Aloy and Root Power Arkansas Past UCLA; Sets Up Semifinal Showdown vs. LSU
OMAHA, Neb. – Wehiwa Aloy’s standout performance at the plate, paired with Zach Root’s impressive pitching, propelled Arkansas to a 7-3 victory over UCLA on Tuesday night at the College World Series held at Charles Schwab Field.
Aloy, a finalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, made an immediate impact with a two-run home run to left field in the first inning. His contributions didn’t stop there, as he extended Arkansas’s lead to three runs with an RBI-triple in the fifth inning. With this latest home run, Aloy now has 21 for the season, placing him fourth in program history for single-season home runs while also elevating him to ninth all-time with 35 career homers as a Razorback. His impressive performance places him alongside Razorback great Jeff King, ranking third for total bases in a single season with 178.
Root bounced back to deliver an outstanding performance on the mound, pitching five scoreless innings and striking out five batters to secure the win. This performance came just three days after he struggled in the CWS opener against LSU. He has now climbed to seventh place on Arkansas’s single-season strikeouts list with a total of 126 strikeouts this year.
Offensively, Justin Thomas Jr. contributed significantly with two hits, including an RBI double, while Logan Maxwell continued his strong postseason run with a two-run double in the seventh inning, bringing the score to 5-0. Brent Iredale also had a solid outing, reaching base four times with two hits and three runs scored, contributing to a robust offensive display for the Razorbacks.
In relief, Aidan Jimenez showcased his skills with three innings of scoreless pitching, allowing only one hit and striking out two batters.
With this victory, the Razorbacks celebrated their fifth season with 50 or more wins in program history, marking the second time under Head Coach Dave Van Horn, joining historic teams from 1985, 1987, 1989, and 2021.
Looking ahead, Arkansas will face LSU tomorrow night at 6 p.m. on ESPN. A win is crucial for Arkansas to force a decisive game on Thursday, June 19, to secure a spot in the championship series. The matchup will feature Razorback left-hander Landon Beidelschies (4-0, 4.92 ERA) against LSU’s right-hander Zac Cowan (3-3, 3.09 ERA).
The thrilling journey of the Razorbacks continues, filling fans with hope and excitement as they strive for greatness in the College World Series. For comprehensive updates and coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB), and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).