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2024 Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 2

Arkansas Baseball Rallies To Beat Oregon State As Hagen Smith Ks 17

Arkansas Baseball Rallies To Beat Oregon State As Hagen Smith Ks 17

No. 2 Arkansas Baseball faces No. 3 Oregon State Baseball at the Kubota College Baseball Series. Follow the action live on FloBaseball.

Feb 24, 2024
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Contrary to what baseball fans at Globe Life Field saw on Feb. 23, the Arkansas-Oregon State game at the Kubota College Baseball Series Weekend 2 was actually played in Arlington, Texas. 

Not Omaha. 

In a College World Series-like matchup between a team that was ranked No. 2 in one poll and another team at No. 3 in another ranking, Arkansas, SEC preseason favorite recorded 23 strikeouts to beat the Pac-12 Baseball preseason favorite Oregon State, 5-4 on the first day of the second weekend of the College Baseball Showdown. 

Hagen Smith had 17 of those strikeouts. 

In six innings. 

The All-American had a Paul Skenes-like second out as the No. 15-ranked prospect bounced back in a big way from his first start a week earlier. Smith pitched one inning and allowed three runs against James Madison. 

Seven days later, against the No. 3 Beavers, he struck out 15 batters in five inning, allowed two infield hits and three altogether. 

But he left the game at 78 pitches and the powerful Oregon State hitters tied the game in the top of the eight. 

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 2


Mason Guerra clobbered a pitch and sent it to the left field second deck to tie the game at four. 

But Arkansas answered back in the bottom of the eighth with a go-ahead triple, because why not, by Peyton Holt to give Arkansas a one-run lead. 

In the top of the ninth, Trent Caraway singled and reached third base with one out, but Jake Faherty struck out pinch-hitter Levi Jones to end the game. 

Smith's outing was historic as he flirted with the all-time single-game strikeout record-- flirted in that he got with-in 9 of the 26-k mark set in 1971. His 17 strikeouts tied an Arkansas program record. 

Oregon State had scored 52 runs in their five previous games. 

The Beavers play Michigan at 4 p.m. EST Saturday and Arkansas plays Oklahoma State at 8 p.m. EST. 

Relive the game below. 

Top Of Ninth Inning: Arkansas Baseball Beats Oregon State 5-4

Arkansas wins after their 23rd strikeout of the evening 

Top Of Ninth Inning: Arkansas 1 Out Away From Win

Tanner Smith struckout for Oregon. Levi Jones is pinch-hitting for Elijah Hainline. 

Top Of Ninth Inning: Trent Caraway Moves To Third On Wild Pitch

Tying run at third base with one out. 

Top Of Ninth Inning: Trent Caraway moved to second

Dallas Macias pushed Trent Caraway to second base for the first out. Now Jake Faherty on the mound for Arkansas. 

Top Of Ninth Inning: Trent Caraway Gets On Base

Oregon State has a runner on with no outs. 

Top Of Ninth Inning: Can Arkansas Baseball Closeout Oregon State?

The final inning starts with Oregon State super-freshman Trent Caraway up first for the Beavers.

Bottom Of Eighth Inning: Arkansas Takes Lead 5-4

Peyton Holt drove in Wehiwa Aloy after he drove a hanging fastball by Oregon State reliever Bridgers Holmes to centerfield for a triple. 

Arkansas leads 5-4. 

Bottom Of Eighth Inning: Arkansas Baseball Trying to Answer Back

Wehiwa Aloy laid a bunt down and Ryder Helfrick moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt that was first called a hit. After a review, Helfrick was ruled out.

 There's a runner on second with one out. 

Bridger Holmes is now on the mound for Oregon State. 

Top Of Eighth Inning: It's All Tied At 4-4

Due up first for Arkansas is star transfer and top 2025 prospect Wehiwa Aloy. 

Highlights: Mason Guerra Clobbers Pitch To Tie Arkansas 4-4

Top Of Eighth Inning: Oregon State Ties It! Mason Guerra Homers

It's all tied at 4-4. 

