FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A four-run sixth decided Saturday’s contest at Baum Stadium, as Alabama baseball fell, 7-4, to No. 7 Arkansas. The Razorbacks take the series following game two of the weekend.
Junior Cobie Vance led off the game with a solo home run to give Alabama (23-22, 5-15 SEC) the early advantage. The lead did not last long, as Arkansas answered with one of its own in the home half of the first and then moved ahead with one more in the bottom of the fifth.
In the sixth, Alabama received back-to-back solo home runs from freshman Sam Praytor and junior Joe Breaux to pull out front, 3-2, but Arkansas responded with four runs on three hits and four walks in the bottom of the inning to take the decisive lead. Each team would score one more on the night to cap the scoring at 7-4.
Arkansas reliever Evan Lee (4-2) picked up his fourth win of the season with 2 scoreless frames, while Crimson Tide reliever Brock Guffey (1-2) suffered the loss, with the freshman allowing four runs in 1.0 inning of work. On offense, Alabama was led by multi-hit efforts from Vance and Praytor. Each finished with two hits, including a solo home run, to go with one RBI and a run scored.
The two teams return to the diamond on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch at Baum Stadium. Alabama will send redshirt freshman Garret Rukes, a left-hander, to the mound, while Arkansas will counter with righty Isaiah Campbell, a redshirt sophomore. The game can be seen live on SEC Network+.
