How Hagen Smith's Growth Set Up Razorbacks' Sweep of Ole Miss

Even Razorbacks' ace's second gear able to set down SEC lineup in getting opening-day win of series

Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Hagen Smith on Friday against the Ole Miss Rebels in the first game of a three-game SEC series. / Craven Whitlow-allHOGS Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas ace Hagen Smith helped the Razorbacks win two games this weekend against Ole Miss, but he didn't even pitch in. Smith's six innings of two-run ball on Thursday night despite walking four took just enough pressure off the bullpen to leave coach Dave Van Horn just enough arms in the series finale to avoid any late-inning drama in the series finale.

Smith's innings he ate up allowed Will McEntire to pitch just 2 2/3 innings on Friday, needing just 51 pitches to record eight high-leverage outs, allowing Van Horn to go back to him on Sunday when the tying run reached the on-deck circle in the top of the ninth. McEntire picked up the final two outs and his fourth save of the year.

Van Horn stressed earlier in the season the importance of teaching his hurlers to pitch instead of just throwing hard. Perhaps, there's no better evidence of Van Horn and pitching coach Matt Hobbs's philosophy than the hardest thrower on staff. Smith has improved his command massively while adding velocity, cutting his walks per nine from 5.3 last year to 3.1 this year in 41 innings.

Smith didn't have his best stuff and his old nemesis of the free pass returned, his four walks are the most in a start since May, 5 2023, when he walked five against Mississippi State.

"[I was] just a little off mechanically," Smith said. "[I was] pulling off my front side, missing everywhere with my fastball."

Smith fought through it and not only picked up a quality start (at least six innings pitched with three runs allowed) but struck out 11 to bring his career total to 282, one short of David Walling for third all-time in Razorback history.

"My first year here I would have never done that," Smith said. "I probably would have thrown three innings. It was good to get back and coach (Matt) Hobbs has done an amazing job with mechanics over the past two years. It got me to where I am right now.”

The Razorbacks will now play its first two-game midweek series of the year against San Jose State. The first game of the series is slated for Tuesday 6 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network+.

HOGS FEED:

• New face takes center stage in Razorback coaching search

• Augustave making big move among running backs this season

• Razorbacks' "Hawaiian Connection" comes through again in SEC series sweep, downing Ole Miss

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