It’s not always pretty. It’s not always early. But when Arkansas needs runs in the late innings, the Razorbacks are finding a way to deliver.
For the second straight day at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, the Hogs saved their best work for the eighth inning.
A five-run explosion in the eighth gave 22nd-ranked Arkansas the cushion it needed Saturday and the Razorbacks cruised to a 15-6 victory over ninth-ranked Alabama to claim the series in Tuscaloosa.
It’s the first time Arkansas has won a series in Tuscaloosa since 2019 — and the Crimson Tide felt every bit of it.
TJ Pompey doing everything right
If there’s one name that’s defined this weekend, it’s TJ Pompey. Batting ninth in the lineup, the Arkansas infielder went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and four RBI Saturday. He was a triple away from hitting for the cycle.
Over the two-game stretch, he’s 4 for 8 with four runs and six RBI.
His biggest moment came in the eighth inning, when Alabama right-handed reliever Austin Morris delivered a first-strike breaking ball before leaving a changeup over the plate on an 0-1 count.
Pompey didn’t miss it, sending a three-run home run 360 feet to left field to push the Arkansas lead to 10-4.
“I was like, ‘If he throws [the breaking pitch] again, I’m going to put it somewhere,'” Pompey said. “Obviously, he hung it again and obviously I put a good swing on it.”
It’s the second time in two days Pompey’s homered in the eighth inning — a detail that’s not lost on anyone in the visiting dugout.
Eighth inning is Arkansas territory this weekend
Friday, the Hogs scored six runs in the eighth to win. Saturday, they scored five more in the same inning.
At this point, Alabama’s bullpen has to be dreading that spot in the game.
The eighth-inning sequence Saturday started when Camden Kozeal laced a double off the left-field fence.
He was initially called out on the relay throw but the call was overturned on review, putting him safely on second.
Damian Ruiz followed with an RBI single to score Kozeal and put Arkansas up 6-4.
The moment carried extra meaning. Ruiz was making his first start since suffering a patellar tendon injury in his left knee on March 29.
“It felt really good to be able to contribute and produce for the team,” Ruiz said. “To be able to make a good swing on that ball, drive it in the gap and score a run, it felt really good.”
Kuhio Aloy then singled up the middle to set up a pitching change and Reese Robinett eventually loaded the bases with a bunt single on an 0-2 pitch.
Nolan Souza’s sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 7-4 before Morris entered and gave up the Pompey homer.
Hogs’ coach Dave Van Horn likes what he’s seeing
Arkansas entered the series having gone 1-6 in its previous seven SEC games — a stretch that had things looking shaky heading into the Alabama trip. But something clicked this weekend.
“Sometimes you match up better against some teams and sometimes you just kind of get into a groove and you get comfortable,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “Whatever it is, I’m liking what I’m seeing.”
Part of what he’s seeing is a lineup that’s finally putting the bat on the ball. The Hogs ranked last in the SEC in strikeouts in conference-only games coming in, averaging 11.6 per game.
Against Alabama this weekend, they’ve struck out just 15 times combined over two games.
“We’ve been facing guys that strike a lot of people out and that includes yesterday and again today,” Van Horn said. “We shut it down a little bit. When you put the bat on the ball, usually good things happen.”
Numbers back it up
The stat sheet Saturday told the story of a team that performed when it mattered most.
Arkansas went 10 for 20 with runners on base and 8 for 16 with runners in scoring position.
Alabama? The Crimson Tide went 4 for 21 with runners on base and 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
The Razorbacks out-hit Alabama 14-9 in a game that got more lopsided as the innings went on.
Sophomore left-hander Cole Gibler made his first career start and allowed three runs — two earned — over 4 1/3 innings.
Steele Eaves pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief before Colin Fisher took over for the final three frames to earn the win, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while throwing 43 pitches.
Van Horn was measured but encouraged by what Gibler showed in his first start.
“I almost feel like it was a really good learning experience for him today,” the coach said. “I’m glad that he pitched good enough to keep us in the game. I think he’ll be even better next week.”
Alabama breaks two streaks in two days
The loss stings for Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn and the Crimson Tide.
Not only did the Hogs claim the series Saturday, but Friday’s win ended Alabama’s nation-best 18-game home winning streak.
Losing a home series for the first time this season adds to a tough 48-hour stretch for a team that came in at 26-10 overall.
Junior lefty Zane Adams started for Alabama and allowed four runs — three earned — on five hits with four strikeouts over six innings.
He kept the Crimson Tide in it for a while, but the Arkansas bats wore him down by the fifth.
Razorbacks look to sweep Sunday
Arkansas improves to 23-13 overall and 7-7 in SEC play with the win. The Hogs’ll go for the series sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. back at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
For a team that’s shown real resilience in the late innings this weekend, the mindset heading into Sunday seems to be built on confidence and trust in each other’s ability to deliver in the biggest moments.
“When they punch back, we obviously know that we need to punch back even more,” Pompey said. “I think knowing that this team can go the distance whenever is huge for us and I feel like we’ve shown it.”
