The Arkansas Razorbacks delivered a statement victory on Friday night, defeating the second-ranked Florida Gators 4-1 in the opening game of their highly anticipated SEC series. With dominant pitching, timely hitting, and solid defense, the Hogs set the tone for the weekend and handed Florida just its fifth loss of the season.
Right-hander Hagen Smith was electric on the mound for Arkansas, continuing his stellar season with another impressive performance. Smith tossed seven strong innings, allowing only one run while striking out nine. His fastball command and off-speed mix kept Florida’s dangerous lineup off balance all night, frustrating a team known for its explosive offense.
The Razorbacks wasted no time getting on the board, striking in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single from Kendall Diggs. They added two more runs in the fourth, capitalizing on a pair of Florida miscues and a clutch double from Peyton Stovall. A solo home run by Jace Bohrofen in the sixth inning provided insurance, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Florida finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh with a sacrifice fly, but it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum. The Gators struggled to generate consistent offense against Smith and the Arkansas bullpen. Brady Tygart came in for the final two innings and shut the door, earning the save with two scoreless frames.
The win was significant for Arkansas, not only because it came against a top-ranked SEC opponent, but also because it reaffirmed their position as one of the conference’s most balanced and dangerous teams. With the victory, the Hogs improved their record to 27-8 overall and 10-5 in SEC play, while Florida dropped to 30-5 and 12-3 in the league.
Head coach Dave Van Horn praised his team’s focus and execution. “That was one of our most complete games of the season,” Van Horn said. “Hagen gave us exactly what we needed on the mound, and the offense came through with big hits in key moments.”
The Razorbacks will look to carry the momentum into Game 2 of the series on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The series marks a critical stretch for both teams as they jockey for postseason positioning and a shot at the SEC title.
