Arkansas baseball survives close game vs. Ole Miss to stay alive in College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. — The 2022 College World Series hadn't had any close games, but Wednesday's matchup between Arkansas and Ole Miss was about as close as it gets.

The Razorbacks entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a two-run lead. Dave Van Horn turned to freshman righthander Brady Tygart to close out the game after Evan Taylor gave up a leadoff single.

Tygart hit back-to-back batters to load the bases with no outs. Lefty Zack Morris came out of the bullpen and struck out the first batter he faced. He got the next batter to fly out, then ceded an RBI single that made it 3-2 and kept the bases loaded with two outs.

But another flyout to left by Jacob Gonzalez ended the bases-loaded threat and kept Arkansas alive.

The Razorbacks avoided elimination with the win and forced another game Thursday at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2. The winner of that game will advance to face Oklahoma in the College World Series final.

Thanks to Morris' save, an eight-strikeout performance by starting pitcher Hagen Smith and a pair of home runs by Chris Lanzilli and Brady Slavens, the Razorbacks (46-20) gave the Rebels (39-23) their first loss of the NCAA postseason.

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Brady Slavens makes history

One day after moving to the eight hole, designated hitter Brady Slavens made College World Series history. He launched the longest home run hit in a CWS game at Charles Schwab Field, a 436-foot bomb to straightaway center field in the fifth.

The previous long, according to records kept by ESPN, was 429 feet. Former Florida Gator Pete Alonso hit one that distance in the 2015 College World Series, and Auburn's Eduoard Julien matched it in 2019.

Slavens' 16th homer of the year put Arkansas ahead 2-1 after a solo shot by Chris Lanzilli in the second.

Hagen Smith strikes out eight

Smith's first start since the Stillwater Regional was also one of his best outings since April. The freshman lefthander threw five innings and struck out eight batters, one shy of tying his career high.

Smith put the leadoff man aboard in both the third and fourth innings, first via walk and then with a single. But in both innings, Smith struck out the next three batters swinging to strand the runner.

Evan Taylor shines in relief

Lefthander Taylor came on in relief of Smith to start the sixth. He had pitched 1⅓ innings in Monday's loss to Ole Miss, when he gave up a pair of earned runs.

Taylor threw three scoreless innings Wednesday, including four strikeouts, and only allowed the Rebels one baserunner on a single by Peyton Chatagnier. His relief efforts gave Arkansas the chance to add an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI single by Michael Turner.

Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You can email her at clong@swtimes.com or follow her on Twitter @christinalong00.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas baseball survives Ole Miss in College World Series