No. 2 Arkansas (24-3, 6-1 SEC) took the series opener over the No. 14 Vanderbilt Commodores (20-6, 4-3 SEC) in a full team effort shutout, 9-0, on Friday night at Charles Hawkins Field. The Razorback pitching staff gave up just seven baserunners while the team remains tied for first place in the Southeastern Conference.
Arkansas Baseball vs Vanderbilt: Game one
Arkansas picked up its first run of the game in the top of the third inning after C Ryder Helfrick laced a triple down the right field line to lead off the frame. 2B Nolan Souza drove him in with an RBI groundout to short to put the Hogs on top.
The Razorbacks planted a three-spot in the top of the fourth to build their lead, 4-0. RF Logan Maxwell led off with a solo shot to left center for his seventh home run of the season. 3B Brent Iredale followed up by drawing a walk, and former Commodore 1B Camden Kozeal crushed a two-run homer to center field off of his former team.
Arkansas tacked on another run in the top of the sixth on another home run by Kozeal with two outs to extend the lead, 5-0. Kozeal hit just three home runs at Charles Hawkins Field as a freshman for Vanderbilt in 2024.
The Hogs loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with a double by Maxwell and a walk by Iredale with one out while Helfrick drew a two-out walk. Souza pushed in a run with an RBI walk to lengthen the lead to six.
LHP Zach Root was marvelous on the mound in his seventh start of the season while hurling 7.2 scoreless innings. The southpaw allowed three hits and three walks while carving up seven batters on 100 pitches (66 strikes) and lowered his ERA to 3.23. He was relieved by RHP Aiden Jimenez with two outs in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded, but CF RJ Austin lined out to left field to end the threat.
Arkansas added on a little more insurance in the top of the ninth to seal the deal. LF Charles Davalan led off the frame with a walk, and DH Kuhio Aloy drove him in with a one-out double down the left field line. Maxwell drew a walk, and both runners advanced into scoring position after Iredale grounded out to short. Kozeal kept flexing in front of Vanderbilt with a two-run single to right field. He finished the night going 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and five RBIs out of the six-spot in the lineup.
RHP Dylan Carter was placed on the mound in the bottom of the ninth to wrap up the game while allowing a walk with a strikeout on 13 pitches (seven strikes).
The Razorbacks and the Commodores will meet again at Charles Hawkins Field on Saturday for the second game of the series. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m., and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.