FAYETTEVILLE — The No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks (6-1, 0-0 SEC) earned a 14-3 run-rule win in seven innings against the Grambling State Tigers (4-4, 0-0 SWAC) on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Arkansas had plenty of success at the plate with 14 hits, eight of which came with runners in scoring position. Designated hitter Kuhio Aloy recorded four hits — all of which had an exit velocity over 100 miles per hour — and drove in two runs, while first baseman Rocco Peppi recorded two hits and four runs batted in.
Junior pitcher Ben Bybee allowed one earned run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts across three innings in the start for the Razorbacks. Four relievers combined to pitch one inning each after Bybee and that group combined to allow two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Grambling starting pitcher Nick Robinson struggled out of the gate in the bottom half of the first inning with back-to-back walks to start. The Tigers picked up two outs, but Robinson hit a batter and walked another before Hogs' first baseman Rocco Peppi drove a two-run single to left field to make it a 2-0 lead before Robinson finally got the third out.
Bybee issued a leadoff walk in the top of the second that came back to bite him in the form of a one-out RBI single to center that cut the Hogs' lead in half, 2-1. The Razorbacks ended the frame with a 4-6-3 double play to limit the damage. Arkansas stranded a pair of one-out baserunners in the bottom half of the second inning.
Grambling right-handed reliever Derrell Fletcher gave up three straight singles, including an RBI knock to Peppi, to lead off the bottom of the third. Hogs' catcher Ryder Helfrick added an RBI sacrifice fly out in the frame to make it a 4-1 lead before Fletcher finally got out of the inning.
Arkansas reliever Colin Fisher pitched a perfect top of the fourth inning before things went the opposite for Tigers' reliever Thomas Leiden in the bottom of the fourth. Leiden gave up a leadoff single to Wehiwa Aloy before issuing two balks, giving up an RBI single to Logan Maxwell, walking a batter, committing an error and allowing a two-run double to Kuhio Aloy before recording his first out.
Leiden was relieved with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, and right-hander Taylor Dooley earned the third out and ended the nightmare ending for Grambling, which trailed 7-1 by that point.
Hogs' right-hander Aiden Jimenez, an Oregon State transfer, gave up a pair of two-out knocks, including an RBI double to Camden (Ark.) native Martavius Thomas that cut the Arkansas lead to 7-2. Jimenez limited the damage to just the one run.
Dooley saw four batters reach base in a row with one out in the bottom of the fifth, and he was relieved by righty Landon Clampit after issuing an RBI hit by pitch to Peppi to make the lead 8-2 for the Razorbacks.
After an RBI groundout from Nolan Souza, Helfrick drove a ball deep to left field for a two-run home run that made it a 12-2 advantage. Centerfielder Justin Thomas Jr. went back-to-back with Helfrick on another homer to left field and the Hog fans went wild with their team up 13-2. Clampit finally got out of the frame without allowing anymore scoring.
Freshman right-hander Steele Eaves out of Lonoke (Ark.) pitched the top of the sixth for the Hogs and had a bit of nerves to start. Eaves gave up a leadoff single and then picked up his first career strikeout before hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch. A mound visit from pitching coach Matt Hobbs helped, as Eaves responded with an RBI groundout and his second strikeout.
Arkansas added its 14th run in the bottom of the sixth inning via an RBI sacrifice fly out from freshman infielder Gabe Fraser, who entered as a defensive replacement for Nolan Souza in top of the sixth.
Freshman right-hander Carson Wiggins came on to close things down in the top of the seventh inning with the run rule in effect, and he went 1-2-3 for a clean frame.
Up next, the Razorbacks will begin a three-game series against Charlotte on Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville. First pitch for the series-opener is set for 3 p.m. CT and it will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Arkansas had plenty of success at the plate with 14 hits, eight of which came with runners in scoring position. Designated hitter Kuhio Aloy recorded four hits — all of which had an exit velocity over 100 miles per hour — and drove in two runs, while first baseman Rocco Peppi recorded two hits and four runs batted in.
Junior pitcher Ben Bybee allowed one earned run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts across three innings in the start for the Razorbacks. Four relievers combined to pitch one inning each after Bybee and that group combined to allow two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Grambling starting pitcher Nick Robinson struggled out of the gate in the bottom half of the first inning with back-to-back walks to start. The Tigers picked up two outs, but Robinson hit a batter and walked another before Hogs' first baseman Rocco Peppi drove a two-run single to left field to make it a 2-0 lead before Robinson finally got the third out.
Bybee issued a leadoff walk in the top of the second that came back to bite him in the form of a one-out RBI single to center that cut the Hogs' lead in half, 2-1. The Razorbacks ended the frame with a 4-6-3 double play to limit the damage. Arkansas stranded a pair of one-out baserunners in the bottom half of the second inning.
Grambling right-handed reliever Derrell Fletcher gave up three straight singles, including an RBI knock to Peppi, to lead off the bottom of the third. Hogs' catcher Ryder Helfrick added an RBI sacrifice fly out in the frame to make it a 4-1 lead before Fletcher finally got out of the inning.
Arkansas reliever Colin Fisher pitched a perfect top of the fourth inning before things went the opposite for Tigers' reliever Thomas Leiden in the bottom of the fourth. Leiden gave up a leadoff single to Wehiwa Aloy before issuing two balks, giving up an RBI single to Logan Maxwell, walking a batter, committing an error and allowing a two-run double to Kuhio Aloy before recording his first out.
Leiden was relieved with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, and right-hander Taylor Dooley earned the third out and ended the nightmare ending for Grambling, which trailed 7-1 by that point.
Hogs' right-hander Aiden Jimenez, an Oregon State transfer, gave up a pair of two-out knocks, including an RBI double to Camden (Ark.) native Martavius Thomas that cut the Arkansas lead to 7-2. Jimenez limited the damage to just the one run.
Dooley saw four batters reach base in a row with one out in the bottom of the fifth, and he was relieved by righty Landon Clampit after issuing an RBI hit by pitch to Peppi to make the lead 8-2 for the Razorbacks.
After an RBI groundout from Nolan Souza, Helfrick drove a ball deep to left field for a two-run home run that made it a 12-2 advantage. Centerfielder Justin Thomas Jr. went back-to-back with Helfrick on another homer to left field and the Hog fans went wild with their team up 13-2. Clampit finally got out of the frame without allowing anymore scoring.
Freshman right-hander Steele Eaves out of Lonoke (Ark.) pitched the top of the sixth for the Hogs and had a bit of nerves to start. Eaves gave up a leadoff single and then picked up his first career strikeout before hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch. A mound visit from pitching coach Matt Hobbs helped, as Eaves responded with an RBI groundout and his second strikeout.
Arkansas added its 14th run in the bottom of the sixth inning via an RBI sacrifice fly out from freshman infielder Gabe Fraser, who entered as a defensive replacement for Nolan Souza in top of the sixth.
Freshman right-hander Carson Wiggins came on to close things down in the top of the seventh inning with the run rule in effect, and he went 1-2-3 for a clean frame.
Up next, the Razorbacks will begin a three-game series against Charlotte on Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville. First pitch for the series-opener is set for 3 p.m. CT and it will be streamed on SEC Network+.
