Arkansas hit six home runs in the first six innings and buried the Gamecocks on Friday.
The Arkansas baseball team could not have created a better start to its weekend SEC series against the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Razorbacks had their own little game of Home Run Derby on Friday night in Columbia, S.C. They hit six homers in the first six innings and rolled to a very easy win in SEC play, moving to 3-1 in the conference through four games.
Arkansas looked like an elite team. It wasted no time and showed no mercy against an inferior conference foe. Maika Niu, Kuhio Aloy, Damian Ruiz, Cam Kolzeal, and TJ Pompey all went yard in helping the Hogs build a 21-4 lead through five and a half innings. Arkansas built a 9-0 lead through three innings and then unloaded for eight in the fourth for a 17-0 lead. The Razorbacks added three in the fifth and another in the sixth to remove any drama from the opener of this three-game series. This was and is the killer instinct we didn't see from Arkansas hitters in the first few weeks of the season. Now the Hogs are bringing the hammer down and scoring at a rate they are capable of. The win moves Arkansas to 17-6 on the season and puts UA in position to win two straight SEC series to start the conference baseball season. Arkansas won two of three games from nationally-ranked Mississippi State one week ago.
Friday night, Florida lost its first SEC game, which means Arkansas is now tied with the Gators at 3-1 in the conference standings. Auburn -- which rallied to beat Texas -- and Kentucky are still unbeaten in SEC competition. Arkansas, though, is playing like a legitimate frontline contender and a team which should host an NCAA Super Regional a few months from now.
ARKANSAS SOFTBALL UPDATE
Arkansas softball hammered UConn on Friday, 12-4, to start a weekend series. Atalyia Rijo hit a two-run single as part of a four-run first to stake the Hogs to a commanding early lead. Arkansas maintained and then built that four-run advantage, pulling away in the latter innings for an easy victory. Tianna Bell and Dakota Kennedy hit home runs to help the Razorbacks cruise to a low-stress win.
Arkansas is now 26-4 on the season. The Razorbacks are 3-3 in SEC play -- with all six games against ranked opponents -- and are currently ranked No. 9 in the nation.