Arkansas scored nine runs over the fifth and sixth innings to turn a close game into a blowout Tuesday night in North Little Rock.
The second-ranked Razorbacks defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 11-1 in 7 innings in front of an announced crowd of 9,293 at Dickey-Stephens Park. Peyton Stovall’s sacrifice fly scored Ross Lovich (single) in the seventh to initiate a run rule.
Arkansas (35-6) won by run rule for the eighth time this season.
The teams were tied 1-1 through 4 1/2 innings. Wehiwa Aloy’s two-run double in the fifth scored Ty Wilmsmeyer (hit by pitch) and Ben McLaughlin (walk) and gave the Razorbacks a 3-1 lead.
“He drove it over the right fielder’s head and instead of it being a tie game, we had a two-run lead,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “That was probably the biggest swing of the day. There were a lot of good at-bats the second half of that game for us.”
Arkansas scored seven runs in the sixth inning. Aloy had a two-run single to score as part of a five-run rally with two outs in the inning.
Aloy, the sophom*ore shortstop, went 4 for 4 and recorded a career-high 5 RBI.
“I was just trying to put the ball in play very hard,” Aloy said.
Aloy had an RBI single to score Stovall (single) in the first inning to give the Razorbacks a quick 1-0 lead. Arkansas’ first three batters reached base in the inning, but two were stranded in scoring position against UAPB right-handed starter Jordan Jones.
The Golden Lions (13-27) tied the game in the top of the second when Carlos Rodriguez singled and scored with no outs on a JaKobi Jackson double against Arkansas starter Ben Bybee.
UAPB was out-hitting the Razorbacks for a while, but Arkansas finished with a 9-7 advantage. The Razorbacks drew six walks and were hit by a pitch twice.
Leading 3-1, Arkansas put the game away with the big sixth inning that saw the Razorbacks’ first four batters reach on three walks by UAPB reliever Chris Bedgood and a throwing error by Bedgood on a sacrifice bunt by Lovich.
Ryder Helfrick drew a bases-loaded walk to start the scoring in the sixth. Stovall added a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 5-1.
Following a McLaughlin walk to load the bases again, Aloy singled to right field to score two runs. Kendall Diggs also had an RBI single and Nolan Souza added a two-run double in the inning.
“Tonight it didn’t start out great up and down the lineup, but it finished really good the last couple of innings,” Van Horn said. “It seemed like everything we hit was hard except for Wehiwa’s check-swing single that drove in two. Sometimes when it starts to flow, it flows.”
Lovich led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and advanced on single by Helfrick and a fly out by Will Edmunson. Stovall lifted a 1-2 pitch to center field to end the game.
Cooper Dossett pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win for the Razorbacks. The sophom*ore right-hander allowed 2 hits, struck out 4 and threw 21 of 29 pitches for strikes.
“His first two innings were really good,” Van Horn said. “We kind of were experimenting there sending him out for the third. He hasn't thrown a lot and that might be pushing it a little bit. It was really good to see him pitch that good. He’s definitely in the mix for the weekend.”
Christian Foutch and Parker Coil each pitched an inning of scoreless relief. Bybee allowed 1 run and 3 hits in his 2-inning, 33-pitch start.
Arkansas pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts.
“Our pitchers did a good job,” Van Horn said. “They got us back in the dugout and threw a lot of strikes.”
Why Arkansas won
The Razorbacks got another great performance from their pitchers and feasted on UAPB pitching in the latter innings.
Player of the Game: Arkansas SS Wehiwa Aloy
Going 4 for 4 with 5 RBI makes headlines, but don’t overlook two quality defensive plays by Aloy.
He made a heads-up throw to third base to force out a runner to end the top of the sixth inning. He also started the Razorbacks’ only double play that ended the top of the fifth.
Up next
The Razorbacks will return to Fayetteville for a three-game series against Florida scheduled to begin Friday at 7 p.m.
