Arkansas Sets Single-Season Program Home Run Record in Loss to Ole Miss in Hoover

HOOVER, Ala. – Cam Kozeal’s inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the second inning set the Razorbacks’ single-season program home run record but was not enough to power No. 5 Arkansas (43-13) past No. 17 Ole Miss (39-18) in a 5-2 loss Friday afternoon at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament.

With Kozeal’s 13th home run, the Hogs tallied their 110th home run in their 56th game of the season, eclipsing the program’s single-season home run record total of 109, which was set over 63 games during the 2021 campaign.

Arkansas fell behind after Ole Miss capitalized on a series of defensive miscues, including an error, in the first. The Rebels tagged starter Zach Root for five runs (one earned), including a two-out, three-run homer, to go up, 5-0.

Kuhio Aloy’s team-leading 69th RBI on a groundout in the bottom of the first cut the Hogs’ deficit to four before Kozeal’s leadoff inside-the-park home run in the second shrunk the Rebels’ lead to three. Following the first inning, Root and the Razorback pitching staff posted eight consecutive scoreless frames to give the offense an opportunity to punch back.

Root, who took the tough-luck loss, struck out four and was charged with only one earned run over his four innings of work before turning the ball over to the bullpen. Gabe Gaeckle (3.0 IP, 4 SO), Cole Gibler (1.2 IP, 4 SO) and Christian Foutch (0.1 IP, 1 SO) emerged following Root and combined for five shutout innings with nine strikeouts in relief.

Arkansas had opportunities to score in the sixth and seventh innings. The Razorbacks loaded the bases with two outs in sixth and put runners on second and third with one out in the seventh but came away empty-handed both times.

Up next, the Hogs, expected to host a regional for the third consecutive season and 12th time in program history, wait to learn their NCAA Tournament fate. The selection show is scheduled for 11 am CT Monday, May 26, on ESPN2.

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