FAYETTEVILLE, AR - In a shocking turn of events at Baum-Walker Stadium, the second-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team suffered a 7-4 defeat at the hands of the unranked Texas A&M Aggies Thursday night. The loss marks the Razorbacks' third consecutive SEC defeat and breaks their previously unblemished conference record at home.
The Aggies, despite entering the game unranked, showcased their preseason No. 1 pedigree, securing their eighth consecutive victory overall and their sixth straight in Southeastern Conference play. Their winning streak commenced with a notable doubleheader sweep of then-No. 1 Tennessee earlier this month. A doubleheader is scheduled for Friday to accommodate anticipated weekend thunderstorms.
Texas A&M's offense proved potent against Arkansas's pitching, particularly targeting Razorback left-handed starter Zach Root. The Aggies tallied six runs, five of which were earned, against Root, including a pivotal two-run fifth inning that broke a 4-4 tie. Key moments in the fifth included a leadoff walk to Caden Sorrell, advanced to third on wild pitches, followed by another walk and an infield single, compounded by a throwing error from Arkansas third baseman Brent Iredale.
While Arkansas reliever Dylan Carter delivered a strong four innings of scoreless relief, holding Texas A&M to a single hit and striking out four, the Razorback offense struggled to provide run support. Conversely, Texas A&M right-hander Weston Moss effectively shut down Arkansas's batters for five innings of relief, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out five.
“We didn’t get the hit when we needed it, and they did,” lamented Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn post-game. Texas A&M coach Michael Earley praised Moss’s performance, stating, “With that loaded lineup they’ve got, we wanted to put our best arm out of the pen in there, and he did an outstanding job.”
Moss, named Player of the Game, lowered his ERA to an impressive 1.70 across 37 innings this season. Arkansas’s offense, which had shown explosive potential throughout the season, was largely contained after the early innings, failing to capitalize on opportunities with runners in scoring position.
The Razorbacks, now 33-6 overall and 12-4 in the SEC, are looking to rebound in the Friday doubleheader. The revised schedule sees game one moved to 2 p.m. Friday, followed by a second game one hour after the first game concludes. Saturday tickets will be honored for the first game on Friday, while Friday tickets are valid for the second game.
Prior to this series opener, Arkansas was coming off a midweek run-rule victory against UAPB, where Reese Robinett’s standout performance and four home runs powered the Razorbacks to a 13-3 win. However, the Aggies proved a tougher challenge, exposing vulnerabilities in the Razorbacks’ pitching and offense.
Looking ahead, the Razorbacks will aim to regain their momentum and secure the series in the two games slated for Friday. The outcome of the doubleheader will be crucial for Arkansas as they seek to maintain their position atop the SEC standings and solidify their national ranking.
