Sports

SAU hits century mark for second consecutive game

Published

6 months ago

November 22, 2024

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – First-year Head Coach Mark Rutledge understood the assignment when coaching his first games inside the W.T. Watson Center, as his Muleriders handled their business against Arlington Baptist with a 105-82 victory to close out the weekend. The century-mark outing marked Mulerider Men’s Hoops second-consecutive 100-point game, but also Mulerider Basketball’s (Men & Women) third-consecutive 100-point game with the Head Coach Darrick Matthews’ home-opening 108-37 victory.

While the final of the contest showed a dominating performance, and during the last ten minutes it was, the Patriots did not come into this underdog fight looking to bow out and give SAU the win. Arlington Baptist was down by as much as 13 points in the first half and closed down the gap to a 47-40 ballgame at halftime.

The Blue and Gold just added to its already impressive offensive performance in the first half with its second half showing of 58 points scored. The Patriots’ offense still produced plenty for the group to stay within the competition, but once the Muleriders found their groove, there was no going back.

Statistical Leaders
Southern Arkansas was once again clicking on all cylinders as not one player stood out among the rest besides maybe junior Rashad Bishop who led the team in scoring with 16 points while making 85.7% from the field and all four of his shots from the charity stripe. Bishops contributed on the board as well with five rebounds.

Leading in rebounds for the Blue and Gold was Kris Cook. Cook led the statistic with seven rebounds, five of which were on the offensive side of the ball. The senior was also responsible for one of the five double-digit scoring efforts from the unit. Others to break into 10+ point territory included Anthony Igiede with 15 points (three rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block), BJ Davis with 13 points (two rebounds, two assists, 3-5 3FG, and three steals), and Tyler Poindexter with 12 points (two rebounds, 4-5 3FG, two blocks, an assist, and a steal).

Team Statistics
As a group, the Muleriders posted a shooting percentage of 48.0% (36-75) and 38.2% from three-point range (13-34). Once again, another dominant night in the paint for Southern Arkansas as the unit accounted for 40 points underneath along with 28 points off of turnovers, 25 second-chance points, 20 fast break points, and 59 points off of the bench.

Next week for Coach Rutledge and his Muleriders will be the unit’s third DII non-conference contest as Southern Arkansas will return home on Saturday for an afternoon bout with the Hillcats of Rogers State.

Sports

Legendary Arkansas Coach Passes Away Saturday

Published

5 days ago

May 4, 2025

Staff Reports

Harold Horton

FAYETTEVILLE – Harold Horton, a revered figure in Arkansas football history, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86. His family confirmed his passing through social media.

Born in DeWitt, Arkansas, Horton played as a defensive back for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 1959 to 1961 under legendary coach Frank Broyles. During his playing career, the Razorbacks secured or shared the Southwest Conference (SWC) championship each season and won the 1960 Gator Bowl.

After a brief stint coaching high school football, Horton returned to the University of Arkansas in 1968 as an assistant coach. Over the next 13 years, he served under Broyles and later Lou Holtz, helping to shape some of the Razorbacks’ most formidable defensive units.

In 1982, Horton became head coach at the University of Central Arkansas, where he compiled a remarkable 74–12–5 record over eight seasons. Under his leadership, UCA won back-to-back NAIA Division I national championships in 1984 and 1985 and captured seven consecutive Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles from 1983 to 1989.

University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Head Coach Nathan Brown paid tribute to Horton, stating, “Prayers for the Coach Harold Horton family today. Coach Horton was one of the great coaches in UCA Football history. Him and his staffs brought championships and pride to the Bear program. Thanks for always supporting and rooting for me and the Bears over the years.”

Following his coaching career, Horton returned to the University of Arkansas in 1990 to work in football operations. He later served as president of the Razorback Foundation from 2001 to 2012, playing a key role in fundraising and athletic development initiatives. His devotion to the Razorbacks spanned nearly four decades.

Horton’s legacy lives on through his family, including his son, Tim Horton, a former Razorbacks wide receiver who went on to a successful college coaching career of his own.

Sports

Hogs Shut Out Texas In Series Opener

Published

7 days ago

May 2, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE – Behind a dominant outing from Zach Root, No. 11 Arkansas (38-9, 15-7 SEC) rolled to a 9-0 shutout win over No. 1 Texas (38-6, 19-3 SEC) in Thursday night’s series opener at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Root struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowed just two hits and two walks over a career-long eight innings. Veteran reliever Will McEntire closed out the combined two-hit shutout with a scoreless ninth, adding three strikeouts.

With the win, Arkansas improved to 28-3 at home this season and secured its eighth straight year with at least 28 home victories. The Razorbacks have now reached that milestone every full season since 2017.

The offense gave Root plenty of support early. Carson Boles launched a two-run homer in the second inning to put the Hogs on top, 2-0. Cam Kozeal extended the lead to 5-0 in the third with a two-out, three-run shot to right center.

Arkansas broke the game open in the fourth with four more runs. Justin Thomas Jr. drove in one with a single, followed by a two-run double from Wehiwa Aloy and an RBI single from Kuhio Aloy, giving the Razorbacks a 9-0 cushion.

Kozeal finished with three RBIs and is now slashing .362/.409/.656 with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs this season. Wehiwa Aloy raised his team-best slash line to .369/.454/.723.

The Razorbacks will look to clinch the series Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network with Karl Ravech and Kyle Peterson on the call.

Sports

Arkansas Softball Takes On LSU This Weekend

Published

1 week ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 6/8 Arkansas wraps up its regular season with a top-10 showdown against No. 10 LSU this Thursday through Saturday at Bogle Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with Saturday’s finale beginning at 1 p.m. All games will stream on SEC Network+.

