Peyton Stovall’s return to the Razorbacks’ lineup is happening sooner than expected, as he’ll play in Saturday’s Arkansas vs McNeese State doubleheader.
Earlier in the week, Dave Van Horn sounded optimistic that his star second baseman would be able to play in the SEC-opening series against Missouri next weekend and was hopeful he might be ready to go in next Tuesday’s midweek game against Oral Roberts.
Instead, he’s slated to start at designated hitter when the Razorbacks host the Cowboys beginning at noon CT. (Game 2 of the doubleheader will start 45 minutes after the end of Game 1 and both will be streamed on SEC Network-Plus.)
Stovall has missed the first three weeks of the season because of a broken foot suffered in a preseason intrasquad scrimmage on Feb. 5, less than two weeks before Arkansas’ opener against James Madison.
His return couldn’t come at a better time for the Razorbacks, who have gotten off to a slow start offensively. They’re hitting just .285 as a team and rank 13th out of 14 teams in the SEC in both on-base percentage (.409) and slugging percentage (.438).
Best of Arkansas Sports will provide inning-by-inning updates and stats from both Arkansas baseball games below…
LIVE UPDATES – Arkansas vs McNeese State (DH)
Game 2 Updates
T-1st: Arkansas 0, McNeese State 0
- Westenburg opened the game with a nice battle vs. Tygart. He won by drawing a full-count walk.
- Hext followed with a grounder to first that looked like it might be a double play, but McLaughlin didn’t field it cleanly. He was able to get the out at first himself, but Westenburg moved to second. 1 out.
- Keeton struck out on three pitches, going down swinging. 2 outs.
- LeJeune came up swinging and grounded out to second on the first pitch he saw. That ends the inning with Tygart having thrown 15 pitches.
B-1st: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- Edmunson grounded out to third to start the inning. 1 out.
- Stovall followed with a single.
- Diggs hit a pop up in the infield, but it fell to the ground. McNeese State was able to recover and get the out at second. 2 outs.
- Diggs stole second, but appeared to hurt his shoulder in the process. He remained in the game, though.
- In a full count, Aloy smoked a line drive off the wall for an RBI single. He hit it so far (104 mph), that he couldn’t go further than first.
- In a full count, McLaughlin lined out to deep left.
T-2nd: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- In a full count, Plowman whiffed at a curveball. 1 out.
- Duhon was hit by a pitch in a 2-2 count, giving McNeese State a base runner.
- In another full count, Dowell took ball four for a walk. It was just low.
- Tygart then plunked Stroh to load the bases. That prompted a visit from Matt Hobbs.
- Trahan fouled off multiple two-strike pitches and worked the count full before going down swinging. 2 outs.
- That brought up leadoff man Westenburg, but Tygart got out of it with another strikeout. He’s thrown 48 pitches through two innings.
B-2nd: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- Holt grounded out to short to start the second. 1 out.
- Souza followed by hitting a line drive the other way 105 mph off the bat for a single.
- Jones struck out on three pitches, looking at strike three. 2 outs.
- Helfrick also struck out on three pitches, but went down looking. Voss has thrown 37 pitches for McNeese.
T-3rd: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- Hext goes down swinging to start the inning. That’s his first strikeout in seven plate appearances today. 1 out.
- Keeton popped out in foul territory, caught by McLaughlin along the first base line. 2 outs.
- In a full count, LeJeune went down swinging. That’s six strikeouts for Tygart. He’s at 61 pitches.
B-3rd: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- Edmunson looked at strike three. 1 out.
- Stovall flied out to shallow right, with the second baseman making the catch. 2 outs.
- In a 2-2 count, Diggs hit it the other way and it went off the wall in left-center for a double.
- Aloy goes down swinging to end the inning and strand Diggs. Voss is at 53 pitches.
T-4th: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- Plowman looked at strike three. 1 out.
- Duhon broke up the no-hitter with a single to center.
- Dowell followed with a single of his own.
