#1 Arkansas Cranks Four Homers in Run-Rule Win over Little Rock
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 1 Arkansas (20-3) cranked four home runs, including its fourth grand slam of the season, to outmuscle in-state opponent Little Rock (13-12), 11-0 in seven innings, Tuesday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Peyton Stovall (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI), Wehiwa Aloy (3-for-3, HR, 4 RBI), Jack Wagner (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Will Edmunson (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) each went yard in the Razorbacks’ lopsided run-rule win. On the mound, Ben Bybee (3.1 IP, 5 SO), Dylan Carter (2.0 IP), Christian Foutch (1.0 IP) and Stone Hewlett (1.0 IP, 1 SO) combined for a seven-inning two-hitter.
Arkansas scored early and often, bringing home a pair of runs in the bottom of the first before scoring two more in the bottom of the second. Stovall’s two-run shot, the third of his season, in the second extended the Hogs’ lead to 4-0.
Provided with a multi-run cushion, Bybee cruised in his season debut on the mound. The sophomore right-hander, who earned the win, struck out five over three scoreless innings, allowing just one base runner in his first outing of the year.
Carter and Foutch were equally as effective in relief of Bybee. The duo combined for three scoreless out of the bullpen, silencing Little Rock’s offense across the ballgame’s middle innings to set the table for the Hogs’ seven-run sixth.
Arkansas hit three of its four home runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Aloy’s grand slam – his second of the season. Wagner followed up Aloy’s four-run blast with a solo shot of his own, marking his first homer as a Razorback.
Edmunson’s two-out, two-run blast later in the inning pushed the Hogs’ lead to 11-0, invoking the 10-run rule. Hewlett entered in the top of the seventh, retiring the side on eight pitches to secure Arkansas’ fifth shutout win of the season.
With his three-hit game, Aloy raised his season slash line to .273/.369/.466 with five home runs and a team-leading 24 RBI. His five home runs are tied with Kendall Diggs (5) for the team lead, and his 24 base hits rank second on the Hogs.
The Razorbacks return to SEC play this weekend with a top-10 showdown in Fayetteville. First pitch in the series opener between top-ranked Arkansas and No. 8 LSU at Baum-Walker Stadium is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 28, on ESPN2.
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