Top Of Eighth Inning: Travis Bazzana Steals Second

Travis Bazzana is in scoring position and Arkansas is headed to the bullpen. 

Gage Wood is now on the mound. Wood was the Arkansas closer with 5 saves and a 4.80 ERA. He had 42 strikeouts in 30 innings last season. He picked up a save against James Madison. 

Top Of Eighth Inning: Travis Bazzana Singles

Travis Bazzana singled off Stone Hewlett. It's his first hit at the College Baseball Showdown. 

Top Of Eighth Inning: Travis Bazzana Up First 

Travis Bazzana leads the Beavers up as OSU looks to rally in the eighth inning. The No. 3 prospect is 0-for-3. 

He's facing Stone Hewlett, a Kansas transfer, on the mound. 

Bottom Of Seventh Inning: Nelson Keljo Out, AJ Hutcheson In For Oregon State Baseball

Nelson Keljo pitched two innings and and was relieved with one out and a man on base. Oregon State trails Arkansas 4-2. 

Hutcheson got out of the inning. 

Hagen Smith 17 Strikeout Reactions

Hagen Smith Tied Arkansas Baseball Record With 17 Strikeouts 

Top Of Seventh Inning: Arkansas Baseball Up To 19 Strikeouts In Game

Will McEntire allowed two runs in the seventh, but the reliever also struckout two to give the Razorbacks 19 strikeouts on the day. 

Top Of Seventh Inning: Oregon State Scores Again. Trail Arkansas 4-2

Dallas Macias scored on a sacrifice fly by Tanner Smith to give OSU another run. It's 4-2. 

Top Of Seventh Inning: Hagen Smith Out, Oregon State Scores Run. Trail Arkansas 4-1

Dallas Macias drove in Brady Kasper to cut into Arkansas' lead. 

The tying run is on deck. 

Top Of Seventh Inning: Hagen Smith's Night Is Over. He Struck Out 17

Up 4-0, Hagen Smith is out of the game after 17 strikeouts with 78 pitches. 

His final line: 6.0 innings, 1 BB, 17K, 3 hits. 

Bottom Of Sixth Inning: Arkansas Baseball Adds A Run, Arkansas 4, Oregon State 0

Jason Jones made Oregon State pay for an error on an infield pop-out. He hit an RBI double. It's 4-0. 

Top Of Sixth Inning: Hagen Smith At 17 Strikeouts

A 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts for Arkansas pitcher Hagen Smith. He's nine away from the record. He has thrown 78 pitches. 

Top Of Sixth Inning: Hagen Smith At 16 Strikeouts

He's 10 away from the single-game record. He needs to strikeout every batter for the rest of the game to do it. 

Oregon State was ranked as high as No. 3 in some polls. 

Top Of Sixth Inning: Hagen Smith Finally Gets Bored With Strikeouts

Arkansas Baseball has recorded it first out that wasn't a strikeout. Again, it's the sixth inning. 

Top Of Sixth Inning: Hagen Smith Starts Inning With 66. How Long Will He Pitch?

Hagen Smith is at 66 pitches entering the sixth inning. Many college pitchers are limited to less than 90 pitches this early in the season. Both pitchers in the early game, Oklahoma State vs. Michigan, were taken out of their strong starts before 90 pitches. 

Bottom Of Fifth Inning: Arkansas Baseball Takes Lead; Hagen Smith In Line For Win Now, Arkansas 3, OSU 0

The Arkansas Baseball team took a 3-0 lead after Oregon State reliever Nelson Keljo nearly got the Beavers out of a jam with the bases loaded. 

But Ben McLaughlin hit a bases-clearing double. 

Arkansas starter Hagen Smith had 15 strikeouts in 15 innings. His pitch count is at 66 pitches. 

Bottom Of Fifth Inning: Aiden May Had Strong Outing

Aidan May didn't exactly match Hagen Smith, who has 15 strikeouts in 5 innings, but he did go 4.1 innings with five strikeouts and allowed just three hits and no runs. 

The two runners belong to him.

