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Kentucky Wildcats whip Arkansas Razorbacks; rubber match set for Sunday | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Kentucky Wildcats whip Arkansas Razorbacks; rubber match set for Sunday | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


The University of Arkansas baseball team’s series at Kentucky is even, but the games have been one-sided.

The No. 8 Wildcats bounced back with an 11-3 victory over the No. 2 Razorbacks on Saturday at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Ky., after Arkansas won Friday night’s opener 10-3.

Arkansas (40-8, 17-6 SEC) allowed its most runs in a game this season Saturday after scoring its highest SEC total Friday night.

The previous high-scoring game for a Razorbacks’ opponent had been Florida’s 9-5 victory at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville last Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader.

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Kentucky (34-10, 17-6) tied Arkansas for the best overall SEC record as each team continues to lead its division.

“Obviously we didn’t play our best game,” Razorbacks Coach Dave Van Horn said. “We still have an opportunity to win the series, so hopefully we’ll play a little better.”

Van Horn said junior left-hander Mason Molina (3-1, 3.47 ERA) is ready to start Sunday after he missed last weekend’s series against Florida because of a right ankle injury.

“Just to go out and attack, make them earn everything, throw his fastball for a strike,” Van Horn said of what he wants to see from Molina. “If he does that, he’ll be in good shape.”

Arkansas starting pitcher Brady Tygart, who had gone 6 innings in his previous two starts, went 3 innings Saturday and allowed 5 runs, 6 hits and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts. The junior right-hander threw 37 strikes on 66 pitches.

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“Probably when you talk about Brady, the issue would have been he just didn’t throw his fastball for a strike,” Van Horn said. “Didn’t throw it where he wanted it and it made it very difficult to pitch, because they just started sitting on off-speed pitches.”

Kentucky went 6 for 12 with runners in scoring position and scored seven runs with two outs. Eight runs were scored on five doubles.

“The at-bats were there, the tough at-bats with two strikes, bunting, doubles, balls in play,” Wildcats Coach Nick Mingione said. “That was Kentucky baseball. We were a team today.”

Arkansas was 3 for 19 with runners on base.

“Hit some balls hard,” Van Horn said. “Didn’t have much luck.”

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Arkansas catcher Hudson White hit a two-run home run in the second inning on a 3-1 pitch from Kentucky starter Dominic Niman — with Nolan Souza on base after a walk — to give the Razorbacks a 2-0 lead.

It was White’s first home run since Feb. 16 when the Razorbacks opened the season with a 6-4 victory over James Madison.

“It felt good,” White said. “I’ve been making a few adjustments and just trying to stick with my approach and put a good swing on it.”

The Razorbacks had seven other hits, all singles.

Niman went 5 1/3 innings and held Arkansas to 2 runs, 5 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts.

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“It starts with the guy on the mound and I thought Dom was sensational,” Mingione said.

“[Niman] did a good job of getting ahead, but we got ourselves in good positions to drive in runs and we weren’t able to do it,” said Arkansas second baseman Peyton Stovall, who went 2 for 5 and had an RBI groundout in the ninth inning. “I think if we just go out there [Sunday], play hard and keep putting ourselves in good positions to score runs, hopefully we’ll be able to do it.”

Niman stranded four base runners the first three innings.

“We had a couple opportunities to hit and drive in some runs early, and give him credit,” Van Horn said. “He got out of a couple of jams.”

Kentucky went ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the second inning when Emilien Pitre hit a two-run double and Devin Burks had an RBI double.

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Arkansas left fielder Ross Lovich had a chance to catch Pitre’s deep drive, but he misplayed it after backing into the fence.

“I just think that he thought the ball wasn’t going to go as far as it did,” Van Horn said. “The wind was blowing to left field, especially early in the game.

“The ball got up in the air and it was hit a little better than you think on the swing. He just drifted back and back. About the time he was ready to catch the ball, he hit the fence. It ended up being a mistake and it was a tough one.”

Pitre had another two-run double in the fourth inning when the Wildcats pushed their lead to 7-2.

“We were playing uphill pretty much the whole game because we got behind so far,” Van Horn said.

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Kentucky scored four more runs in the eighth inning when Nick Lopez had a three-run double.

Gage Wood pitched a career-long 4 1/3 innings for Arkansas in relief of Tygart and allowed 3 runs, 3 hits and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts. He gave up two hits and a walk in the fourth inning, but then settled down and pitched three scoreless innings before being lifted with one out in the eighth after hitting Gant Smith with a pitch.

Koty Frank got the final two outs for the Razorbacks in the eighth inning and allowed 3 runs and 2 hits.

