Arkansas Ran Oklahoma Off Field Friday, But Saturday Different

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 17 Arkansas jumped on No. 24 Oklahoma early and never looked back Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Hogs blasted four home runs in a 12-2 run-rule victory in seven innings to open the three-game SEC series.

The Razorbacks improved to 33-17 overall and 14-11 in SEC play. Oklahoma dropped to 30-17 and 12-13 in conference.

Nine Arkansas players scored in the game. Camden Kozeal led the offensive effort, going 3-for-4 with a sixth-inning grand slam, his 15th home run of the season, finishing with four RBI.

Hunter Dietz earned the complete-game win, moving to 7-2 on the season with his ERA dropping to a season-low 3.22.

He allowed two runs — one earned — on seven hits with seven strikeouts and three walks on 99 pitches. Arkansas has won each of the last six games Dietz has started.

How It Happened

Oklahoma drew first blood in the top of the second inning when Dasan Harris singled home Drew Dickerson to give the Sooners a 1-0 lead.

The hit came at a cost for Arkansas. First baseman Carter Rutenbar was struck in the face by a bad hop on the play and had to leave the game. Alexander Peck replaced him at first base.

Arkansas responded immediately in the bottom of the second with a five-run inning that knocked out Oklahoma starter LJ Mercurius after just four outs recorded.

Kuhio Aloy led off with a walk and Nolan Souza singled him to second. Maika Niu doubled to left to tie the game at 1.

Zack Stewart’s sacrifice fly put the Hogs ahead 2-1. TJ Pompey singled home Niu to make it 3-1, then stole second.

Damian Ruiz followed with a two-run home run to left field to push the lead to 5-1 and end Mercurius’s night.

Nick Wesloski took over for Oklahoma and held Arkansas scoreless through the third and fourth innings.

Oklahoma trimmed the deficit to 5-2 in the top of the fifth when a Ruiz fielding error in left allowed a run to score.

The Sooners’ rally stalled there, however, and Arkansas answered right back in the bottom half.

With Helfrick aboard via walk, Peck — who entered the inning just 1-for-14 on the season — hit a two-run home run to left field for his first career extra-base hit, pushing the lead back to 7-2.

The Razorbacks put the game away in the sixth. Stewart walked and Pompey and Ruiz each reached on bunt singles up the third base line to load the bases with nobody out.

Kozeal then launched a grand slam to center field — his 15th homer of the year, tying Helfrick for the team lead — to make it 11-2.

Niu ended it in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left field, triggering the mercy rule and ending the game.

Turning Point

The back-to-back bunt singles from Pompey and Ruiz in the sixth inning set up Kozeal’s grand slam and served as the decisive sequence of the game.

Oklahoma entered the series leading the SEC in stolen bases and built its identity around small ball.

The Hogs beat the Sooners at their own game before going deep to break it open.

Notable

Niu, who was dropped in the lineup after a rough series against Ole Miss the previous weekend, finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Pompey, Souza and Ruiz each collected two hits.

Peck’s home run was the first extra-base hit of his college career and came in just his sixth SEC appearance of the season.

It’s the second consecutive Friday that Arkansas has won a series opener by a score of 12-2 in seven innings.

What’s Next

Arkansas looks to clinch the series Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The game will stream on SEC Network Plus. Oklahoma is expected to start junior left-hander Cameron Johnson, who carries a 6-1 record and 2.96 ERA.

Arkansas had not announced its Saturday starter as of Friday evening.

The Razorbacks entered the weekend 2.5 games out of fourth place in the SEC standings that comes with a double bye in the conference tournament and holding the final single-bye position at No. 8, with four teams within two games of them in the standings.

Arkansas is also tracking outside chances to host an NCAA regional for the fourth consecutive season.