Arkansas Baseball Escapes Texas Tech in Thrilling 11-Inning Victory

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arkansas Razorbacks pulled off a remarkable escape Sunday evening at Globe Life Field, defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 6-5 in an 11-inning battle. After nearly surrendering a 4-1 lead in the top of the ninth, the Razorbacks showcased resilience, tying the game with a solo home run and ultimately winning on a sacrifice fly.

Arkansas (2-1) finished the College Showdown with a winning record. They will continue their Texas trip on Monday, facing Tarleton State at 2 p.m.

Ninth-Inning Drama

The Red Raiders (0-3) mounted a furious comeback in the ninth, scoring four runs against Arkansas’ closer candidates, Cooper Dossett and Steele Eaves. Dossett walked Jace Souza with the bases loaded, and Eaves hit Kyeler Thompson with a pitch. Tracer Lopez then lined a 2-strike pitch into left field, scoring two runs and giving Texas Tech a 5-4 lead.

Kozeal Ties It Up

Left-handed hitter Camden Kozeal stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and delivered a clutch moment, launching a 409-foot solo home run off Texas Tech reliever Will Jordan to tie the game 5-5.

Walk-Off Win in the 11th

Both teams failed to score in the 10th inning. Eaves pitched a scoreless 11th, working around a walk. In the bottom of the 11th, Damian Ruiz led off with a single and advanced to third on Ryder Helfrick’s single. Maika Niu then drove in Ruiz with a sacrifice fly, securing the 6-5 victory for Arkansas.

Ruiz Shines at the Plate

Damian Ruiz, batting leadoff for the first time as a Razorback, had an outstanding performance, reaching base in every plate appearance. He went 2 for 2 with 4 walks, 2 runs scored, and 1 stolen base.

Early Lead for the Razorbacks

Early in the game, things that faltered for Arkansas on Saturday against TCU went right against Texas Tech. The Razorbacks capitalized on timely hitting and a strong start from pitcher Colin Fisher.

Ruiz sparked the offense in the third inning, walking, advancing to third on Helfrick’s single, and scoring on a fielder’s choice RBI by Niu, giving Arkansas a 1-0 lead. A two-run error by Texas Tech’s third baseman in the fourth inning extended the lead to 3-0.

Fisher’s Dominant Performance

Colin Fisher, a junior left-hander, delivered a stellar performance, allowing only 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 8 in 5 scoreless innings. He was remarkably efficient, throwing only 82 pitches.

Late-Game Relief and Defense

Relief pitcher James DeCremer preserved the shutout in the sixth inning with a crucial double play. Texas Tech finally scored in the eighth, but strong defensive plays by shortstop Carson Brumbaugh kept the Red Raiders from adding more runs.

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