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Razorbacks Winning Streak Snapped With Dramatic Defensive Snafu

Pitcher error hands Arkansas second SEC loss

Daniel Shi

Arkansas Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn before Thursday night's series opener against the LSU Tigers in Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.
Arkansas Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn before Thursday night's series opener against the LSU Tigers in Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. / Craven Whitlow-allHOGS Images

Alabama held Arkansas to six hits and snapped the Razorbacks' 11-game winning streak en route to a 4-3 win in 10 innings after blowing a 3-2 lead with two outs in the ninth.

Down to its final out, the Razorbacks' Peyton Holt came into the day hitless in SEC play and got just his second conference start of the year. None of that mattered, he cranked the first pitch 415 feet to tie the game and send the game to extras.

The Hog bats went down in order in the top of the tenth. Designated hitter Kade Snell led off the inning for Alabama with a double to left. Jake Faherty came in to face TJ McCants. A routine grounder back to the mound was chucked over the first baseman Ben McLaughlin's head, allowing the Crimson Tide to walk the Hogs off.

"Tough losing on a play like that, a comebacker," coach Dave Van Horn said. "The runner had broke from second. If he [Faherty] fields the ball, you’ve got an opportunity to just throw him out at third base. Obviously, you saw what happened."

The Razorback offense started ice cold. Alabama starter Greg Farone retired 16 of the 20 batters he faced. Peyton Stovall doubled with two outs in the top of the third and Wehiwa Aloy walked but Jared Sprague-Lott struck out to retire the side.

Alabama's Will Hodo ambushed Hog starter Mason Molina in the second, deposing a first-pitch fastball down the right field line for a solo homer to open the scoring. The Crimson Tide threatened to add more with a double and a bunt single to put runners on the corners with no one out, but Molina retired the next three including two strikeouts to limit the damage.

Gage Miller led off the third inning with a homer down the left field line to double the Crimson Tide lead.

It took a few innings, but the Hogs had a pair of solo homers of its own to tie up the game. First, Peyton Stovall hit a 366-foot shot into the right field corner in the fifth. It was the first time the Razorbacks got a runner past second against Farone.

Jared Sprague-Lott greeted new Alabama pitcher Tyler Fay with a 397-foot leadoff homer to left-center. It was the second day in a row hitting a homer and the third in his career at Thomas-Sewell Stadium after also homering against the Crimson Tide Feb. 17, 2023 with Richmond.

Molina settled down to retire the final 10 batters he faced and turn in his longest outing of the year. Molina pitched six strong frames on 101 pitches, a season-high.

Christian Foutch relieved Molina and pitched a scoreless seventh but not without a slick double play started by Stovall, snagging a liner and doubling a runner off second.

Foutch came back for the eighth and allowed a one-out walk and a two-out single. Van Horn went to Stone Hewlett against the lefty TJ McCants but McCants laced an RBI double down the right-field line for a 3-2 lead.

The Razorbacks will look to win the rubber match of the series 1 p.m. Sunday. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.

HOGS FEED:

• Transfer running back good as advertised

• Pittman's big bet shows signs of life for Arkansas in spring game

• Razorbacks already picking up wins over Kentucky before season gets underway

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Daniel Shi
DANIEL SHI

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