Stewart's Eighth-Inning Home Run Lifts Razorbacks to Series-Opening Win in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Zack Stewart belted the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning to lift No. 24 Arkansas (28-15, 10-9 SEC) to a 5-4 series-opening win against Missouri (20-22, 3-16 SEC) Thursday night at Taylor Stadium.
The Razorbacks can clinch their fourth consecutive series win in Columbia, Mo., tomorrow. First pitch in game two of the series is 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, on SEC Network with Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Gregg Olson (analyst) on the call.
Missouri tagged Arkansas starter Hunter Dietz for three runs on a pair of homers before a single out was recorded in the bottom of the first. The Razorback left-hander allowed a first-pitch leadoff home run to open the frame before plunking the very next batter and then giving up a two-run home run on the first pitch he threw to the Tigers’ three-hole hitter.
From there, Dietz fired seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts to earn his fifth win and log his team-leading sixth quality start in the process. For the season, the Trinity, Fla., native boasts a 3.62 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 59.2 innings.
The Razorbacks were held scoreless by Tiger starter Josh McDevitt until the top of the fifth. TJ Pompey connected on his 10th home run of the season with one out in the frame to become the third Hog with double-digit homers this year.
After McDevitt departed in the seventh, Carter Rutenbar broke through against Missouri reliever Trey Lawrence with a two-out two-RBI single up the middle to even things at three apiece. The ballgame remained tied at three in the top half of the eighth until Nolan Souza’s two-out walk was followed by Stewart’s two-run blast to put Arkansas ahead, 5-3.
Stewart, a native of Lebanon, Mo., recorded his seventh home run of the season with his 450-foot blast to right center. It is tied with Kuhio Aloy’s 450-foot home run at South Carolina on March 20 for the longest by a Hog batter this season.
In relief of Dietz, the Razorbacks turned to Gabe Gaeckle (1.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 SO) and Ethan McElvain (1.0 IP, 1 SO, 1 SV) to close out the win. The duo combined for two innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts to seal Thursday’s 5-4 victory.
Arkansas left-hander Cole Gibler (3-1, 3.38 ERA) will go up against Missouri left-hander Brady Kehlenbrink (3-6, 6.49 ERA) in tomorrow’s matchup. The Hogs can secure their sixth consecutive series against the Tigers with a win Friday.
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