Quick Hits: Hogs dominate in-state matchup for 20th win

The No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks improved to 20-3 on the year with a run-rule win over the Little Rock Trojans in a midweek matchup at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Hogs scored nine of their 11 runs via the long ball, and Ben Bybee got the win on the mound after a strong season debut. Here’s a closer look at the action and what stood out from the victory.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 1 – Arkansas 1, Little Rock 0: Ben McLaughlin and Kendall Diggs worked walks, with a Wehiwa Aloy single mixed in between, and Jack Wagner (who made his first appearance since March 3 as the starting designated hitter) dropped a fly ball to shallow left field, and it was deep enough to score McLaughlin from third on an F6 sacrifice fly.

Bottom 1 – Arkansas 2, Little Rock 0: After Ross Lovich was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Peyton Holt works a 13-pitch at-bat that results in another HBP, and that brings home Aloy from third.

Bottom 2 – Arkansas 4, Little Rock 0: Ryder Helfrick is hit by a pitch to start the frame, and then Peyton Stovall goes the other way with a breaking ball and sends it 382 feet for a home run to left-center field, his third long ball of the year.

Bottom 6 – Arkansas 8, Little Rock 0: Hunter Royal had retired five of the six hitters he faced coming into the frame before issuing three free passes. With nobody out, Little Rock turned to RHP Jacob Weatherly, who allowed a 413-foot home run to Wehiwa Aloy to deep left-center field.

Bottom 6 – Arkansas 9, Little Rock 0: With one out, Jack Wagner delivers the second Razorback home run of the inning with a 388-foot shot to left field, hit 106 MPH off the bat. That’s his first long ball as a Hog.

Bottom 6 – Arkansas 11, Little Rock 0: After Peyton Holt reached via two-out error, Will Edmunson speeds up the game time with a two-run home run hit 387 feet to left-center field. That’s the first home run of his Razorback career.

Most Valuable Bat

Wehiwa Aloy: 3-3, HR (5), BB, 4 RBI, 2 R

Wehiwa Aloy’s second single of the afternoon was ripped 107 MPH through the left side of the infield, and his home run was hit 105 MPH to left-center, raising his batting average to . on the year. He’s now hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games, hitting .348 (16-46) in that span.

This is the guy Arkansas fans hoped to see when the former WAC Freshman of the Year transferred to Fayetteville. It seems he’s fully settled in at just the right time for the Hogs and continues to play strong defense at shortstop. Still feels like the tip of the iceberg for what he can do in the middle of the Arkansas order.

Most Valuable Arm

Ben Bybee: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

It’s hard to top what Bybee delivered in his season debut, starting his sophomore year in impressive fashion. He induced two quick groundouts in the first inning before picking up his first strikeout on an 82 MPH bender. Bybee’s fastball sat around the 92-94 range, and he threw 34 of his 49 pitches for strikes.

Bybee’s command was sharp in his return to action, inducing mostly weak contact while missing his fair share of bats with multiple pitches. The Hogs already lead the nation in ERA for the year, and Bybee looks primed to add another legitimate option to work with on the weekends. If nothing else, Arkansas now has an overqualified midweek starter who looks much improved after flashing some as a freshman.

Other Notes & Observations

• Redshirt junior RHP Dylan Carter put together his best outing of the season on the mound for Arkansas. He didn’t record a strikeout, but he retired all six hitters he faced in two perfect frames. His velocity was strong in the 92-94 range, and he stayed away from the heart of the plate for the most part. Don’t be surprised if he’s used in a weekend series here soon.

• Christian Foutch and Stone Hewlett each delivered scoreless innings of work in relief after Carter to round out Arkansas’ fifth shutout of the season. The scoreless frames lower each of their ERAs to 1.69 on the year.

Up Next

The No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks will host the defending national champs as the No. 8 LSU Tigers come to Baum-Walker Stadium for a three-game series. The series will begin on Thursday with first pitch set for 6 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2.