FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas pitcher Hagen Smith secured his fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season, and the No. 1 Razorbacks topped No. 8 LSU 7-4 in the first of a three-game series Thursday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Smith set the tone early and improved to 5-0 on the season after allowing two runs on five hits with 10 strikeouts over six innings of work.
Arkansas (21-3, 6-1 SEC) struck first in the bottom of the third inning when first baseman Ben McLaughlin hit a sacrifice fly to center field off LSU pitcher Fidel Ulloa, scoring Ty Wilmsmeyer and putting the Hogs ahead 1-0.
The Tigers (20-7, 2-5 SEC) quickly responded, with two consecutive home runs in the top of the fourth by third baseman Tommy White and catcher Hayden Travinski, giving LSU a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Razorbacks regained the lead, 3-2, thanks to designated hitter Jack Wagner's solo home run and second baseman Peyton Stovall's RBI single to right field.
Arkansas collected 10 hits in 31 at-bats, with Stovall and Wilmsmeyer being the only Hogs to record multiple hits.
Stovall finished two for four at the plate with one RBI, two walks and two strikeouts, while Wilmsmeyer added two hits in three at-bats, one RBI and one walk.
Arkansas right fielder Kendall Diggs broke the game open with a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, putting the Razorbacks ahead 7-4.
LSU added one run in the top of the eighth and ninth innings, but it wasn't enough as pitchers Will McEntire and Stone Hewlett came on in relief for Arkansas to shut down the Tigers' bats, which managed nine hits.
McEntire dazzled in relief, striking out eight batters and allowing two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings. Hewlett registered the save by striking out right fielder Josh Pearson to end the game.
Arkansas and LSU return to the diamond for game two of the series on Friday. Coverage from Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville begins at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.