Arkansas has lost back-to-back games only once this season, at Alabama three weeks ago.

“We’ll play hard, I know that,” Van Horn said of the Kentucky series finale. “We show up every day and get after it.

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“Just a matter of if things go our way a little bit, but most of the time you have to make your own breaks. You have to do it and not expect the other team to fall apart.

“You’ve got to throw strikes, you’ve got to field the ball and you’ve got to take advantage of some pitches that are left in the zone.

“You’ve got to square them up and hopefully they don’t catch them. We’ll see how it goes.”

Stovall said the Razorbacks are excited to play again.

“We always want to win as many games as we can,” Stovall said. “I think that if we just go out there and play hard, the rest will take care of itself.

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“Kentucky’s got a good team. Rubber match.

“It’s what you live for in college baseball and the SEC. So it’s going to be fun and we’re looking forward to it.”



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5-Star Center Obinna Ekezie Jr. Reveals MCBB Commitment Between Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, More

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5-Star Center Obinna Ekezie Jr. Reveals MCBB Commitment Between Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, More


One of the top basketball prospects in the class of 2027 has made his commitment.

Per On3’s Joe Tipton, 5-star center Obinna Ekezie Jr. is reclassifying to the class of 2026 and will play for Louisville this fall.

Ekezie is considered to be the No. 4 overall player and the No. 2 center in his class by 247Sports’ composite rankings. The Orlando, Florida, native is also the No. 2 player in his state.

The 7-footer had Arkansas, BYU, Kentucky and Maryland in his final group alongside Louisville, but ultimately went with Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals.

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“I chose Louisville because it has everything I need in terms of winning and development. I have a great opportunity to develop and showcase my game at both the 4 and 5 alongside Flory Bidunga,” he told Tipton. “Louisville already feels like home to me and we’re going to be an incredibly competitive team. We’re striving to win a National Championship.”

Ekezie, of course, has dreams of playing at the professional level, and he felt moving up to the class of 2026 would help him reach those goals.

“After my high school season, I evaluated the rewards and risks and felt college was the right move for my development,” he said. “I get to practice every day against elite competition and develop at a much faster rate. I want to compete at the highest level and this gives me the best opportunity to grow as a player.”

The Cardinals have had a successful offseason, landing Kansas transfer center Flory Bidunga, Oregon transfer point guard Jackson Shelstad, Iowa transfer forward Alvaro Folgueiras, Arkansas transfer wing Karter Knox and more.

Now, Louisville will add even more talent in Ekezie.

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Arkansas Derby winner Renegade finishes 2nd in Kentucky Derby

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Arkansas Derby winner Renegade finishes 2nd in Kentucky Derby


HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner, finished second Saturday in the Kentucky Derby, as more than 30,000 fans gathered at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort for the final day of the racing season.

The race often called the “fastest two minutes in sports” drew strong reactions from the Oaklawn crowd, where fans watched together as one of their own track’s top horses competed on racing’s biggest stage.

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Renegade entered the Derby as one of the favorites after winning the Arkansas Derby in March. The horse’s second-place finish fell just short of a win, disappointing some bettors but still energizing the crowd.

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“I’m cheering for Renegade, that’s where my money’s at,” said Chris Ho, Oaklawn’s vice president of marketing.

Fans across the venue said the day was about more than just the outcome of a single race, as Oaklawn wrapped up its racing season with large crowds and a festive atmosphere.

“I’m having a blast, losing some money but having some fun,” said attendee Zachary Willmuth.

The event brought together both longtime racing fans and newcomers experiencing the tradition for the first time.

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“I have an aunt who had a derby party every year, so I went every year,” said first-time Oaklawn visitor Jayna Monical. “This is the closest I’m going to be to the derby.”

Others said attending races at Oaklawn has been a longstanding tradition.

“As soon as I got my driver’s license at 16, I started coming here,” said Robert Trammell. “I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Despite some losing tickets, the crowd remained lively throughout the day, with cheering and celebrations echoing across the track during both the Kentucky Derby watch and Oaklawn’s final races.

For some, the experience ensured a return trip.

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“I think it’s exciting,” Monical said. “We have a whole crew that’s coming next year.”

Saturday marked the end of Oaklawn’s racing season, closing out months of competition in Hot Springs.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.

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Arkansas women’s basketball lands veteran transfer guard Kateri Poole | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas women’s basketball lands veteran transfer guard Kateri Poole | Whole Hog Sports





Arkansas women’s basketball lands veteran transfer guard Kateri Poole | Whole Hog Sports







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