Arkansas (36-10, 12-9 SEC) is riding high after securing its highest-ranked series win in program history last weekend at No. 1/2 Texas A&M. The Razorbacks claimed the first two games, marking their fifth straight SEC series victory and fourth series win over a Top 10 opponent this season.

The Hogs have notched a program-best 21 run-rule wins and have outscored opponents 356-128. Defensively, they lead the nation with a .985 fielding percentage and have committed just 17 errors in 46 games.

This weekend is packed with promotions: a replica jersey giveaway and Autism Awareness Night on Thursday, a Red Out and postgame base run on Friday, and Senior Day and a trading card giveaway on Saturday.

In the polls, Arkansas reached a program-high No. 2 in the Softball America rankings and remains in the Top 10 across all major national polls.

LSU (39-11, 11-10 SEC) enters the series after a road series win over No. 8 Florida. The Tigers are batting .341 as a team, led by freshman Tori Edwards (.423, 18 HR, 68 RBI). In the circle, LSU holds a 2.72 ERA, led by Sydney Berzon (17-5, 2.29 ERA).

Freshman standout Ella McDowell is hitting .397 with 56 hits and 47 RBI, leading Arkansas in SEC play with a .420 average. She has earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors three times and was recently named D1 Softball National Player of the Week.

First baseman Bri Ellis is putting up historic numbers, batting .491 with 24 home runs and a 1.863 OPS — the best in the nation and potentially the highest single-season OPS since 2016.

In the circle, junior lefty Robyn Herron leads the Razorbacks with a 15-4 record, 2.25 ERA, and 127 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .178 against her.

Outfielder Reagan Johnson continues to climb the Razorbacks’ record books, now the program’s all-time batting average leader (.376). She has recorded multiple 70+ hit seasons and ranks top five in career stolen bases.

As a team, Arkansas has advanced runners in 58% of opportunities this season and is 169-46 under Coach Courtney Deifel when playing error-free.

Sports

Hogs Seek First Series Win At Florida Since 2012

Published

2 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

Staff Reports

(PHOTO: University of Arkansas Sports Information)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Fifth-ranked Arkansas (36-7, 13-5 SEC) travels to Condron Family Ballpark for a key three-game SEC series against Florida (28-15, 6-12 SEC) from April 25-27. The Razorbacks are chasing their first series win in Gainesville since 2012.

Game 1 is set for 5:30 p.m. CT Friday on SEC Network+, with Sean Kelley and Nick Belmonte on the call. The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. on SEC Network and concludes Sunday at noon on SEC Network+.

Arkansas enters the weekend in second place in the SEC standings but is looking to bounce back after dropping back-to-back series for the first time this season. A third straight SEC series loss would be the program’s first since 2016.

The Razorbacks have won two of three SEC road series this year, including a sweep at then-No. 14 Vanderbilt. Arkansas snapped a 15-year drought without a series win at Vanderbilt in March and now hopes to do the same at Florida.

The pitching matchups are set:
Friday – Arkansas LHP Zach Root (5-2, 4.19 ERA) vs. Florida RHP Liam Peterson (6-2, 3.74 ERA)
Saturday – Arkansas RHP Gage Wood (0-0, 6.14 ERA) vs. Florida RHP Aidan King (4-1, 3.63 ERA)
Sunday – Arkansas LHP Landon Beidelschies (4-0, 4.06 ERA), Florida starter TBD

Fans can also listen to the Razorback Sports Network with Phil Elson on the call, available via the Razorback app and affiliate stations.

Historically, Arkansas holds a narrow 38-36 edge in the all-time series, but trails 13-20 in games played in Gainesville. Under head coach Dave Van Horn, the Razorbacks are 10-14 on the road against Florida. The Hogs have won two of their last three series against the Gators, both in Fayetteville, but dropped the 2022 series in Gainesville.

Arkansas has recorded 18 or more SEC wins in seven straight seasons and finished with 20 or more wins five times, including four under Van Horn. They are the first team since LSU (1994–97) to post four 20-win SEC campaigns in five years.

With a strong record and postseason positioning on the line, the Razorbacks hope to end a 13-year Gainesville slump and stay among the conference elite.

Sports

Razorbacks Blank UALR To Complete Midweek Sweep

Published

2 weeks ago

April 24, 2025

Staff Reports

LITTLE ROCK – No. 5 Arkansas (36-7) completed a dominant midweek sweep of Little Rock (18-22) with a 4-0 shutout Wednesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium — the Razorbacks’ fifth shutout of the season and second in as many nights.

Six Arkansas pitchers combined for a 15-strikeout gem, holding the Trojans scoreless for nine innings. Starter Colin Fisher tossed two frames before turning things over to the bullpen. True freshman Steele Eaves earned his first collegiate win with two scoreless innings, followed by clean appearances from Cole Gibler (6 SO), Ben Bybee, Christian Foutch, and Will McEntire.

Offensively, Arkansas struck early in the third inning with a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch to take a 2-0 lead. That cushion held until the seventh when shortstop Wehiwa Aloy blasted his team-leading 16th home run of the season. Aloy went 2-for-5, boosting his season average to .379 while leading the team in nearly every offensive category, including runs (61), hits (69), and total bases (134).

Outfielder Charles Davalan added to the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the eighth, marking his 22nd multi-hit game of the season.

The Razorbacks improved to 11-1 in midweek games and will wrap up their midweek schedule on Tuesday, April 29, at Missouri State. But first, they head to Florida for a key SEC road series April 25-27. Friday’s opener in Gainesville is set for 5:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.