Zach Root delivered an impressive performance, notching his fifth quality start with six innings of two-run ball and six strikeouts, but it wasn’t enough as the No. 7 Arkansas Razorbacks fell to the No. 3 LSU Tigers, 5-4, in a series-opener that extended into extra innings at Alex Box Stadium on Friday night.
The match faced a significant delay due to consistent rainfall in Baton Rouge, pushing the first pitch from the originally scheduled 6:30 p.m. to 9:57 p.m., a mere three minutes before the SEC’s latest start time. Despite the late hour, Root found his rhythm early, lowering his season ERA to 3.88 while also increasing his strikeout tally to a team-leading 98 over 72.0 innings pitched this season.
Arkansas initially gave Root strong run support, thanks to solo home runs from Cam Kozeal and Kuhio Aloy, along with contributions from Charles Davalan and Wehiwa Aloy, propelling the Hogs to a 4-2 lead going into the seventh inning. Kozeal’s 12th home run of the year came in the fourth inning, followed by Aloy’s 13th blast in the sixth.
However, the Tigers rallied in the seventh against Aiden Jimenez, who allowed two runs, tying the game at four. Gabe Gaeckle entered in relief and delivered a stellar outing, striking out five and holding LSU at bay through 3.1 innings, sending the game to extra frames.
In the decisive tenth inning, Arkansas loaded the bases with two outs but failed to drive in any additional runs. LSU capitalized on their opportunity, scoring the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to secure a 5-4 walk-off victory.
Justin Thomas Jr. stood out for the Razorbacks, delivering a career-best three hits. Wehiwa Aloy also made significant contributions, going 2-for-5 with an RBI, bringing his batting average to an impressive .377 with a team-high 17 home runs this season.
Looking ahead, Arkansas is poised to level the series with LSU in game two, aiming to bounce back during the match scheduled for Saturday, May 10, at 5:30 p.m., airing on SEC Network. The Razorbacks are determined to respond and show their resilience in the next game.