HOOVER, Ala. — The Arkansas Razorbacks edged the Auburn Tigers 2-1 in a tightly contested pitchers’ duel on Saturday afternoon in the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament semifinals.
Played at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, the game featured a first pitch at 4:56 p.m. and an official game duration of two hours and 20 minutes, drawing an announced attendance of 14,919. The weather was 79 degrees and partly cloudy with a 5 mph south-southwest wind. The contest was notably paused by a two-hour and 15-minute weather delay that halted play in the fourth inning.
Auburn struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Bub Terrell launched a solo home run to right-center field to give the Tigers an early 1-0 advantage.
Arkansas rallied to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning. Reese Robinett sparked the offense with a double to center field and subsequently scored when Camden Kozeal laced an RBI single through the right side. The game remained deadlocked until the top of the eighth inning when Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick blasted a solo home run to left field. Helfrick’s late-inning shot served as the decisive game-winning hit that gave the Razorbacks a permanent 2-1 lead.
Kozeal paced the Arkansas offense, going 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Robinett added a double and a run scored, while Helfrick provided the crucial power. Auburn was led offensively by Terrell’s solo home run. Lucas Steele and Brandon McCraine each contributed doubles in a quiet showing at the plate for the Tigers.
On the mound, Arkansas relief pitcher Ethan McElvain (6-0) earned the victory, turning in a masterful performance over the final 4 1/3 scoreless innings. McElvain allowed just two hits and struck out six batters without issuing a single walk. Auburn reliever R. Hetzler (4-2) took the loss, surrendering two earned runs on three hits while striking out eight batters over five innings. Auburn starting pitcher A. Petrovic turned in a stellar no-decision, tossing four scoreless innings with two hits and seven strikeouts. No save was recorded by either team.
“I thought our pitchers did a tremendous job,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “McElvain came in… and he did a great job throwing strikes and letting our defense work.” Helfrick credited his simple approach for the game-winning swing: “Just try to get a pitch you can handle, get a pitch you can hit. That’s what’s going through my mind and I got one I felt like I could do damage on.”
Auburn head coach Butch Thompson praised his team’s effort in defeat. “Congratulations to Arkansas,” Thompson said. “Disappointed with the outcome, but absolutely thought this was great training, even the rain delay.”
With the victory, Arkansas improves to 39-19 and advances to the SEC Tournament Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Sunday, May 24 (time to be determined). Auburn falls to 38-19 and is eliminated from the tournament.
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