Bottom Of Fifth Inning: Aiden May Out With Apparent Injury

The first two batters of the inning have reached for Arkansas, with Peyton Holt reaching base via HBP and Jared Sprague-Lott's single. 

Then Oregon State pitcher Aidan May left the game with what appears to be an injury. Nelson Keljo is on the mound. There is one out. 

Top Of Fifth Inning: Hagen Smith vs. Travis Bazzana Round 3

Hagen Smith ended the fifth inning with his 15th strikeout. 

The All-time Single-Game Strikeout Record In College Baseball Is 26

Buddy Schultz of Miami, Ohio struck out 26 in 1971 against Wright State. 

Top Of Fifth Inning: Hagen Smith Has 14 Strikeouts In 4.1 innings

His previous career high was nine. 

Bottom Of Fourth Inning: Aiden May Works Around 1-out hit

It's a pitchers duel in Arlington. Aiden May has allowed two hits in 4 innings with five strikeouts.

Top Of Fourth Inning: Trent Caraway Gets First Hit Out Of The Infield. But Hagen Smith Ks 12th

Freshman Trent Caraway hit a single up the middle to put the two men on. 

And then Hagen Smith ended the inning with a strikeout. 

That's 12 in 4 innings. 

Top Of Fourth Inning: Hagen Smith Has 11 Strikeouts In 3.2 innings

Hagen Smith has two more strikeouts, both coming after waking Mason Guerra, 

Bottom Of Third Inning: Aidan May Pitches Out Of Jam

Back to back hits by Arkansas by Ty Wilmsmeyer and Kendall Diggs with one out led to Oregon State pitcher Aidan May in a jam, but the starter was able to strike out Hudson White and got the lineout to end the inning. 

It's 0-0. 

Top Of Third Inning: Hagen Smith Has 9 Strikeouts In 3.0 Innings

Hagen Smith struck out the side. Every out the Hog have has been a strikeout. 

Top Of Third Inning: Hagen Smith vs. Travis Bazzana Round 2

Yeah. Strikeout No. 8. Bazzana caught looking. 

Top Of Third Inning: Hagen Smith Now Has 7Ks

Yep. Seven strikeouts in 2.1 innings.  

Bottom Of Second Inning: Oregon State Baseball Turns Double Play, 6-4-2

The Beavers got out of the frame after a walk via a 6-4-2 double play. 

Top Of Second Inning: Arkansas Baseball, Hagen Smith Work around Leadoff Hit. Up To 6 Ks

Hagen Smith allowed another infield hit, but recovered quickly to strikeout the next two batters. Brady Kasper was left on base. 

Smith has 6 strikeouts in two innings on 23 pitches. 

Bottom Of First Inning: Aiden May Works Around HB

Oregon State starter Aiden May flashed his plus-slider with two strikeouts to start the game before he hit Ben McLaughlin with that pitch. He induced a ground ball on the next at-bat. 

Top Of First Inning: Hagen Smith Works Around Hit; Throws 98 

Hagen Smith struck out Travis Bazzana and Mason Guerra with Micah McDowell getting an infield hit. Smith displayed a wicked slider and an over-powering fastball that reached 98 MPH, 

He finished the inning with three strikeouts. 

Top Of First Inning: Hagen Smith vs. Travis Bazzana Round 1

The left-handed matchup went to Hagen Smith as he struck out Bazzana in three pitches. He finished him with an impressive slider. 

First Pitch Is Here In Arkansas Baseball vs. Oregon State

Travis Bazzana vs. Hagen Smith coming up. Watch live!

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 2

Arkansas Baseball vs. Oregon State Baseball All-Time

The Beavers lead the all-time series 3-2. All of their matchups have come in the postseason. All five games between the teams have been in the postseason. They played three games in the College World Series final in 2018 and met twice in 1986 at the Midwest Regional in Stillwater, Okla.

Last Time Out For Arkansas Baseball

The Razorbacks sealed a season-opening series win with a 4-0 victory over James Madison on Feb. 19.  