- Stroh looked at strike three. 2 outs.
- In a 1-2 count, Trahan was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
- The Hogs caught a huge break because Westenburg looked like he had a two-run single through the right side, but the ball hit Trahan for an automatic out. That ends the inning without any runs scoring.
B-4th: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- McLaughlin lined out to left. 1 out.
- Holt followed with a single to center.
- However, the runner was promptly erased because Souza lined out to the first baseman, who then stepped on first to turn it into a double play. Voss is at 60 pitches.
T-5th: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- Left-hander Parker Coil is now pitching for Arkansas.
- Keeton followed with a grounder to short, but the Hogs could only get the out at second. 1 out.
- LeJeune struck out swinging. 2 outs.
- Plowman also struck out swinging to end the inning. Coil threw 17 pitches.
B-5th: Arkansas 5, McNeese State 0
- Jones led off the the fifth with a first-pitch bomb that cleared the wall over the 400-foot sign in center.
- Helfrick struck out on three pitches, looking at strike three. 1 out.
- Edmunson followed with a single to right.
- Stovall walked on four pitches.
- Diggs was late on a fastball, for a strikeout. 2 outs.
- Holy cow. Aloy just hit a 468-foot home run. It was a three-run shot. He got all of that.
- McLaughlin flied out to deep left-center to end the inning.
T-6th: Arkansas 5, McNeese State 1
- Duhon poked a leadoff single to left.
- Dowell poked one the other way for a single to right. That puts runners on first and second.
- Stroh ripped a single to right for an RBI that ends the shutout.
- Trahan looked at a breaking ball for strike three. 1 out. That’s it for Coil.
- Right-hander Koty Frank is coming in to pitch for the Hogs.
- Westenburg flied out to right on one pitch. 2 outs.
- Frank’s second pitch was bunted, but Helfrick was able to field it and throw to first to end the inning. Efficient inning by Frank.
B-6th: Arkansas 6, McNeese State 1
- Right-hander Marcus Mott is now pitching for McNeese State.
- Holt walked on four pitches.
- Souza followed with a line drive the other way, resulting in a single to left. Holt went first to third, so there are runners on the corners.
- A wild pitch moved Souza to second, taking a double play out of the equation.
- Jones went down swinging. 1 out.
- Ross Lovich pinch hit for Helfrick and got the job done, flying out to right that was just deep enough to drive in Holt. Souza also tagged up to third on the sacrifice fly. 2 outs.
- Edmunson grounded out to second to end the inning.
T-7th: Arkansas 6, McNeese State 1
- Keeton flied out to center to start the inning. 1 out.
- LeJeune grounded back to the mound and Frank made the easy play. 2 outs.
- Frank strikes out Plowman swinging to end the inning. Plowman is now 0 for 4 with four Ks.
B-7th: Arkansas 6, McNeese State 1
- Stovall went down swinging to start the inning. 1 out.
- In a full count, Diggs whiffed at a high fastball. 2 outs.
- Aloy was plunked on the first pitch, giving Arkansas a two-out base runner.
- Aloy stole second with a delayed steal.
- In another full count, McLaughlin went down swinging to end the inning.
T-8th: Arkansas 6, McNeese State 1
- Duhon is retired for the first time this game, grounding out to the pitcher. 1 out.
- Dowell is also retired for the first time, grounding out to short. 2 outs.
- Stroh gave it a ride, but Jones caught it on the warning track in left to end the inning.
B-8th: Arkansas 11, McNeese State 1
- Holt lined one the other way for a leadoff single to right.
- Souza hit a grounder up the middle that the shortstop got to for an apparent double play, but he didn’t field it cleanly. It was ruled an infield single.
- Jones followed wih a chopper up the middle for another double play opportunity and this time the shortstop fielded it and tossed to second for a force, but the throw to first got by the first baseman. It’s a fielder’s choice for Jones, but Hold scored on the E4. 1 out.
