Hogs Down Bulldogs in Series Opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A 3-run first inning and robust outing by starter Hunter Dietz propelled No. 16 Arkansas (26-13, 9-7 SEC) to a 6-3 series-opening win in opposition to No. 5 Georgia (30-9, 11-5 SEC) Thursday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Razorbacks tagged Bulldog starter Joey Volchko for 3 runs on successful and two walks in the underside half of the primary to offer a 3-0 cushion for Dietz, who was making his second series-opening begin of the season. The left-hander took full benefit of the early lead, working 5.1 innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts to earn his fourth win of the yr.
Georgia’s solely harm in opposition to Dietz got here in the type of two solo residence runs. Through his first 10 begins of the season, the Trinity, Fla., native owns a 4-2 report with a 3.59 ERA and an SEC-leading 86 strikeouts in 52.2 innings on the mound.
In aid of Dietz, Gabe Gaeckle (2.0 IP, 1 R, 2 SO) and Ethan McElvain (1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 SO) mixed for 3.2 innings of one-run ball with 4 strikeouts. McElvain closed out the ultimate 1.2 innings of Thursday’s win to earn his team-best third save.
Offensively, Damian Ruiz was the lone Razorback to report a number of hits in the sport. His one-out RBI double on the backside of the primary prolonged Arkansas’ result in 2-0 earlier than he got here round to attain on a wild pitch later in the inning.
Ruiz led off the fourth with a single, his second hit, and scored on Maika Niu’s sacrifice fly to heart, pushing the Hogs’ benefit to 4-1. Reese Robinett’s two-out RBI infield single later in the inning gave Arkansas its fifth run of the evening.
After Georgia closed its deficit to 3 in the sixth with its second solo shot of the sport, Carter Rutenbar swatted his second homer of the marketing campaign in the seventh. The true freshman is slashing a team-leading .341/.460/.500 this season.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth however have been restricted to 1 run as McElvain emerged from the bullpen to extinguish the risk. He labored round a one-out stroll in the ninth to seal Arkansas’ 6-3 series-opening win.
Game two of the collection will get underway at 6 pm Friday, April 17, on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) on the decision. Arkansas left-hander Cole Gibler (3-0, 2.78 ERA) will go up in opposition to Georgia right-hander Dylan Vigue (3-1, 2.63 ERA) with a chance to clinch the Hogs’ fifth straight residence collection win in opposition to the Bulldogs.
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