FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 5 Arkansas seemed to have the game in control against Kansas State, up two runs with pitcher Hagen Smith commanding the mound in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.
But the Wildcats had other plans Saturday night. They handed the Razorbacks a 7-6 loss to advance to the regional final.
Smith, a top-ranked MLB prospect who allowed just one hit through 4.2 innings, came out to pitch in the fifth inning, and that's when Kansas State turned the game upside down.
After falling behind 2-0 the previous inning, the Wildcats immediately responded with a six-run fifth inning fueled by small ball and a three-run home run by shortstop Kaelen Culpepper to take a 6-4 lead.
The huge inning spelled the end of Smith's night as he finished with 92 pitches in five innings and allowed six runs on four hits to go with seven strikeouts and four walks.
In the second inning, Smith fanned right fielder David Bishop for his 156th strikeout of the season, breaking David Walling's single-season strikeout record of 155, set in 1999.
Pitcher Ben Bybee took the mound for the Razorbacks in the sixth inning and allowed one run on one hit while striking out four Wildcats.
Arkansas's bats were alive and well for the second consecutive game in the Fayetteville Regional, but the team struggled to capitalize with runners on base–leaving 13 stranded.
Razorback catcher Hudson White extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a two-hit, two-RBI performance, while third baseman Jared Sprague-Lott and left fielder Peyton Holt hit home runs to cut into Kansas State's lead.
Five Hogs finished with multiple hits, as Arkansas collected 13 total compared to the Wildcats' five.
Since the NCAA Tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1999, only 12% of teams have advanced to the super regionals after winning the first game but losing the second.
Arkansas will try to avoid elimination on Sunday against Southeast Missouri State. Coverage from Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville begins at 1 p.m. on ESPNU.
NCAA Fayetteville Regional schedule
(Dates and times are subject to change; All times Central)
Friday, May 31
Game 1: Arkansas 17, Southeast Missouri State 9
Game 2: Kansas State 19, Louisiana Tech 4
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Southeast Missouri State 9, Louisiana Tech 3
Game 4: Kansas State 7, Arkansas 6
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Southeast Missouri State vs. Arkansas (1 p.m. on ESPNU)
Game 6: Kansas State vs. Game 5 Winner (6 p.m.)
Monday, June 3 (if necessary)
Game 7: if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (TBA)