Smith Strikes Out 12 in Hogs' Series-Opening Shutout Win on the Plains
AUBURN, Ala. – Hagen Smith delivered another jaw-dropping performance, fanning 12 over six scoreless innings to lead No. 1 Arkansas (18-2, 4-0 SEC) to a 1-0 shutout win over No. 23 Auburn (14-7, 0-4 SEC) Thursday night at Plainsman Park.
With their series-opening win, the Razorbacks have now started 4-0 in SEC play for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. Arkansas also extended its season-long winning streak to 14 games, marking its third-longest overall winning streak under head coach Dave Van Horn, as well as its second longest in-season winning streak in the Van Horn era.
Smith was once again spectacular on the mound, racking up his fourth double-digit strikeout game of the campaign. The junior left-hander allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out 12 on 87 pitches over six innings of work.
With his 12-strikeout effort, Smith raised his career total to 261, matching Scott Tabor for fourth-most on Arkansas’ all-time career strikeouts list. He is now 22 punchouts shy of equaling David Walling (283) for third-most in program history.
For the season, Smith is 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 29.0 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .116 batting average. In his last five starts, the Bullard, Texas, native has a minuscule 0.32 ERA to go along with 60 strikeouts.
Wehiwa Aloy’s two-out solo home run to right in the top of the first was all Smith and the Razorback pitching staff would need. Aloy’s homer, his fourth of the season, gave the Hogs an early 1-0 lead, which they held for the rest of the night.
In relief of Smith, right-handers Will McEntire (2.0 IP, 3 SO) and Gabe Gaeckle (1.0 IP, 2 SO) combined to retire all nine batters they faced and close out the final three frames. Gaeckle earned his team-leading fifth save of the year, becoming the fifth Arkansas freshman since 2003, Van Horn’s first year at the helm, to record five or more saves in a single season.
Hudson White, meanwhile, turned in a three-hit game to raise his season slash line to .275/.387/.451. Ben McLaughlin (1-for-4) and Ty Wilmsmeyer (1-for-4) also recorded base knocks, and Nolan Souza stole his third base of the season.
The Razorbacks, who have won seven of their last eight weekend series against the Tigers, will look to clinch the series tomorrow. First pitch in game two between Arkansas and Auburn is set for 6 p.m. Friday, March 22, on SEC Network+.
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