ARLINGTON, Texas — Arkansas opened the College Baseball Series with a 5-4 win in a back-and-forth battle over Oregon State.
Arkansas fielders didn't get the memo, they didn't need to bring their gloves. Hagen Smith struck out 17 Beavers, including recording the first 15 outs with the punchout, Smith still fell well short of the NCAA record of 26 by a single pitcher, set in 1971, but did shatter a school record of consecutive outs recorded by strikeout (nine, Jess Todd, 2007)
"I just felt good," Smith said. "After my first outing, it's obviously not who I am. I want to go out there and prove that I'm good."
Despite having a four-run lead, the Hog bullpen was unable to get the final nine outs against a potent Oregon State lineup that scored two runs in the seventh and eighth as the Beavers stormed back with a two-run game-tying homer down the left field line off Gage Wood.
Peyton Holt, who had grounded into two double plays coming into the bottom of the eighth, smacked a go-ahead RBI triple off the center field wall to reclaim the lead, before Jake Faherty came in and got the final two outs in a thriller.
With Oregon State acting as the road team, Smith quelled any fears after only lasting one inning against James Madison. Smith struck out three in the top of the first inning, including top draft prospect Travis Bazzana on three pitches. Fellow top-100 prospect Aiden May matched Smith with two strikeouts of his own as the teams traded scoreless frames.
Smith continued to dominate under the controlled conditions of Globe Life field, striking out three more in the second, followed by striking out the side in the third. He tied a career-high nine strikeouts after just three innings, needing just 36 pitches to record nine outs.
The Razorbacks had the first real scoring opportunity in the third. Back-to-back 1-out singles from Ty Wilmsmeyer and Kendall Diggs, but May struck out Hudson White and a screamer off the bat of Ben McLaughlin found the glove of Beaver first baseman Mason Guerra kept the game scoreless.
Despite striking out three more, Smith had to work out of his own mini-jam in the fourth, stranding two runners in the fourth after a walk and a single.
The Razorbacks got the first two on to start the fifth but an interesting decision to bunt with two strikes by Wilmsmeyer gifted Oregon State a free out. May left the game on a 2-0 count with apparent elbow discomfort. Nelson Keljo came in a loaded the bases, but White struck out for the second straight at-bat with a runner on third with one out. Hogs fans need not worry, Ben McLaughlin laced a first-pitch fastball off the base of the wall in center to clear the bases and make the score 3-0.
Smith really struggled in the sixth, allowing the Beavers to put a ball in play for an out. Holt, showed incredible range to get to the ball and fire a strike from the seat of his pants to first. Smith struck out the next two though to finish his night with 17, exiting with a curtain call.
Ryder Helfrick took advantage of a high pop-up getting lost in the lights, ending up at second to start the sixth. Jayson Jones followed with an important insurance run with an RBI single.
With Smith finally out of the game, the Beavers lineup came to life against Will McEntire. Oregon State cut the Hog lead in half. Pinch-hitter Dallas Macias smacked an RBI double and a miscommunication between Holt and Wehiwa Aloy over the second base bag allowed the Beavers to cash in on an infield popup.
After the Beavers tied the game in the top of the eighth, Helfrick laid down a beautiful bunt down the first base line to put the go-ahead run in scoring position ahead of the game-winning triple, almost beating it out for a hit.
Faherty navigated around a runner on third with one out after a wild pitch advanced the runner with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
The Razorbacks take on Oklahoma State 7 p.m. Saturday. The game will be streamed on FloBaseball.
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