FAYETTEVILLE — Aaron Nola struck out 10 batters and pitched a complete game to lead No. 2 LSU to a 6-2 win over Arkansas on Friday at Baum Stadium.
Nola, a junior right-hander, retired the first 11 batters he faced in the Tigers' 15th consecutive win. LSU (33-2, 12-1 SEC) took a four-game lead over the Razorbacks in the SEC West standings as the midpoint of the conference season nears.
Sean McMullen's first home run of the season gave the LSU a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning, giving the Tigers the only runs they needed with Nola on the mound. Ty Ross added a two-run single with two outs in the sixth after Christian Ibarra reached on an error and Razorbacks pitcher Barrett Astin hit JaCoby Jones with a pitch.
LSU chased Astin after 5 2/3 innings, scoring three earned runs on seven hits. The home run hit by McMullen was the first Astin had given up in 104 1/3 innings dating to the 2011 NCAA regional.
Tyler Wright pitched 2 2/3 innings and Trey Killian recorded the final two outs for the Razorbacks. Arkansas committed three errors in the top of the ninth inning, allowing LSU to tack on its final run. The Razorbacks committed four errors in all Friday, bringing their total to 15 in the last four games.
Arkansas (24-11, 8-5) ended Nola's shutout in the seventh when Eric Fisher hit a two-out, two-run home run after Dominic Ficociello drew the Razorbacks' first walk of the game. Arkansas nearly scored earlier in the inning, but LSU left fielder Raph Rhymes made a leaping catch at the outfield wall to rob Brian Anderson of a solo home run.
Nola allowed just four hits to improve to 6-0. He was aided by several defensive highlights, including a diving catch by center fielder Andrew Stevenson to rob Anderson of another base hit in the ninth inning.
The two teams are scheduled to meet again Saturday with a first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Right-hander Ryne Stanek (3-2, 1.90 ERA) is slated to start for the Razorbacks, while LSU will counter with right-hander Ryan Eades (7-0, 1.30).