Arkansas completes sweep of Missouri ahead of likely ascension to No. 1 in national polls

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – A complete annihilation of Missouri this weekend will likely hand No. 2 Arkansas the title of the nation’s top-ranked college baseball team.

The Razorbacks routed the Tigers 14-4 and 16-2 in a pair of seven-inning games on Sunday to complete a sweep of the three-game series.


Arkansas (30-3, 11-1), tied atop the SEC standings with Texas after this weekend’s results, outscored the visitors by a whopping 51-7 during the weekend.

The Razorbacks had 16 hits in each game on Sunday,

“I mean, we scored 50 runs in three games,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “We scored 50 runs in less than 24 hours, pretty much. You know, it’s because our hitters, they battle and make you throw strikes for the most part. Got a lot of big two-out hits.”

The win also gives the Razorbacks the best 33-game start in program history with Van Horn liking how his team plays after a couple of early defensive misplays.

“I mean obviously it is good to win two games in one day,” Van Horn said. “…I liked the way our guys played , competed hard and stayed into it. They knew the importance of winning league games and you could kind of see that.”

Arkansas entered the weekend in a four-way tie atop the SEC with No. 1 Tennessee, No. 3 Georgia and No. 5 Texas.

Texas swept Georgia while Texas A&M took two of three at Tennessee, including a Saturday doubleheader sweep getting no-hit by the Vols on Friday night.

Arkansas lead off man Charles Davalan homered twice in the opener – a three-run shot and a grand slam – and had 7 RBIs while Wehiwa Aloy was 4 of 5 at the plate

In the nightcap, Cam Kozeal had two homer runs, there hits overall and six RBIs.

Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick had four hits in the two games.

“One through nine, we’re a very tough lineup to face.,” Kozeal said. “Lot of scary dudes who can hit, hit for power, steal bags when we need it. Fight guys off with two strikes. It’s a very complete lineup one through nine. It’s a very fun lineup to be a part of.”

Missouri head coach Kerrick Jackson flatly stated that his Tigers (11-20, 0-12) are not in a position to compete with the Razorbacks right now.

“We just have to get better,” Jackson said. “We don’t have anybody that can stop them on the bump so we have to be able to get some guys who can put up some zeros.

Jackson noted his pitchers didn’t give themselves a chance.

“We were never ahead in the count consistently, always in three-ball counts and when you are in hitters counts, it makes out a lot easier for them to hit,” Jackson said. “And when they know there are pitchers that can’t throw and can’t locate your off speed pitches, it makes it really, really easy to make it tough on them from an offensive perspective at all.

“We have got to go back and figure out how to get these guys to throw some strikes. Just roll the dice, be ahead in counts.”

Gabe Gaeckle was the starting pitcher for Arkansas in the first game and went four innings while allowing a quartet of runs (two earned), five hits, fanning six and walking a pair.

Aiden Jemeniz (4-0) picked up the win in the opener with a scoreless two-inning relief stint.

Landon Beidelschies also went four innings while starting the second game with Christian Foutch (1-0), Cole Gibler and Carson Wiggins all pitching a scoreless inning to finish out the contest.

“I liked the way we pitched, for the most part,” Van Horn said. “A couple of our starters got into some jams and they fought their way out.

“Didn’t give up big innings. Gave up a run or two and that was it, and then we’d come in and counter. Just about every time they scored, we’d score and usually score more.”

In the two games, Arkansas pitchers combined to allow 10 hits, fanned 22 and walked just four.

“Pitchers didn’t walk very many people,” Van Horn said. “I just told the team, even our relievers were coming in with good leads. The game’s for the most part over, and they didn’t just come in there and go through the motion.

“Man, they pitched, and that was really good to see. It gives the coach confidence, the players confidence, and I liked what I saw from the bullpen the last three games.”

Arkansas is set to host Arkansas State (13-17) on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. in a game televised by the SEC Network before traveling to face Georgia next weekend.

Photo by John D. James