansas’ fifth and final run on his RBI single to left in the eighth.

Along with Rutenbar, Camden Kozeal (2-for-4, R) and Aloy (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB) also tallied multi-hit performances in Wednesday’s win. For the season, Rutenbar is now slashing a team-leading .330/.452/.459 through his 37 games played.

Arkansas’ seven-game homestand rolls with an SEC weekend series against No. 17 Ole Miss at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch in the opener between the Razorbacks and Rebels is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, May 1, on SEC Network+.

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