Last Time Out For Oregon State Baseball

Oregon State beat Texas Tech 10-4 at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Feb. 21. 

Arkansas Baseball Roster And Lineup vs. OSU Baseball

Oregon State State Baseball Roster And Lineup vs. Arkansas Baseball

Who Is Pitching For Oregon State Baseball vs. Arkansas Baseball?

Aidan May is starting for Oregon State. The Arizona transfer is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA. May was 5-3 with a 6.33 ERA last season for Arizona

Who Is Pitching For Arkansas Baseball vs. Oregon State Baseball?

Hagen Smith is pitching for Arkansas. The junior All-American was 8-2 last season with a 3.64 ERA. He pitched one inning last week and allowed three runs, including a home run. He is the No. 15-ranked prospect in college baseball. 

Arkansas Baseball vs. Oregon State Game Now At 8:10 p.m. EST

The game has been delayed 10 minutes due to the Oklahoma State vs. Michigan game.

What Conference Is Oregon State Baseball Going To in 2025? None

With the collapse of the Pac-12 as teams head to the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten, Oregon State was one of the teams left out. The baseball team will play an independant schedule next season.

SEC Baseball Standings On Feb. 23

Here's where the teams are entering the second weekend. 

SEC - East

  1. South Carolina: 5-0
  2. Georgia: 4-0
  3. Kentucky: 4-0
  4. Tennessee: 4-1
  5. Missouri: 3-1
  6. Florida: 2-1
  7. Vanderbilt: 3-2

SEC - West

  1. LSU: 5-0
  2. Alabama: 5-0
  3. Auburn: 4-0
  4. Texas A&M: 4-0
  5. Arkansas: 3-1
  6. Ole Miss: 2-3
  7. Mississippi State: 2-3

Pac-12 Baseball Standings On Feb. 23

Here's where teams are entering the second weekend. 

  1. Oregon State: 5-0-0
  2. UCLA: 3-0-0
  3. Arizona: 3-1-0
  4. California: 3-1-0
  5. Utah: 3-1-0
  6. Washington State: 3-1-0
  7. Oregon: 2-1-0
  8. Arizona State: 3-2-0
  9. Stanford: 1-3-0
  10. Washington: 0-2-1
  11. USC: 0-4-0

2024 MLB Draft Prospects In Oregon State Vs. Arkansas Baseball

Travis Bazzana, Oregon State Baseball

The Sydney, Australia native is the No. 3 overall prospect for this year’s draft behind only JJ Wetherholt of West Virginia and Nick Kurtz of Wake Forest. He enters the weekend batting .450 with an OPS of 1.492 and a slugging percentage of 1.050. The leadoff hitter has three home runs, a double and a triple in five games. 

Hagen Smith, Arkansas Baseball

Hagen Smith had a 3.64 ERA in 71.2 innings with 109 strikeouts in 2023 and is No. 15 and third-highest pitcher-only player in the top-100 rankings.

Smith has not pitched since Opening Day for Arkansas and the team hasn't announced it's starter for Friday's game as of Feb. 22. But it seems to lineup for the ace to face Oregon State on Friday. His first hitter he faces would be Bazzana, who hits leadoff for the Beavers. 

Gavin Turley, Oregon State

Gavin Turley is the No. 16 overall prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft. He slashed 309/.438/.664 as freshman for Oregon State. The outfielder is the No. 8 college player in his draft. He started this season with a slash line of .333/1.256/.778 through five games. 

Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas Baseball

The sophomore is eligible for the 2025 draft and is currently the No. 13-ranked overall prospect in his class. At 6-foot-2, 195-pound, Aloy has a powerful frame at shortstop and had a slashline of .376/.427/.662 in 2023 when he played for Sacramento State. Baseball America also rates him as the No. 7 college prospect in the draft. 

It’ll be a tough task to overtake high school prospect Ethan Holliday as the top infielder in the class, but a strong SEC season would surely move him up the rankings. In the first four games, Aloy is batting .294 with two walks, four RBI and five hits. 

