No. 3 Arkansas (22-2, 4-1 SEC) rode an eight-run first inning to dominate the South Carolina Gamecocks (17-7, 1-4 SEC), 12-3, on Saturday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium. The Razorbacks are still undefeated at home at 18-0 and are tied for second place in the Southeastern Conference.
Arkansas vs South Carolina: Game two
Arkansas's huge first inning started when RF Logan Maxwell was hit by a pitch with two outs and DH Kuhio Aloy singled to right field to put runners on first and second. 3B Brent Iredale cranked a three-run home run to right center for his eighth dinger of the season. The Hogs loaded the bases with 1B Camden Kozeal getting hit by a pitch, and C Ryder Helfrick and 2B Nolan Souza reached on back-to-back infield singles. CF Justin Thomas Jr. plated a run on an RBI walk, and LF Charles Davalan brought in Hefrick on a fielding error at short to put the Razorbacks up, 5-0.
LHP Jake McCoy was relieved by RHP Roman Kimball after recording just two outs. SS Wehiwa Aloy drove in a pair on a double to left center, and Maxwell reloaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the inning. Kuhio Aloy scored another run on an RBI walk to cap off the eight-run frame.
The Gamecocks responded with three runs in the top of the second with DH Jase Woita working a one-out walk to start the rally. After C Talmadge LeCroy lined out to third for the second out, 1B Beau Hollins singled to left field to put runners on first and second. 2B Jordan Carrion drove in South Carolina’s first run of the game on a single up the middle and SS Henry Kaczmar was hit by a pitch to load the bases. CF Nathan Hall drove in Hollins to keep the line moving, and Carrion scored on a wild pitch. LF Blake Jackson drew a walk to load the bases again.
RHP Gabe Gaeckle was replaced on the mound by RHP Aiden Jimenez after giving up the walk to Jackson. Jimenez ended the inning by making RF Ethan Petry ground into a fielder’s choice. Gaeckle threw 1.2 innings in his sixth start of the year while allowing three runs, two hits and three walks on 45 pitches (25 strikes).
Arkansas got two of its runs back in the bottom of the third with Thomas leading off with a single to left field. Davalan smacked a two-run blast to left field for his sixth homer of the season to put the Hogs up by seven, 10-3.
The Razorbacks built their lead back up to eight after Wehiwa Aloy doubled down the left field line and moved up to third on a ground out by Maxwell. Kuhio Aloy drove in his older brother with a single to center field for his second RBI of the game. Arkansas picked up another run in the bottom of the sixth when Kozeal and Helfrick reached on back-to-back singles to open up the inning. After Souza reached on a fielder's choice, Thomas cashed in Kozeal from third on an RBI sacrifice fly to right.
Jimenez was relieved by Will McEntire to begin the top of the seventh. Jimenez hurled 4.1 innings of scoreless ball while allowing four hits and striking out four batters on 45 pitches (32 strikes). McEntire fired three scoreless frames of his own while picking up his first save of the year. He surrendered just one hit and carved up a batter on 30 pitches (20 strikes) while lowering his ERA to 2.57.
The Razorbacks and the Gamecocks will finish up the series on Sunday at Baum-Walker Stadium. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m., and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.