Van Horn's Gutsy Bullpen Maneuvers Pushes Razorbacks to Sweep LSU

Hunter Dietz receives massive vote of confidence in Arkansas debut to steer two-run lead to win third straight over Tigers

Arkansas Razorbacks' Peyton Stovall coming home after his two-run homer in the sixth inning against the LSU Tigers in an SEC series sweep. / Craven Whitlow-allHOGS Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 1 Arkansas completed a three-game sweep of the LSU Tigers with some bullpen wizardry.

In a 7-5 game in the top of the eighth, Dave Van Horn got creative with a pair of bold bullpen moves. First, Van Horn brought in Hunter Dietz to make his college debut against Tommy White and the top of the LSU lineup. Dietz pitched fine but did allow the first two to reach and would eventually load the bases with two outs. Van Horn's then went even bolder, bringing in Will McEntire to get the final out of the inning after throwing 62 pitches on Thursday night. McEntire struck out Mac Bingham, who had already hit two homers in the game.

The two teams traded solo homers in the first inning. The extra day of rest for Brady Tygart did no good early as Tommy White hit his ninth homer of the year to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. Tygart did respond to strike out the next three hitters.

Wehiwa Aloy smoked a ball 111 miles an hour off the bat 380 feet to tie the game at one and join Kendall Diggs atop the team leaderboard in homers with six. Tygart gave up his second homer of the day when Ashton Larson just snuck a ball out to right as Diggs made an attempt to climb the wall to rob a bomb. LSU led 3-1 after three frames.

"I thought we did a really good job offensively today," Van Horn said. "I’ll start with the offense. Really all weekend. Nine or 10 hits a game for three days in a row off some really good arms and different looks."

LSU continued to tee off of Tygart, Bingham added the Tigers' third homer of the day, a 414-shot to left to make the score 4-1.

Like so many other times this season, the Hogs responded straight away with an epic station-to-station two-out rally. Five straight batters reached with two outs, including four straight singles to chase LSU starter Gage Junk from the game. Ty Wilmsmeyer continues to give Van Horn incredible production out of the nine spot. This time he hit a two-RBI single into left with the bases loaded to cut the lead to 4-3. Wilmsmeyer finished the weekend 4-for-11 with 5 RBIs. Stovall tied the game on the very next pitch with an RBI single to right.

The Hogs hanging a three-spot in the fourth gave Tygart a chance to start the fifth, but after he allowed a leadoff single, Van Horn had seen enough and brought in Koty Frank. Frank needed just four pitches to retire the side on a three-pitch strikeout and a double play.

"I came in and I knew what my job was," Frank said. "It’s not to come in and strike out the side or just be flashy. It’s just to execute pitches and try and get us off the field.  Get the momentum back into the dugout and let our offense go do their thing "

In the bottom of the fifth, Arkansas showed off its offensive versatility. Will Edmunson started off the inning with a double just inside the left-field line. Ryder Helfrick moved the runner over to third on a fly ball. Using his speed, Edmunson scored on a comebacker after LSU's Nate Ackenhausen opted to lob the ball home allowing the runner to slide under the tag and give the Hogs their first lead of the day.

One pitch later, Stovall jumped on the first pitch and gave the Hogs two key insurance runs with a 379-foot shot to left.

Bingham hit his second of the day to bring the Tigers one run closer, but McEntire held his composure to complete the sweep and improve to 8-1 in SEC play. Tommy White, hit into his third double play of the day to end the game after just missing a three-run homer foul down the left field line.

The Razorbacks now turn its attention to Arkansas State 6 p.m. Tuesday inside Baum-Walker. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.

HOGS FEED:

• Fans get a quick peek into the quarterback race

• Arkansas football recruiting recap after the first public scrimmage

• Highlights: Watch key moments from Hogs' dramatic extra inning walk-off win over No. 8 LSU

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