- Rowland ripped a single to right.
- In a full count, Edmunson looked at strike three. 2 outs.
- Welcome back, Peyton Stovall! He just crushed a 412-foot home run that just stayed fair down the right field line. It’s a three-run bomb.
- That’s it for Mott. Now pitching for McNeese State is right-hander Kohl Navarre.
- Kendall Diggs just hit a 450-foot bomb to dead center for a walk-off home run, ending the game via run rule.
FINAL – Arkansas 11, McNeese State 1 (8 inn.)
Starting Lineups (Game 2)
| McNeese State Baseball | Arkansas Baseball |
|---|---|
| 1. Connor Westenberg – CF | 1. Will Edmunson – CF |
| 2. Cooper Hext – LF | 2. Peyton Stovall – DH |
| 3. Chase Keeton – 1B | 3. Kendall Diggs – RF |
| 4. Peyton LeJeune – 2B | 4. Wehiwa Aloy – SS |
| 5. Cole Plowman – DH | 5. Ben McLaughlin – 1B |
| 6. Braden Duhon – RF | 6. Peyton Holt – 3B |
| 7. Easton Dowell – SS | 7. Nolan Souza – 2B |
| 8. Parker Stroh – C | 8. Jayson Jones – LF |
| 9. Gage Trahan – 3B | 9. Ryder Helfrick – C |
| Pitching: RHP Zach Voss | Pitching: RHP Brady Tygart |
Game 1 Updates
T-1st: Arkansas 0, McNeese State 0
- Hagen Smith opened the game with a strikeout, as Westenburg chased a slider for strike three. 1 out.
- Hext followed with a four-pitch walk.
- Smith fell behind 2-0 against Keeton, prompting a visit from White. He finally threw a strike after falling down 3-0, but ended up walking him in a full count.
- LeJeune bounced into what appeared to be a tailormade double play and Sprague-Lott threw to second for a force, but Souza’s throw to first bounced in and LeJeune was safe for a fielder’s choice. That puts runners on the corners. 2 outs.
- Larranaga looks at strike three to end the inning. That was a 21-pitch inning for Smith, with only 10 being strikes.
B-1st: Arkansas 0, McNeese State 0
- Lovich walked on four pitches to start the home half of the first.
- The leadoff base runner was immediately wiped out, as Aloy grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. 2 outs.
- Diggs grounded out to second to end the inning. LeJeune threw only 12 pitches.
T-2nd: Arkansas 0, McNeese State 0
- In a full count, Duhon chased a slider out of the zone for strike three. 1 out.
- In another full count, Dowell took a pitch that just missed low for ball four.
- Mangrum looked at strike three. Smith might have gotten a call there. 2 outs.
- Trahan looks at strike three to end the inning. That’s Smith’s fifth strikeout. He’s up to 42 pitches, though.
B-2nd: Arkansas 0, McNeese State 0
- McLaughlin hit a pop up to shallow left and it got caught in the wind. The McNeese State defenders couldn’t track it down and it fell for a single.
- Sprague-Lott followed with a good bunt and the Cowboys made a great play on it. LeJeune came off the mound, barehanded it and fired to first. The first baseman made an even better pick for the out, making it a sacrifice bunt to move McLaughlin to second.
- In his first at bat of the season, Stovall worked the count full before hitting a chopper down the third base line and then beating out the throw for an infield single.
- With runners on first and second, White grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. LeJeune threw only 14 pitches and is up to 26 for the game.
T-3rd: Arkansas 0, McNeese State 0
- Westenburg went down looking to start the third. 1 out.
- In a full count, Hext hit a chopper to third and Sprague-Lott’s throw pulled McLaughlin off the bag, but he managed to get the tag. 2 outs.
- Keeton struck out on three pitches, looking at a fastball down the middle for strike three. That was a 13-pitch inning for Smith, who is up to 55 through three innings.
B-3rd: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- Souza drew a leadoff walk.
