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.
The Arkansas Storm Team has designated Sunday overnight into Monday as an Alert Day for a line of storms moving through. Damaging wind gusts, flooding, and flash flooding are the main hazards. A tornado or two is also possible.
Flood-prone and low-lying areas should be aware of heavy rainfall overnight, leading to flooding and flash flooding. A Flood Watch is in place until 7 p.m. Monday, June 22, in northwestern and western Arkansas.
It’s strongly encouraged to have ways to receive weather alerts for your location overnight. This means ways that’ll wake you up in the event water is rising quickly or if you have to take shelter.
Download the Arkansas Storm Team app for the latest. The Arkansas Storm Team will also be live from 10:30 p.m. Sunday, June 21, to 4 a.m. Monday, June 22, on our streaming platforms. Coverage will continue at 4 a.m. on our morning newscasts.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — What happens in Arkansas doesn’t always stay in Arkansas.
That was the message Friday night as former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled to Little Rock to endorse Democratic congressional candidate Chris Jones, arguing the race for Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District may be drawing more attention than many political observers realize.
Speaking to supporters at the Dreamland Ballroom, Buttigieg framed the contest as a choice between Washington politics and kitchen-table concerns.
“Now is a chance to really show what it looks like to have a leader who is not focused on doing well by the most powerful and wealthy interests in Washington, but by the kinds of people who actually live here in the second district,” Buttigieg said. “That’s what I’ve seen Chris Jones doing day in, day out.”
For Jones, the focus was clear: affordability.
The Democratic challenger said Arkansans are feeling the strain of rising prices everywhere they turn, from housing and health care to everyday necessities like gasoline and groceries.
“Our campaign is about affordability and accountability for all,” Jones said. “People are concerned about the price of everything from big stuff, housing and health care, to small stuff, gas and grocery.”
Jones also criticized Republican Congressman French Hill, arguing voters are frustrated not only by rising costs but by a political climate that has become increasingly divisive.
“We’ve been told to be divided, and people are saying, look, I’m tired of that, I’m exhausted by that, and they really want to come together as a community and come together in unity,” Jones said.
Buttigieg said conversations he had with voters throughout the day reinforced the campaign’s message.
“I talked to a lot of folks from the Little Rock area today, heard about how they are hurting with the cost of gas, cost of groceries, cost of housing,” he said.
While Arkansas’ 2nd District has long been considered Republican territory, Buttigieg suggested the race could carry significance beyond the state’s borders.
“This is a race that maybe some national commentators are sleeping on that could absolutely be one of the pivotal ones for Congress this year,” he said.
The election remains months away, with voters set to decide the race on Nov. 3. Democrats are betting economic concerns can reshape the political conversation in the district, while Republicans look to hold onto a seat they have controlled for years.
For now, both parties appear to agree on one thing: more eyes may be watching Arkansas than usual.
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Saturday, June 20, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 20 drawing
16-20-44-48-50, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 20 drawing
Midday: 3-6-2
Evening: 7-6-6
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 20 drawing
Midday: 8-9-5-3
Evening: 8-0-6-0
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from June 20 drawing
01-16-20-36-39
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning LOTTO numbers from June 20 drawing
02-14-18-20-23-32, Bonus: 13
Check LOTTO payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 20 drawing
01-10-16-30-31, Bonus: 04
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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