Hogs edge Portland 5-3, complete weekend sweep

FAYETTEVILLE — No. 3 Arkansas completed the weekend sweep of Portland winning 5-3 on Sunday behind some timely hitting and good pitching.

Arkansas had won the two previous games by run rule, but on Sunday the Pilots out hit the Hogs 10-7, but it was clutch hits for the Hogs that provided the winning margin. Dave Van Horn talked about Sunday’s performance.

“The game, I knew it was going to be tight,” Van Horn said. “You just know it was going to be tight after Friday and yesterday run rules.”

The Hogs had a big first inning to jump on the Pilots early. Charles Davalan and Wehiwa Aloy each singled to start the inning. After Kuhio Aloy flied out, third baseman Brent Iredale ripped a three-run blast over the fence in left for a 3-0 lead.

While Portland answered with a run in the top of the second, catcher Ryder Helfrick answered that with a solo shot in the bottom of the second for a 4-1 lead. The Hogs didn’t score again until the bottom of the sixth with a rally that started with two down. Davalan singled and then stole second. He scored on a Wehiwa Aloy single.

Portland got a run in the top of the fifth and then cleanup hitter Zach Toglia blasted a Landon Beidelschies pitch over the fence to start the sixth. Portland loaded the bases later in the inning, but couldn’t add any more runs as Parker Coil got out of the jam.

Beidelschies pitched 5.0 innings leaving after facing two hitters in the top of the sixth. Beidelschies (3-0) picked up the win. He allowed eight hits, three runs, didn’t walk anyone and struck out six.

“I feel our pitchers did a really good job,” Van Horn said. “They didn’t walk anyone all day. As far as Landon starting I thought his first few innings were really good. He busts the fast ball in there.”

Following Coil, Van Horn used Aiden Jimenez, Christian Foutch and Carson Wiggins out of the bullpen all righties.

“I think Portland was starting to get really comfortable with left-handed pitching,” Van Horn said. “They came in hitting .300 against lefties. I don’t know how many they have faced.”

Jiminez, Foutch and Wiggins each pitched one inning. Wiggins earned the save his third of the season. Van Horn talked about each of the three taking care of business in the one inning they pitched.

“I think it builds their confidence,” Van Horn said. “But also the other team doesn’t get a good look at them. They all had good stuff.”

Arkansas (15-1) will now host UCA on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Van Horn was happy to head to that game with another win.

“It was a good win for us today,” Van Horn said. “We got out hit, but we didn’t make any mistakes.”

Ryan Rembisz (2-1) took the loss for Portland. He allowed five runs, five hits, walked one and fanned two. Curtis Hebert pitched the other 3.1 innings for the Pilots. He allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out six.

Tuesday night’s game can be streamed on the SEC Network+. UCA (5-8) enters the game riding a two-game losing skid.