FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In front of a raucous Baum-Walker Stadium crowd, No. 3 national seed Arkansas opened the NCAA Fayetteville Regional with a convincing 6-2 victory over North Dakota State.
Thanks in large part to a breakout performance from sophomore second baseman Cam Kozeal.
Kozeal, batting out of the No. 6 spot, finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs, coming just a triple shy of the cycle.
His day included a go-ahead single in the first, an RBI double in the third, and a two-run home run in the fifth, underlining the depth of the Razorbacks’ lineup this season.
“I just try to stay within myself and do my job for the team,” Kozeal said after the game. “When guys are getting on base ahead of you, it’s easy to just focus on putting the ball in play and let things happen.”
North Dakota State struck first with a two-out RBI single from Sam Canton in the opening frame, but Arkansas quickly responded.
Logan Maxwell’s sacrifice fly tied the score, and Kozeal’s two-out single gave the Hogs a lead they would not relinquish.
The Bison briefly tied the game at 2-2 with a solo homer in the second, but Arkansas again answered immediately, with Wehiwa Aloy’s sacrifice fly restoring the lead.
From there, Arkansas’ pitching staff took control. Starter Aiden Jimenez navigated early trouble, allowing two runs over 3.2 innings while striking out four.
Key defensive plays, including a leaping double play by Brent Iredale, helped Jimenez escape jams and keep the Bison at bay.
“That double play was huge,” Hogs coach Dave Van Horn said. “It changed the momentum and let us settle in defensively.”
Parker Coil earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts, while Landon Beidelschies closed out the game with two scoreless frames and four more punchouts.
The bullpen was dominant, as North Dakota State did not put another runner in scoring position until the ninth inning.
Offensively, Arkansas showed why it’s considered one of the deepest teams in the country. Kozeal’s .343/.391/.632 slash line, 14 home runs, and 60 RBIs now rank second on the team, while Aloy’s 18th double of the season pushed his own average to .353.
Charles Davalan and Ryder Helfrick also chipped in with multi-hit games, giving the Hogs a balanced attack.
Van Horn has emphasized the improved depth of this year’s squad compared to previous seasons.
“Last year, we didn’t have this kind of production from the bottom half of the order,” Van Horn said. “Now, with Kozeal and others hitting over .300, it makes us a tougher lineup to pitch to.”
The Razorbacks’ win marked their 10th consecutive regional opener victory and improved their home record to 33-4 this season at Baum-Walker Stadium, a venue where they’ve now won over 700 games in its 30-year history.
The home field advantage has been a significant factor for Arkansas, which is hosting its third straight NCAA regional.
Kozeal’s journey to Fayetteville has been anything but conventional.
After a standout freshman year at Vanderbilt, where he earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors and led the league in several offensive categories, Kozeal transferred to Arkansas and quickly became a key contributor.
His high school accolades include Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year and a gold medal with Team USA at the 2022 WBSC World Cup.
With the victory, Arkansas advances to face the winner of Kansas and Creighton in the winner’s bracket, a crucial step toward reaching the Super Regionals and, ultimately, the College World Series.
The Razorbacks are aiming for their first trip to Omaha since 2022, having been eliminated at home in the regional round each of the past two seasons.
“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Kozeal said. “The goal is to keep playing together and see how far we can go.”
The Razorbacks advanced in the winner’s bracket to face the Creighton Bluejays at 7 p.m. at another packed Baum-Walker Stadium crowd.
The game will be televised on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the game at HitThatLine.com in selected markets and on the radio at 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
