No. 5 Arkansas split a Saturday doubleheader with No. 3 Mississippi State at Baum-Walker Stadium but still secured the weekend series, continuing its streak of SEC Opening Weekend success.
The Razorbacks dropped the first game 7-2 as Mississippi State starter Tomas Valincius threw seven shutout innings. Arkansas scored twice in the eighth on an RBI single from Nolan Souza and an RBI double from Ryder Helfrick, but the rally came too late.
Arkansas bounced back in the nightcap with a 7-3 win after overcoming a three-run deficit. The Razorbacks chipped away before breaking the game open with four runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Maika Niu and TJ Pompey.
Colin Fisher started the second game for Arkansas before the bullpen combined for 4.1 scoreless innings. Ethan McElvain earned the win and closed the game with a scoreless ninth.
The victory marked Arkansas’ ninth consecutive SEC Opening Weekend series win and the 2,500th win in program history. The Razorbacks will wrap up their 18-game homestand with a midweek series against Northern Colorado beginning Tuesday.
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