Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith ties program's single-game strikeout record

On Friday, Arkansas left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith tallied 17 strikeouts in six innings against Oklahoma State, tying the program’s single-game record. Of Smith’s 17 strikeouts, 15 were via the slider.

While Smith recorded a career-high on Thursday evening, success on the mound is nothing new for the Arkansas junior. Last season, Smith pitched 71.2 innings, making 11 starts. He finished the campaign with 109 strikeouts while only throwing two wild pitches.

Prior to Arkansas’ matchup against Oklahoma State, Smith has only pitched one other inning this season. It was the first inning in Arkansas’ season-opening win against James Madison. Hagen Smith was named to the preseason All-SEC First Team and Arkansas received the most votes to win the conference.

HAGEN SMITH HAS TIED THE ARKANSAS SINGLE-GAME STRIKEOUT RECORD WITH 17 pic.twitter.com/JKlpq7oHoz

— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) February 24, 2024

Peyton Stovall outs for at least a month with injury

Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, they suffered a setback for they ever hit the field. On Feb. 12, standout second baseman Peyton Stovall suffered a broken foot, which will keep him out 4-6 weeks. Stovall sustained the injury in the first inning of a scrimmage when a wild pitch nailed his foot.

Earlier this week, Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn addressed Stovall’s devastating setback.

“It was tough for me personally and Peyton,” Van Horn said. “Our team feels really bad for him. He was upset about it when he found out. He was just like, ‘Why me? Why does this keep happening?’ He missed games last year. He was really swinging the bat too.

“I just told him, ‘You’re of the stronger guys mentally. You can handle this and that’s why it was put on you.’ I think he’ll be even more ready to go once he gets it going and gets his live at-bats. But, it was tough.”

Stovall started in all 38 games he played in at second base last season before suffering his season-ending injury. He was one of the Razorbacks’ three team captains. Stovall slashed .253/.330/.393 with five home runs and 31 RBI.

Van Horn claims he had a bad feeling about Stovall’s situation the moment the ball hit him.

“When the ball hit him, we were like, ‘Ooh, that is not a good spot.’ Even though it was a changeup, it hit him flush. He didn’t move. He was leading off the game and he’s mad at himself for not jumping out of the way.

“I said, ‘Well, you play the game the right way and a guy throws you a change-up, you just let it hit you, take your base. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s the way you were trained. We’re sure excited to get him back when he comes back.”