Razorback bouncebacks, web gems and more

FAYETTEVILLE — No. 5 Arkansas baseball wished to bounce again from final weekend’s sequence loss at Florida. The Razorbacks completed that and extra as they accomplished their second SEC sweep of the season towards No. 12 LSU. It was the Razorbacks’ first sweep of the Tigers since 2011.

Arkansas took the primary sport 5-4 on Thursday, gave LSU its first shutout of the yr 4-0 on Friday, then gained 6-2 on Saturday.

The Razorbacks (28-7, 11-4 SEC) at the moment are firmly in first place within the SEC West midway by means of convention play. LSU (23-11, 7-8 SEC) has misplaced three of its 5 convention sequence.

Hagen Smith leads Arkansas starters

Freshman Hagen Smith was the star of the weekend on the mound. He threw seven innings in Arkansas’ shutout, and he gave up two hits and one stroll whereas placing out seven.

He did it towards one of many SEC’s finest offenses. LSU entered the weekend second solely to No. 1 Tennessee in crew batting common, slugging share, on-base share and runs scored. 

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It was a giant enchancment on his begin towards Florida, when he did not make it by means of the fifth inning after giving up six earned runs on seven hits.

Connor Noland had a no-hitter in Sport 1 till the sixth inning, when he gave up 4 straight singles with two outs to provide LSU three runs. He completed with the three earned runs, 4 hits and 7 strikeouts in six innings. 

Evan Taylor got here on in aid and struck out three straight Tigers trying. He gave up yet one more run however received the win, and Brady Tygart earned the save. 

Jaxon Wiggins had a shaky begin on Saturday when he gave up 5 hits in two innings. However he additionally managed to get out of some severe jams, together with leaving the bases loaded within the first and stranding 9 runners in 5⅓ innings. He completed with 9 hits, two earned runs, three walks and a career-high 9 strikeouts.

Robert Moore’s glorious weekend

The distinction between Arkansas’ and LSU’s defenses was stark. The Tigers entered the weekend main the SEC in errors with 48 and left with two extra. Each finally led to runs.

Arkansas had not less than one highlight-worthy defensive play in every sport. Second baseman Robert Moore had a pair of net gems, and even made SportsCenter’s High 10 after one in Sport 1.

Moore’s protection got here up clutch. He helped flip a double play within the eighth inning of Sport 1. LSU had minimize Arkansas’ result in one run within the high of the eighth, then loaded the bases. Moore’s double play ended the inning.

The important thing play got here simply after Moore had given Arkansas the lead on a two-run single within the backside of the seventh. They had been the ultimate two runs of Arkansas’ one-run win. 

“I believe his complete make-up is he’s simply filled with confidence,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn stated. “He desires that at-bat when the sport is on the road or the ball hit to him when the sport is on the road. …  He desires to be in the midst of the motion, and also you’ve received to like that as a coach.”

Moore completed the weekend a mixed 2-for-9 with two RBIs and two walks.

Greatest hitters keep sturdy

Arkansas’ offense appeared to have extra of the pop it anticipated to see this season. The Razorbacks’ high hitters had strong weekends, particularly catcher Michael Turner and third baseman Cayden Wallace.

Turner had not less than one hit in every sport and went a mixed 5-for-11 with three RBIs. His three-hit sport on Friday was his eleventh multi-hit sport of the yr, tied with shortstop Jalen Battles and second on the crew solely to Wallace. Van Horn stated the Kent State switch has exceeded expectations.

“He was already huge and powerful, however he received stronger and catching, throwing, hitting,” Van Horn stated. “Up up to now, he’s been higher than what I might have anticipated, and I believe his higher days are in entrance of him.”

Wallace was 5-for-13 on the weekend and drove in a pair of runs. He is now reached base in 16 straight video games, the second-longest energetic streak on the crew.

Up subsequent

Arkansas will host Arkansas State for 2 video games beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Razorbacks’ subsequent SEC sequence will likely be on the highway at Texas A&M beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Christina Lengthy covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You’ll be able to e mail her at clong@swtimes.com or observe her on Twitter @christinalong00.