FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas made North Carolina State pay for its inability to finish innings Friday.
The Razorbacks advanced to within one win of a third appearance in the College World Series in as many postseasons with a convincing 21-2 victory over the Wolfpack in Game 1 of the Fayetteville Super Regional. Much of Arkansas' damage, including the blow that changed the complexion of the game for NC State pitching, came with two outs.
With two away in an inning, the Razorbacks recorded 5 hits in 13 at-bats (.385), and drove in 12 runs.
The first of the two-out RBI hits came in the second inning from shortstop Jalen Battles, who followed catcher Casey Opitz’s single up the middle and stolen base with a double to left.
Opitz got a terrific jump off of Wolfpack right hander Reid Johnston, then cruised home four pitches later.
“Opitz is incredibly baseball savvy,” Arkansas starting pitcher Patrick Wicklander said. “(Stealing bases is) just another thing Opitz does. It just kind of set the mindset of how the game was going to be. Do the little things.”
Opitz’s run gave Arkansas a 3-1 lead that proved to be more than enough cushion for Wicklander (7-1), who allowed 1 earned run on 6 hits in 6 innings.
“Pretty impressive,” second baseman Robert Moore said of Opitz’s stolen base to set up the run. “Opitz isn’t just a blazer. He’s more of a count runner and he got himself a good count and good situation to steal a bag. That was pretty impressive.
“It was a great night for our team captain.”
If Battles’ double wasn’t considered the game changer, then Cullen Smith’s grand slam to right-center field in the third was. It also came with two outs and on a 2-2 pitch after Brady Slavens popped up and Charlie Welch struck out swinging.
Smith’s 11th home run of the season put the Razorbacks ahead 7-1 and ultimately altered NC State’s pitching plans the remainder of the game. The Wolfpack then turned to bullpen reserves, many who had thrown 10 or fewer innings this season, and held their top relief arms for Saturday’s Game 2.
“It was huge because it kind of put it out of reach where they weren't going to throw their main left handers out of the pen,” Moore said of the grand slam. “Yes, they’re saving them for (Saturday), but it kind of guaranteed us a chance to win this game because they weren’t going to throw those two left handers.”
In the fifth, another Opitz single with two outs scored Moore, who doubled with one away. NC State right hander Andrew Tillery then walked in a pair of runs in the sixth, and Cooper King issued a bases-loaded walk and wild pitch prior to Moore launching his second home run of the game, a three-run shot to left field.
Friday was Moore’s first multi-home run game since April 22 at South Carolina and third this season. His 16 home runs are three more than any other Razorback.
In postseason play, Arkansas has 24 two-out RBI on 16 hits. The Razorbacks’ five two-out hits Friday equaled their total in three games against Nebraska in regional play.
"Their offense is good,” NC State coach Elliott Avent said. “It's good, and like I said, they have over 100 home runs. It's designed for this ballpark, and they've got a good team."