Trent Caraway, Oregon State

Trent Caraway was the No. 30 recruit in the country at Perfect Game. He was also the California Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior. His college career is starting with a five-game hitting streak with two home runs across his first two games. 

He enters the Arkansas game with a slash line of .474/1.492/.947. He has two homers, three doubles and nine hits in five games. He has even stolen two bases. 

The third baseman has also done this as the No. 9 hitter in the lineup batting ahead of All-American Travis Bazzana. 

He is the No. 24 overall prospect in 2025 and the No. 11 college prospect in that draft.

Hagen Smith Vs. Travis Bazzana A 2024 MLB Draft Showcase

All-American Hagen Smith of Arkansas Baseball and Travis Bazzana of Oregon State Baseball are in the lineup as the No. 3 prospect in college baseball, Bazzana, will face No. 15 Hagen Smith to start the nightcap of Day 1 of the Kubota College Baseball Series Weekend 2.

Arkansas is the home team in the game. 

In one poll this weekend, Arkansas (3-1) rose to No. 2 in the country. In another poll, Oregon State (5-0) moved to No. 3. Every poll had both teams somewhere in the top 10 of the rankings and in some rankings Oregon State was higher than the Razorbacks.

When Is Oregon State Baseball Vs. Arkansas?

The game is the nightcap of Day 1 and follows the Michigan vs. Oklahoma State game at Globe Life Field. The scheduled first pitch for Oregon State vs. Arkansas game is 8 p.m. EST, but could be delayed depending on the first game's outcome. 

Stream Arkansas Baseball Vs. Oregon State At The Kubota College Baseball Series Weekend 2

Weekend two and three will both stream live on FloBaseball and the FloSports app.

Oregon State Baseball Vs. Arkansas A Rematch Of 2018 College World Series Final

Head-to-head wise, the two programs are 3-2 all-time but they haven't played since June 2018. 

That's when Oregon State beat Arkansas in the finals 2 games to 1 to win Pat Casey's third national championship. Casey retired after the series. 

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series Weekend 2 Schedule 

All times Eastern

Friday, Feb. 23 

  • 4 p.m. – Michigan vs. Oklahoma State 
  • 8 p.m. – Oregon State vs. Arkansas

Saturday, Feb. 24 

  • 4 p.m. – Michigan vs. Oregon State 
  • 8 p.m. – Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State

Sunday, Feb. 25 

  • 2 p.m. – Arkansas vs. Michigan 
  • 6 p.m. – Oklahoma State vs. Oregon State

D1Baseball Top 25 Poll On Feb. 19

  1. Wake Forest
  2. Arkansas
  3. LSU
  4. Florida
  5. TCU
  6. Vanderbilt
  7. Oregon State
  8. Texas A&M
  9. Tennessee
  10. Clemson
  11. East Carolina
  12. Duke
  13. NC State
  14. Virginia
  15. North Carolina
  16. Texas
  17. Alabama
  18. Iowa
  19. Texas Tech
  20. UCLA
  21. South Carolina
  22. UC Santa Barbara
  23. Indiana
  24. Kansas State
  25. Coastal Carolina

NCBWA Top 25 Poll 

TCU (3-0) moved up to No. 3 in the first update. The Horned Frogs, who play in the College Baseball Showdown Weekend 3, moved up from No. 6. Arkansas dropped a spot to No. 5. The writers moved Oregon State four spots to No. 8. 

  1. Wake Forest
  2. LSU
  3. TCU
  4. Oregon State
  5. Arkansas
  6. Florida
  7. Tennessee
  8. Clemson
  9. Texas A&M
  10. Vanderbilt
  11. Virginia
  12. Duke
  13. East Carolina
  14. North Carolina
  15. Texas
  16. South Carolina
  17. NC State
  18. Alabama
  19. UCLA
  20. Texas Tech
  21. Iowa
  22. Auburn
  23. Stanford
  24. Kentucky
  25. DBU

What College Baseball Tournaments Are Streaming On FloBaseball?

These tournaments will stream on FloBaseball and the FloSports app in February and March:

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