- Wilmsmeyer struck out swinging, but Souza swiped second on the play. 1 out.
- Lovich grounded out to first, but it moved Souza to third. 2 outs.
- With two outs, Aloy delivered with a grounder that just got through the left side for an RBI single.
- Diggs crushed a line drive right back up the middle, with a 107 mph exit velocity, but it deflected off the pitcher’s shoulder and to the second baseman, who was able to get the out at first. That ends the inning. LeJeune is okay and he’s at 47 pitches.
T-4th: Arkansas 1, McNeese State 0
- LeJeune looked at strike three to start the inning. 1 out.
- Larranaga followed with a line drive to left for McNeese State’s first hit.
- Duhon laid down a nice bunt, but Sprague-Lott was able to make the play. The sacrifice moved the runner to second. 2 outs.
- That’s where LeJeune was stranded, as Dowell struck out to end the inning. That was a 9-pitch inning for Smith, who is up to 64 for the game.
B-4th: Arkansas 2, McNeese State 0
- McLaughlin punched a line drive the other way and the left fielder couldn’t decide what he wanted to do. He ended up diving and the ball got by him for a leadoff double.
- Sprague-Lott grounded out to third. 1 out.
- Stovall followed with a slow roller to second. The second baseman charged in and got the out, but it moved McLaughlin to third. 2 outs.
- White ripped a double to right-center that got to the wall for an RBI double. He swung at the first pitch.
- The inning should have ended on a grounder by Souza, but the shortstop booted it. The E6 puts runners on the corners.
- Wilmsmeyer struck out swinging to end the inning. LeJeune is at 68 pitches.
T-5th: Arkansas 2, McNeese State 0
- Right-hander Will McEntire is now pitching for Arkansas.
- In a full count, Mangrum flied out to right. 1 out.
- In another full count, Trahan couldn’t check his swing. It’s a strikeout. 2 outs.
- Westenburg reached on a two-out single to left.
- Hext chopped one through the right side for another single and Westenburg went first to third. That puts the tying runs on base.
- Hext stole second.
- Keeton flied out to center to end the inning.
B-5th: Arkansas 2, McNeese State 0
- Lovich led off the inning with a single.
- Aloy went down looking. 1 out.
- Diggs went down swinging. 2 outs.
- Lovich swiped second.
- He was stranded there, as McLaughlin grounded out to first to end the inning.
T-6th: Arkansas 2, McNeese State 1
- LeJeune came up swinging and hit a single to start the inning.
- LeJeune moved to second on a wild pitch.
- Larranaga went down swinging. 1 out.
- Duhon ended the shutout with an RBI single to right. He was thrown out at second, though. 2 outs.
- Dowell followed with a single, as well.
- He was stranded, though, as Mangrum grounded out back to McEntire for the final out.
B-6th: Arkansas 3, McNeese State 1
- Sprague-Lott led off with an infield single and that chased the McNeese State starter.
- Right-hander TJ Moeller is now pitching for McNeese.
- Stovall popped out for the first out. The second baseman made a nice running grab in the outfield. 1 out.
- In a full count, White singled to right and Sprague-Lott went first to third on the play.
- Peyton Holt pinch hit for Souza and delivered an RBI single. White went first to third and Holt was able to take second because the throw went to third.
- Hudson Polk pinch hit for Wilmsmeyer and struck out swinging. 2 outs.
- Will Edmunson pinch hit for Lovich and flied out to right to end the inning, stranding runners on second and third.
T-7th: Arkansas 3, McNeese State 1
- Right-hander Jake Faherty is now pitching for Arkansas.
- Trahan led off the inning with a single.
- Faherty bounced back to strike out Westenberg. 1 out.
- Hext followed with a walk.
- Keeton put together a great at bat and fouled off multiple 3-2 pitches before drawing a walk that loaded the bases. That’s it for Faherty.
- Arkansas called upon freshman right-hander Gabe Gaeckle to get out of the jam.
