Smith Becomes Razorbacks’ Strikeout King in Extra-Inning Loss to Aggies

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Hagen Smith struck out 14 over six shutout innings to become the Razorbacks’ all-time strikeout leader, as No. 3 Arkansas (42-11, 19-9 SEC) lost, 1-0, in gut-wrenching fashion at No. 5 Texas A&M (43-10, 18-10 SEC) in Thursday night’s series opener at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

The Aggies scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th on a two-out, bases-loaded walk by Razorback reliever Will McEntire, earning a 1-0 win in a pitching duel in game one of the series between SEC Western Division foes. The Arkansas pitching staff combined for 20 strikeouts, while Texas A&M pitchers recorded 13 strikeouts on the night.

Smith, the Razorback ace, was once again magnificent on the mound, as he spun six scoreless innings without walking a batter. The junior left-hander allowed two hits and struck out 14 for the second time in three starts, his program-record 11th double-digit strikeout game of the season to go along with his team-leading 11th quality start of the year.

With his 11th strikeout of the night, which he recorded in the fifth inning against Texas A&M shortstop Ali Camarillo, Smith overtook Nick Schmidt for sole possession of Arkansas’ career strikeout record. Smith finished Thursday night’s ballgame with 349 career strikeouts, surpassing Schmidt’s mark of 345 career strikeouts from 2005-07.

Smith also continues to climb the program’s single-season strikeout leaderboard. After his six-inning, 14-strikeout start against the Aggies, Smith’s season total now sits at 150 – five shy of David Walling’s single-season record of 155 in 1999.

In relief of Smith, the Razorback bullpen combined for 4.2 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts. Christian Foutch (1.0 IP, 1 SO), Gabe Gaeckle (2.2 IP, 3 SO) and Stone Hewlett (0.1 IP) were most impressive, working together to post four consecutive scoreless frames after Smith departed the game at 98 pitches, including 63 strikes, after six innings.

Arkansas tallied nine hits against Texas A&M pitchers Ryan Prager and Evan Aschenbeck but finished 2-for-19 (.105) with runners on base and 0-for-9 (.000) with runners in scoring position. The Razorbacks’ untimely hitting would prove costly, as the Aggies eventually took advantage in the bottom of the 11th to squeak out a 1-0 win in the series opener.

First pitch in game two of the series between Arkansas and Texas A&M is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, on SEC Network with Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Kyle Peterson (analyst) on the call. The Razorbacks, whose lead over the Aggies in the SEC Western Division shrunk to one game, can clinch the divisional title with a win Friday or Saturday.

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