The No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks clinched a series win over the Missouri Tigers by tossing their second straight shutout to begin SEC play.
The Razorbacks had zero hits through four innings against Missouri’s left-handed starter Javyn Pimental. After notching a base hit against him in the fifth, the Hogs greeted the Missouri bullpen with back-to-back-to-back home runs to break things open and pull away.
Here’s a rundown of the action as Arkansas improved to 16-2 on the year and 2-0 in SEC play.
SCORING RECAP
- Bottom 6 – Arkansas 1, Missouri 0: As soon as Missouri went to the bullpen for the first time, Peyton Stovall greeted reliever Bryce Mayer with a 404-foot home run to right field, hit 104 MPH off the bat.
- Bottom 6 – Arkansas 2, Missouri 0: Wehiwa Aloy jumps all over the first pitch he sees and sends is 396 feet to left field for a home run, his third of the year.
- Bottom 6 – Arkansas 3, Missouri 0: Kendall Diggs makes it three in a row with an opposite-field home run to left field, hit 99 MPH off the bat and 372 feet. That’s his team-leading fifth homer of the year.
- Bottom 6 – Arkansas 5, Missouri 0: After a Ben McLaughlin walk and a Jayson Jones HBP, Ross Lovich sends a base hit into the left-center gap. Missour center fielder Kaden Peen makes a wild decision to dive for the ball and misses it by a good 7-8 feet, and it winds up being a two-run triple to officially blow this game open.
- Bottom 6 – Arkansas 6, Missouri 0: Missouri goes back to the bullpen and brings in Charlie Miller, who immediately sends one to the backstop to bring Lovich in from third.
MVB (Most Valuable Bat)
Ross Lovich: It’s hard to ignore the three straight home runs hit that got Arkansas on the board, but Lovich did provide the first hit of the day for the Razorbacks in the inning prior and helped really put the game away with his two-out triple to make it 5-0, which just so happened to be the first runs of the weekend for Arkansas that didn’t come via home run.
It’s been a huge series for the Overland Park (Kans.) and former Missouri Tiger, who has now driven in five runs and scored three more in two games this weekend. For the year, Lovich is now hitting .394 (13-33) and has a firm grasp on a starting job, whether it’s left field or center like he played today.
MVA (Most Valuable Arm)
Will McEntire: After getting the Hogs out of a mini jam with two on and two out in the fifth inning, McEntire tossed four scoreless innings to close it out. The Bryant (Ark.) native issued his first walk since Feb. 25 (five outings ago for those counting at home), just his third of the year, but did not allow a hit and struck out five Missouri hitters.
McEntire has now gone at least two innings in eight of his nine appearances this season and leads the team with 25.2 innings this season. His value to the pitching staff is undeniable at this point, and his big-time outing today leaves Arkansas with plenty of options tomorrow as Gabe Gaeckle, Koty Frank, Dylan Carter, Gage Wood and Stone Hewlett have not been used at all this weekend. Hard to ask for more out of the big righty.
Brady Tygart Update
For three innings, it looked like Brady Tygart was on track to have maybe his best outing as a Hog. He had struck out five without allowing a hit and had allowed just one baserunner.
After allowing a leadoff single and getting a 6-3 double play to wipe it out, Tyart’s command slipped as he issued three straight full-count walks. He got out of the jam and got two outs in the following frame before giving way to McEntire after hitting a batter and walking another.
Still, it’s hard to complain when zeroes keep popping up on the scoreboard, and his season ERA now sits at an insane 0.73. He added seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work today, raising his total to 35 in 24.2 IP this year. Opponents are now hitting an even .150 against him on the year.
UP NEXT
The No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks and the Missouri Tigers will return to Baum-Walker Stadium tomorrow afternoon for the final game of the series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on SEC Network+.