- He promptly struck out LeJeune for a big second out. 2 outs.
- Cole Plowman pinch hit for Larranaga and grounded out to third to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded.
B-7th: Arkansas 3, McNeese State 1
- Aloy went down swinging to start the inning. 1 out.
- Diggs struck out swinging, as well. He’s 0 for 4 today. 2 outs.
- McLaughlin put the ball in play, but it was a fly out to center. Moeller has thrown two scoreless innings for McNeese State.
T-8th: Arkansas 3, McNeese State 1
- Duhon grounded out to second to start the inning. 1 out.
- Dowell nearly did the same, but an error on Holt allowed him to reach. It did require a replay review, though.
- Parker Stroh pinch hit for Mangrum and went down swinging. 2 outs.
- Trahan hit a high pop up in shallow right and Holt was able to track it down to end the inning.
B-8th: Arkansas 3, McNeese State 1
- Sprague-Lott struck out on three pitches, looking at strike three. 1 out.
- Stovall went down swinging. 2 outs.
- White popped out to second to end the inning.
T-9th: Arkansas 3, McNeese State 1
- Westenburg ripped a single back up the middle to give the Cowboys a leadoff base runner.
- Hext followed with a grounder to second, but Westenburg was running on the pitch, so he was safe at second and Arkansas got the easy out at first. 1 out.
- Keeton went down swinging. 2 outs.
- LeJeune flied out to center to end the inning, giving Gaeckle the save.
FINAL – Arkansas 3, McNeese State 1
Starting Lineups (Game 1)
| McNeese State Baseball | Arkansas Baseball |
|---|---|
| 1. Connor Westenburg – CF | 1. Ross Lovich – LF |
| 2. Cooper Hext – LF | 2. Wehiwa Aloy – SS |
| 3. Chase Keeton – 1B | 3. Kendall Diggs – RF |
| 4. Peyton LeJeune – 2B | 4. Ben McLaughlin – 1B |
| 5. Simon Larranaga – DH | 5. Jared Sprague-Lott – 3B |
| 6. Braden Duhon – RF | 6. Peyton Stovall – DH |
| 7. Easton Dowell – SS | 7. Hudson White – C |
| 8. Grant Mangrum – C | 8. Nolan Souza – 2B |
| 9. Gage Trahan – 3B | 9. Ty Wilmsmeyer – CF |
| Pitching: RHP Cameron LeJeune | Pitching: LHP Hagen Smith |
How to Watch Arkansas vs McNeese State (DH)
Date: Saturday, March 9
First Pitch: Noon CT (Game 2 to start 45 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1)
Location: Baum-Walker Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)
TV/Stream: SEC Network-Plus
SEC Baseball Scores from Friday
- Auburn 7, Austin Peay 6
- Georgia 11, Northern Colorado 1 (7 inn.)
- Kennesaw State 13, Kentucky 1 (8 inn.)
- Purdue-Fort Wayne 9, Missouri 7
- Vanderbilt 14, Illinois State 9
- South Carolina 10, Longwood 0 (8 inn.)
- Tennessee 6, Illinois 3
- Texas A&M 11, Rhode Island 0
- Mississippi State 5, Evansville 2
- Ole Miss 10, Morehead State 3
- LSU 4, Xavier 0
Arkansas Baseball Last Week
Here are the scores and links to our stories from the Arkansas baseball games from the past week:
- Friday: Arkansas 5, Murray State 1
- Saturday: Arkansas 11, Murray State 1 (8 inn.)
- Sunday: Arkansas 5, Murray State 3
- Tuesday: Arkansas 9, UCA 7
Arkansas Baseball in the Polls
- RPI — No. 1
- D1Baseball — No. 2
- Perfect Game — No. 2
- Baseball America — No. 3
- USA Today Coaches Poll — No. 3 (up 2 spots)
- NCBWA — No. 4 (up 1 spot)
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More coverage of Arkansas baseball from BoAS…
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