FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 2 Arkansas used a trio of big innings to pull away for a 21-3 victory over University of Missouri baseball in the opening game of the two clubs' Southeastern Conference series Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Razorbacks (28-3, 9-1 SEC) plated 19 of the final 20 runs scored in the contest, scoring two times in the third inning to snap a 2-2 deadlock, before tallying 12 unanswered runs from the fourth through the sixth frames to seal the outcome. Cam Kozeal led the Arkansas attack with a 4-for-5, 5-RBI performance, and both Brent Iredale and Logan Maxwell homered and scored three runs for the Razorbacks.

Mizzou rallied from an early two-run deficit, using doubles from Jedier Hernandez and Keegan Knutson to push its first two runs of the day home in the third. But the Razorbacks seized control of the contest with matching five-run rallies in the fourth and fifth innings, capitalizing on a season-high 14 walks handed out by MU pitching in the contest.

Arkansas wasted little time in building its early two-run advantage, scoring a pair in the opening frame after a Charles Davalan leadoff single, a hit batsman and a walk set the table for the Razorbacks. Kozeal drew a bases-loaded walk and Mizzou starter Kaden Jacobi (2-4) plunked the next hitter, Ryder Helfrick with a pitch to hand the home team a 2-0 lead.

Razorbacks starter Zach Root (5-1) cruised through the first two innings, striking out three of the first six MU hitters while holding the Tigers hitless. That would change in the third, as Hernandez kick-started the Mizzou offense with a one-out double into the left-center field gap. Peyton Basler coaxed a walk, before Knutson sliced the deficit in half with a line-drive double to left that chased home Hernandez and put runners at second and third, still with just one out. Kaden Peer followed with an infield chopper that gave Basler time to trot home with the tying run.

But Maxwell's leadoff homer to open the home half of the third put Arkansas on top once more, this time to stay. Singles by Iredale and Kozeal set up Helfrick's RBI-double, once again giving the Razorbacks a two-run cushion.

Arkansas would send 40 batters to the plate over its final four turns at-bat, with Iredale's two-run shot highlighting the Razorback's five-run fourth. Nolan Souza singled home a run as part of the rally, and Justin Thomas Jr. capped the inning with the first of his two run-producing hits, this one a two-run single to left that stretched the margin to 9-2.

After Mizzou (11-18, 0-10 SEC) scored in the fifth on Knutson's sac fly, the Razorbacks batted around for the second consecutive inning in the home half to put the game out of reach. Souza and Thomas registered RBIs for the second straight inning, and Kozeal doubled home two runs to help Arkansas extend the lead to 11 runs.

The home club continued its surge in the sixth, sending 13 hitters to the plate in a seven-run inning that gave the Razorbacks their best single-game run total in SEC play since 1997.

Knutson led the Tigers with two RBIs, while Hernandez doubled, walked and scored twice.

TIGER NOTEBOOK

• Missouri drops to 33-37-1 all-time vs. Arkansas.
• Arkansas' 21 runs is the most allowed by the Tigers in SEC play, surpassing the previous mark of 20 runs scored by Ole Miss on May 6, 2023.
• Peer failed to reach base safely via a hit, walk, or hit by pitch for the first time since Feb. 22, a span of 21 consecutive games.
• Peer also saw his eight-game hit streak come to an end with his 0-for-2 afternoon.
• Patterson also had his four-game hit streak end with an 0-for-3 day at the plate. 
• Cayden Nicoletto allowed just one unearned run on one hit in his 2/3 of an inning, and has yet to allow an earned run in three career mound appearances for the Tigers.
• Jacobi finished with seven strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings, which was just one short of his career high (Feb. 25, 2025 vs. Lindenwood).

UP NEXT
The Tigers and Razorbacks will conclude their three-game series with a Sunday doubleheader, slated for a 1 p.m. start at Baum-Walker Stadium.

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