Razorbacks lead 6-1 before Georgia erupts for 26-14 SEC series win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas couldn’t hold an early five-run lead Saturday afternoon as No. 5 Georgia poured on the runs at Baum-Walker Stadium, walking away with a 26-14 win to take the series finale and end a long stretch of Razorback dominance at home.

The Hogs fell to 26-15 overall and 9-9 in SEC play with the defeat. Georgia improved to 32-9 on the season and 13-5 in conference action.

It’s the first time the Bulldogs have taken a home weekend series from Arkansas in Fayetteville since 2008.

The Hogs had won each of the previous four home series meetings against Georgia — in 2010, 2012, 2017 and 2021 — before Saturday’s loss snapped that run.

When the wind’s howling out to right field at Baum-Walker Stadium, fans know it’s going to be a long afternoon. Saturday delivered on that promise in a big way.

The two teams combined for 40 runs on 35 hits, 18 walks and six errors in what turned into one of the wilder games of the college baseball season.

Arkansas matched a season high with 14 hits and drew 12 walks while scoring 14 runs.

Georgia answered with 21 hits, six walks, four hit batsmen and capitalized on six Razorback errors to plate 26 runs.

It was the kind of game where neither pitching staff could find much comfort, and the team that scored last scored most.

Arkansas jumps out early

The Razorbacks looked locked in from the jump.

Arkansas scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and added three more in the second to build a 6-1 advantage through two frames.

The key blow in that second inning came from Camden Kozeal, whose two-out two-run home run to right gave the Hogs a five-run cushion and had Baum-Walker Stadium buzzing.

It didn’t last. Georgia answered with a six-run third inning to flip the scoreboard, taking a 7-6 lead and quieting the home crowd.

The Bulldogs then tacked on two more runs in the fourth to stretch their lead to three heading into the bottom half of that frame.

Ryder Helfrick brought the noise right back. The slugger launched a three-run home run — his team-leading 13th of the season — to knot the game at 9-9.

It was the kind of swing that reminded everyone in the ballpark the Hogs weren’t going away quietly.

But Georgia’s offense kept coming. The Bulldogs scored two in the fifth, two more in the sixth, one in the seventh and another in the eighth to steadily build their lead back.

Entering the ninth inning, Arkansas trailed 15-11 and still had a chance to make things interesting. That chance disappeared quickly.

Georgia’s ninth-inning blowout

Georgia erupted for 11 runs in the top of the ninth to put the game completely out of reach.

The Bulldogs also connected for nine total home runs in the contest, including two more in that final frame. It was the kind of inning that turned a competitive game into a blowout.

Arkansas’s offense gave the team plenty to build on despite the final score. Four Razorbacks put together multi-hit games.

Carter Rutenbar went 3-for-3 with four runs scored and three walks. Kuhio Aloy was 3-for-4 with two runs and a walk.

Four Hogs also recorded multi-RBI performances. Damian Ruiz finished 2-for-3 with three runs, a double, four RBI and three walks.

Helfrick’s big swing gave him a 2-for-5 line with two runs, a home run, three RBI and a walk. Kozeal ended up 1-for-5 with a run, his homer and three RBI. Maika Niu went 1-for-4 with three RBI, two walks and a stolen base.

The performance showed Arkansas still has offensive pop. Getting consistent pitching to match it — especially in windy conditions at home — will be the challenge heading into the final stretch of SEC play.

What’s next for Razorbacks

Arkansas won’t have much time to dwell on the result.

The Hogs wrap up their four-game homestand Tuesday when Missouri State comes to Baum-Walker Stadium for a midweek matchup.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.

It’s a chance to reset before the Razorbacks head back into a demanding SEC schedule.

At 9-9 in conference play, every game from this point forward carries weight in the SEC standings.