SPRINGDALE, Texas (KFDA) – The Sod Poodles took down the Northwest Arkansas Travelers 6-5 in the opener of their six-game series on Tuesday night.

It was a five-run second inning for Amarillo that led the way to victory, with Kristian Robinson’s two-RBI double serving as the signature hit during the big inning.

The Travelers came back to tie it up, thanks in large part to a two-run homer off the bat of Gavin Cross in the fifth.

However, in the very next half inning, Tim Tawa snatched the lead right back for Amarillo with an RBI single.

From there, the Amarillo relievers shut down the Travelers lineup. Jake Rice, Taylor Rashi, and Mitchell Stumpo combined to allow just two hits, no runs and strikeout four over the final three innings to seal the one-run victory.

The Travelers had a chance to win it in the ninth with a runner on second and one out, but Stumpo struck out the final two batters of the game to end it.

The Sod Poodles will be back in action on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. to continue the series.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Success in college basketball has paid off for the Razorbacks in recent years as the program continues to improve its standing in the NBA.

For many years, the Arkansas brand was represented by the likes of Joe Johnson and Ronnie Brewer throughout the 2000’s and 2010’s. The recent uptick in winning for the traditional basketball school is turning eyes around the league. Two former Hogs will represent the school during the conference finals.

Daniel Gafford, who played for the Razorbacks under Mike Anderson from 2017-19, currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks. Gafford’s team will meet the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday evening in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

He was traded midseason by the lowly Washington Wizards and has bolstered the Mavs front court. Since his arrival in Dallas, Gafford played in 29 games with 21 starts and has averaged 11 points, seven boards, two assists and two blocks per game. He’s been a force on the offensive end connecting on 78% of his field goal attempts at 22 minutes per game.

Former 5-star McDonald’s All-American Jordan Walsh will play in the Eastern Conference Finals for Boston. The Celtics will play this Tuesday night against the red hot Indiana Pacers who make their first conference finals appearance since 2014. Walsh is a rookie and was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 38 pick of the second round.

He was in and out of the G-Leauge for much of the seaon playing with Boston’s Maine affiliate. Through nine regular season games, Walsh recorded nearly two points and two rebounds per game. He shot the ball well when given the opportunity, knocking down 40% of his field goal attempts.

The Razorbacks are one of seven schools to have at least two players in the conference finals this season. Duke leads the way with four, Kentucky has three, and Iowa State, Arizona, UCLA, Vanderbilt and Arkansas each have two.

HOGS FEED:

• Van Horn confident Razorbacks will adjust to new rules in SEC Tournament

• SEC Baseball Tournament Schedule

• Numbers both hopeful, disturbing in regard to Hogs’ College World Series aspirations

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Southern Arkansas University begins negotiations with Bruno Hicks as next president

Today at 11:27 a.m.

by Ryan Anderson

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Submitted photo of Bruno Hicks, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Dalton State College and finalist for Southern Arkansas University president.

Southern Arkansas University’s board of trustees voted unanimously Monday to begin negotiations with Bruno Hicks — provost and vice president of academic affairs at Dalton State College in Northwest Georgia — to become SAU’s next president.

If Hicks can agree to terms, he has indicated he could start his new duties as early as June 17.

The SAU board selected Hicks over in-state finalist Phillip Wilson, the chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain since 2011.

Laura Winning, chairperson of the board of trustees. called it “a very important decision” and said SAU was “excited about what (Hicks) can bring to” the 5,127-student university in Magnolia.

Before starting his tenure at Dalton State College in 2020, Hicks was the founding dean of the school of education from 2016-2020 at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts.

He spent nearly two decades at the University of Maine at Fort Kent as a professor of education and environmental studies. He also served as chairman of the education department for 12 of his 18 years there.

Former SAU President Trey Berry departed at the end of last year to become chancellor of Henderson State University on Jan. 1,.

David Rankin, who retired as SAU president on June 30, 2015 and is SAU President Emeritus — is filling in temporarily as SAU president.

Nate Evers, the board of trustees’ vice chairman, said he made the motion “with much enthusiasm” to begin negotiations with Hicks.

Winning, the board of trustees’ chairperson, expressed gratitude to everyone who helped with the search, from faculty and staff, to the search committee led by fellow trustee Monty Harrington, and to members of the community.