The No. 3 national seed, the Arkansas Razorbacks (46-13, 20-10 SEC), appear to be the best team remaining in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, as they steamrolled the Creighton Bluejays (43-16, 17-4 Big East) to win the 2025 Fayetteville Regional Championship, winning the game 8-3. Although the Hogs had no challenges on their way to winning the regional championship, one shouldn't overlook how talented the Bluejays are.
The Bluejays won 43 games and had an excellent Big East record. Therefore, don't allow the seeming ease with which the Hogs secured the championship to cause you to think they didn't have any genuine competition in this regional; they did. Unfortunately for Bluejay Nation, the Razorbacks have far superior talent than its team. Even though he's not the best player in the Fayetteville Regional or on his team, no other team has a player of Cam Kozeal's caliber, which didn't bode well for Creighton and the North Dakota State Bisons entering this regional at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Arkansas hit four homers: Logan Maxwell had two, and Ryder Helfrick and Justin Thomas Jr. each had one. The long ball was necessary to win this game, given that the Hogs didn't do much hitting besides those home runs. As the Razorbacks return to Baum-Walker Stadium to face the Tennessee Volunteers in the Fayetteville Super Regional, the Hogs will need to improve their hitting, given that they cannot continue to rely consistently on the long ball.Β Β
However, if Arkansas' starting pitchers continue to pitch the way they have in this regional, the Volunteers are in trouble, though the Volunteers' bats are far better than Creighton's and North Dakota State's. Gage Wood and Gabe Gaeckle combined for an astonishing 20 strikeouts. Wood got the start for the Razorbacks. In 6.0 innings, he only allowed three hits and three earned runs and had 13 strikeouts. In the final 3.0 innings, Gaeckle permitted only two hits and didn't surrender a run. Wood and Gaeckle merited the significant praise they received from Hog fans on social media.
Although Wood and Gaeckle earned much praise from Razorback Nation on social media after the Arkansas Razorbacks crushed the Creighton Bluejays to win the Fayetteville Regional, it also shared positive reactions about other players.
Arkansas baseball vs. Creighton: Fayetteville Regional Championship social media reactions
Courtney Mims, sports anchor and reporter for Pig Trail Nation, appreciated how focused Gage Wood was even after defeating Creighton.
Southeastern Conference highlighted that the Arkansas Razorbacks have advanced to the Fayetteville Super Regional.
RazorbackHobbs, an Arkansas fan, celebrated Gage Wood and Gabe Gaeckle for their outstanding pitching performance.
Gage Wood's father is proud of what his son has accomplished.
Michael Main, a Hog beat writer at Best of Arkansas Sports, loved how well Gage Wood pitched.
PG College Baseball noted that Arkansas is headed to the Fayetteville Super Regional.
James Bryant, an Arkansas KATV meteorologist, wrote, "20 strikeouts from Arkansas pitching tonight. Total dominance this weekend from our hogs as many other national seeds struggled or failed to advance."
Barstool Hogs said, "This team is playing as determined as I've seen all year all while playing loose...hard to ask for a better start."