Arkansas Razorbacks Handed First Run-Rule Loss of Season

Eyanson Leads from the Mound

LSU right-hander Anthony Eyanson was the tone-setter, carving up an Arkansas lineup that never quite settled in. Over six scoreless innings, Eyanson allowed just five singles and recorded 11 strikeouts 11 of his 18 outs came via the punchout. His sharp command and tempo left Arkansas unable to mount any sustained pressure.

“Had like 20 three-ball counts in a seven-inning ballgame,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “That’s just way too many.”

The Razorbacks worked 16 three-ball counts, but few translated into quality plate appearances. As Eyanson controlled the tempo, LSU’s offense piled on.

Pitching Falters from Start to Finish

Arkansas entered the game looking to bounce back from Friday’s loss but ran into immediate trouble on the mound. Starter Gage Wood needed 60 pitches to navigate just two innings and surrendered a momentum-shifting three-run homer to LSU’s Jake Brown in the second.

The bullpen offered little reprieve. Ben Bybee, Colin Fisher, Tate McGuire, and Steele Eaves followed Wood, but command remained elusive. The five pitchers combined to issue nine walks, tied for a season high, and gave up four home runs, matching the most Arkansas has allowed in a game this year.

Every LSU starter reached base at least once, and by the fifth inning, the Tigers were cycling through their order for a fourth time.

A Wild Ending to a Lopsided Game

The run-rule outcome was sealed fittingly. With a runner on second in the bottom of the seventh and two outs, a wild pitch on a swinging third strike allowed the game-ending run to score, a microcosm of Arkansas’ erratic afternoon.

It marked the first time the Razorbacks have been run-ruled since May 18, 2023, against Texas A&M. It’s also the first series this season in which Arkansas has dropped the first two games.

Designated hitter Ethan Frey, who homered Friday, delivered the decisive blow Saturday with a three-run shot in the sixth, putting the game out of reach.

What’s Next

Arkansas will attempt to avoid the sweep and regain its footing in Sunday’s series finale. If they can avoid the sweep, the Razorbacks should still be in good shape for the playoffs.