Arkansas
COLUMN: Arkansas baseball knocks off JMU on Opening Day as hope returns to Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Opening Day is synonymous with hope. Across the country, a new season brings limitless expectations, especially for an Arkansas baseball team that was picked to win the SEC and is a popular choice from national pundits to go on and win the College World Series.
But in Fayetteville, there’s also a sense of desperation.
Razorbacks fans have experienced a brutal six-month stretch. The football and men’s basketball teams both failed to live up to expectations, with just two combined home SEC victories in this academic year. The football team lost its final two games in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium by an average of 36 points. The basketball team has lost four conference games by at least 20 points.
Baum-Walker Stadium was covered by dark grey clouds throughout Friday afternoon, but the shine of optimism finally returned. No. 4 Arkansas (1-0) knocked off James Madison (0-1) 6-4 to open its season with a victory in front of a packed, frigid audience.
“Fans were amazing. I couldn’t believe how many people were here, honestly,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said.
“That was an amazing job by our fans showing up and supporting our team like that today. I know that I appreciate it and I know that our players really appreciate it. I’m looking forward to the weather getting better and having some good crowds and hopefully they’ll get to relax out there and not shiver the whole game.”
Some fans arrived nearly two hours before first pitch, braving the dropping temperatures and misting rain to be the first ones inside the ballpark. Lawn chairs and flags filled the Hog Pen in left field within minutes of the gates opening to the public. The stadium was ready for liftoff.
Instead, the season started with a rapid thud. Hagen Smith, the SEC preseason Pitcher of the Year, lasted just one inning and gave up a three-run bomb to Fenwick Trimble. James Madison led Arkansas 3-0 before the Razorbacks’ first at-bat of the spring.
More: Arkansas baseball live score updates vs. James Madison: Hogs beat Dukes on Opening Day
More: Unfazed by the hype: Hagen Smith ready to lead Arkansas baseball in 2024
Another home disappointment? No, this Arkansas team is different. The Razorbacks scored two runs in each of the next three innings. The James Madison lead didn’t last more than 30 minutes.
“It’s just like, you can take a punch and get right back up and throw some more at them,” Arkansas pitcher Will McEntire said.
The national championship buzz around this Arkansas team starts with its pitching staff, and the Hogs showed they’ve got capable arms aside from Smith. McEntire (1-0) relieved the Friday starter and gave up just one earned run in 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win. He struck out six batters and pounded the zone with just one walk.
Gage Wood picked up the save, recording the final seven outs without giving up a run. The sophomore righty struck out four James Madison batters behind an electric fastball.
The offense also showed off its depth. Jared Sprague-Lott would not have started on Opening Day without an injury to Peyton Holt, but the Richmond transfer was the Hogs’ star Friday, going 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and two walks out of the eight-hole. Hudson White also hit a home run for Arkansas, and all six runs were scored by six different Razorbacks.
“It was definitely a ton of fun,” Sprague-Lott said of his Arkansas debut. “It was mind-blowing to see that many people dedicated to this program and to see all of us. It was a ton of fun to be out there.”
There are many more games and much stiffer challenges on the horizon for Arkansas. Smith must pitch better for this team to achieve its ambitions. The middle of the lineup needs more timely hits to capitalize on insurance opportunities.
But for at least one day, Hog fans can put the miseries of recent football and basketball seasons behind them. The sun will come out and a new hope has arrived.
Opening Day felt like just the beginning.
TULSA, Okla –The Tulsa Drillers defeat the Arkansas Travelers, 11-3, on April 19, 2026 at ONEOK Field and The Sporting Tribune’s Robert Sloter was there to capture the following TST Images.
Luke Fox #15 of the Tulsa Drillers throws a pitch during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
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Luke Fox #15 of the Tulsa Drillers throws a pitch during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers enter the dugout during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers enter the dugout during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Josue De Paula #55 of the Tulsa Drillers on the field during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Josue De Paula #55 of the Tulsa Drillers on the field during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers stands on first base during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers stands on first base during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers walks through the dugout with his bat during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
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Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers walks through the dugout with his bat during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Kyle Nevin #23 of the Tulsa Drillers scores a run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Kyle Nevin #23 of the Tulsa Drillers scores a run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Kendall George #1 of the Tulsa Drillers stands on deck during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
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Kendall George #1 of the Tulsa Drillers stands on deck during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers watches his home run in flight during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers watches his home run in flight during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers rounds the bases on his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers rounds the bases on his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Zyhir Hope #13 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates his home run during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
It’s been a bone-dry year in Arkansas. It’s now the 7th driest year on record in Little Rock since record-keeping began in 1875, as of April 20.
24 days so far this year in Little Rock have received measurable rainfall. 12 days received a trace amount of rain, meaning there were no rainfall measurements to report (it was too little to record), as it was just a sprinkle or a few spits.
Only 4 days have received an inch or more of rain so far this year. Those occurred on April 4, March 7, February 14, and January 24. January’s “rain” was really winter precipitation.
April is usually the rainiest month of the year in Arkansas. In Little Rock, April on average receives 5.59 inches of rainfall. So far this April, as of April 20, Little Rock has only recorded 1.17″ of rain for the month.
The rainfall deficit over the last 6 months is well over a foot for much of Arkansas, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and Harrison.
Spring is the rainy season, and summer is the dry season. If rain isn’t recorded soon, the drought will persist into the summer. In fact, the latest seasonal drought outlook shows that while some areas of Arkansas could see improvements, the drought continues into July.
To fully end the drought, parts of central and northeast Arkansas need more than 25 inches of rain over the next 3 months. Parts of northwest Arkansas need between 15 and 20 inches of rain over the next 3 months. The rest of the state needs between 20 and 25 inches of rain over the next 3 months. All of this rain would need to be received slowly, not all at one time.
The odds of receiving this much rain slowly over the next 3 months are very low.
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Evening: 5-3-2
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Evening: 7-5-4-8
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from April 19 drawing
02-07-17-20-23
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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