Razorbacks shut out for five innings, then scored eight in one

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It wasn’t pretty for seven innings, but the No. 24 Arkansas Razorbacks made sure nobody remembered that by the time the night was over.

Held scoreless through five innings, the Hogs found their footing late and turned a tied ballgame into a 12-4 blowout against Missouri State on Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The final score wasn’t settled until an eight-run eighth inning that featured seven hits, four extra-base hits and a pair of home runs that blew the roof off the midweek matchup.

With the win, Arkansas improved to 27-15 on the season. The Bears, who came in at 26-12, had no answer once the Razorbacks got rolling.

Slow start gives way to big finish

For much of the game, it looked like Missouri State might pull off a road upset.

The first five innings were quiet for Arkansas’s offense, and the game was knotted at four heading into the bottom of the eighth. That’s when the Hogs flipped a switch.

Carter Rutenbar got things going with a go-ahead two-run single through the right side, putting Arkansas up 6-4 and shifting all the momentum.

Camden Kozeal followed with an RBI double to push the lead further. Then came the big swings.

Ryder Helfrick launched a three-run home run that sent Baum-Walker Stadium into a frenzy and put the game out of reach.

TJ Pompey added a two-run shot to cap the eight-run frame and seal what had become a comfortable Arkansas victory.

When the inning ended, the Razorbacks had turned a tie game into a commanding 12-4 lead that nobody was catching.

Kozeal, Helfrick lead the charge

Kozeal was the offensive standout on the night, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI.

His performance pushed his season slash line to .305/.394/.604, and he’s now at 11 home runs and a team-high 48 RBI on the year.

Kozeal’s consistency in the middle of the Arkansas lineup has been one of the key storylines of the Razorbacks’ 2026 campaign.

Helfrick, meanwhile, knocked in his team-leading 14th home run Tuesday. The catcher is slashing .293/.430/.626 across 41 games this season with 14 home runs and 40 RBI.

He’s been one of the most productive players in the SEC and continues to build a strong case as one of the program’s most dangerous hitters.

Rutenbar finished 1-for-4 with two RBI while Pompey went 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI off the bench.

The depth of Arkansas’s lineup was on full display during that eighth-inning eruption.

Several other Hogs contributed multi-hit efforts to round out a strong night at the plate.

Nolan Souza went 3-for-5, Reese Robinett was 2-for-5 with a double and Kuhio Aloy went 2-for-4 with an RBI. It was a genuine team offensive effort once the bats came alive.

Pitching holds the line

Starter Tate McGuire made his third appearance in the rotation this season and turned in 3.2 innings of two-run ball while striking out four Bears hitters.

He didn’t factor into the decision, but he gave the Razorbacks enough to stay in the game.

The bullpen took it from there. Colin Fisher was sharp in relief, working 3.1 innings and surrendering just one unearned run while striking out five.

Steele Eaves, Parker Coil and Cooper Dossett combined to finish the job, with Dossett tossing a clean final inning with two strikeouts. The relief corps combined for 5.1 innings of two-run ball — only one earned — and eight strikeouts total to preserve the win.

The Arkansas pitching staff’s ability to hold Missouri State at four runs gave the offense the time it needed to break through, and that’s exactly what happened.

Midweek dominance continues

Tuesday’s win extended a strong trend for the Hogs in midweek play. Arkansas is now 9-2 in midweek games this season, including a 7-1 record in midweek home matchups at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Razorbacks have made the most of their non-conference opportunities against quality opponents in those slots, and it’s helped the program stay sharp heading into SEC weekends.

Arkansas will wrap up its midweek schedule next week with a two-game series against Northwestern State on April 28-29, both at home in Fayetteville.

Before that, the Hogs hit the road for a critical SEC weekend series in Columbia, Mo. Arkansas and Missouri (20-21) are set to open that three-game series Thursday at 7 p.m. on SEC Network.

It’s a series that carries real weight in the conference standings as the Razorbacks push toward the postseason.

After Tuesday’s performance, the lineup looks ready for the challenge.