Baseball
Aloy’s historic homers power Hogs past Creighton, advance to final
Wehiwa Aloy’s historic power surge led Arkansas to a dominant 12-1 win over Creighton in the Fayetteville Regional
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — On a night when the long ball ruled, Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy made Razorback history.
The Razorbacks’ hard-hitting Hawaiian launched his 19th and 20th home runs of the season to propel the No. 3 national seed Hogs to a commanding 12-1 victory over Creighton in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The win moves the Hogs (45-13) into the regional final, where they await the winner of Sunday’s elimination game between Creighton and North Dakota State.
Aloy’s performance was more than just a statistical milestone. It was a display of power for a relentless Arkansas offense. His two home runs made him just the seventh Razorback to reach 20 in a season and the first since Chad Spanberger in 2017.
“I saw a lot of built-up frustration in that swing,” Hogs coach Dave Van Horn said of Aloy’s pivotal fifth-inning blast. “He absolutely tomahawked it. That’s basically what he did. He clubbed it.”
Arkansas Razorbacks shortstop Wehiwa Aloy comes up short and is tagged out at third against the Creighton Bluejays at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. | Nilsen Roman-Hogs on SI Images
Offensive Onslaught: Five Homers, Thirteen Hits
Arkansas wasted no time asserting itself, with second baseman Cam Kozeal opening the scoring in the second inning with his third home run in as many games.
The Razorbacks piled on runs early, tagging Creighton starter Wilson Magers for four runs on seven hits in just three innings.
Despite leaving the bases loaded twice in the early going, the Hogs broke the game open with a three-run shot from Aloy in the fifth, followed by a solo homer from catcher Ryder Helfrick in the sixth and another two-run blast from Aloy in the seventh.
Helfrick, who continues to rise in the batting order, homered in back-to-back at-bats and finished with three hits and three RBIs.
Kozeal added a double and two RBIs, while Logan Maxwell chipped in two hits. Reese Robinett contributed with three walks, showcasing the depth of Arkansas’s lineup.
“We’ve been working all year to get to this point,” Van Horn said after the game. “The guys came out focused and executed the plan. When you get production up and down the lineup like that, it’s tough to beat us.”
Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Zach Root delivers agaijst the Creighton Bluejays at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. | Nilsen Roman-Hogs on SI Images
Root’s Dominant Start Sets the Tone
While the offense provided fireworks, left-handed starter Zach Root delivered a gem on the mound.
Root tossed six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven on 94 pitches.No Creighton runner reached third base during his outing, underscoring his command and poise in a high-stakes environment.
“Zach gave us exactly what we needed,” Van Horn said. “He set the tone, kept them off balance, and gave our hitters a chance to break it open.”
The bullpen followed suit, with Ben Bybee, Steele Eaves, and Colin Fisher combining for three innings of one-run relief to close out the win.
Arkansas Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn agaijst the Creighton Bluejays at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. | Nilsen Roman-Hogs on SI Images
Historic Night in Baum-Walker
The victory was Arkansas’s 34th at home this season, tying a program record for single-season home wins set in 2018 and matched in 2024.
The announced crowd of 10,115 witnessed a Razorback team firing on all cylinders, both at the plate and on the mound.
For Aloy, the night was about more than just numbers. His first home run, a 362-foot shot, was the fifth shortest of his 34 career bombs at Arkansas, but its timing and impact were immense.
“He’s known for majestic homers, but that one was all about getting the job done,” Van Horn said.
Looking Ahead: Regional Final Awaits
With the win, Arkansas advances to Sunday’s regional final at 8 p.m., needing just one more victory to secure a spot in the Super Regional round, which they would host for the sixth time in program history if successful.
Their opponent must beat the Razorbacks twice to advance, a tall order given the Hogs’ current play.
The Razorbacks will play the winner of this afternoon’s North Dakota State-Creighton game at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on one of the ESPN channels to be announced later.
Fans can listen to the game ata 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
