Arkansas matched its largest comeback of the season and rallied to win the series opener at No. 5 Tennessee on Friday.
The No. 1 Razorbacks won 6-5 after the Volunteers scored five runs in the first inning.
Arkansas (38-9, 18-7 SEC) took a one-game lead over Tennessee (38-12, 17-8) atop the SEC standings. The teams are scheduled to play again Saturday at 11 a.m. Central.
Robert Moore and Brady Slavens hit two-run home runs in the second and third innings, respectively, to get the Razorbacks back into the game after the Volunteers’ big first inning.
Cayden Wallace’s RBI single scored Jalen Battles to tie the game 5-5 in the fifth inning, and Arkansas took the lead on Moore’s sacrifice fly to score Slavens in the eighth. Slavens doubled to lead off the eighth and advanced to third base on a wild pitch by Tennessee relief pitcher Sean Hunley.
Moore finished with 3 RBI and hit his 12th home run of the season. Slavens' homer was his 11th and the Razorbacks' 81st.
Arkansas' Kevin Kopps pitched three scoreless innings in relief to earn his eighth victory. Kopps stranded runners in the seventh and eighth innings.
He struck out Luc Lipcius at the end of a 15-pitch at bat to end the seventh, and struck out the SEC’s leading hitter, Liam Spence, on a 3-2 pitch to strand a runner at second base in the eighth.
Kopps retired the Vols’ No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters in the ninth inning to complete a 66-pitch outing. The ninth inning included a great catch at the wall by left fielder Braydon Webb to rob Jake Rucker of a one-out hit. Webb entered the game as a defensive replacement an inning before.
Kopps extended his scoreless innings streak to 24 2/3 innings and lowered his NCAA-leading ERA to 0.68. Kopps' SEC-only ERA is 0.42.
Friday’s game played out like many others this season for the Razorbacks, who overcame a deficit of at least three runs to win for the 11th time. The five-run comeback matched an April 3 home victory over Auburn by the same final score.
Playing its first game this season in front of a full-capacity home crowd, Tennessee appeared ready to run away with the game in the first inning. The Vols recorded four hits and were aided by an error on Arkansas third baseman Cullen Smith, and scored on two big swings by Rucker and Jordan Beck.
Rucker’s two-run double came in the Vols’ third at bat of the game, and Beck added a three-run home run with two outs against Arkansas starting pitcher Patrick Wicklander. Tennessee chased Wicklander after 2 2/3 innings — his shortest start in an SEC game this year.
But Arkansas also got to Tennessee’s No. 1 starter quickly. Right hander Chad Dallas walked the first two batters in the fifth inning and was taken out of the game after the Razorbacks tied the game on Wallace’s one-out RBI single.
Dallas allowed 5 runs on 7 hits, struck out 4 and walked 3.
Hunley shut Arkansas down until the eighth. The right hander retired the first eight batters he faced before Slavens roped a double down the right-field line to lead off the eighth.
Hunley took the loss with a 4 2/3-inning outing in which he threw 53 pitches. He struck out three batters and stranded the bases loaded after coming in for Dallas in the fifth inning.
Henley struck out Christian Franklin in a sacrifice fly opportunity and Moore to end the inning.
Arkansas’ Caden Monke pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief of Wicklander. Monke didn’t allow a hit, but did allow two base runners on a hit batter and a walk.
Monke walked the first batter he faced to load the bases in the third inning, but he got Spence to ground out to the mound to strand three of the Vols’ eight base runners that were left on base.
EARLIER
Arkansas 6, Tennessee 5 — FINAL
Kevin Kopps retired three straight to end it. Braydon Webb made a great catch against the wall for the second out.
More coming soon at WholeHogSports.com.
Arkansas 6, Tennessee 5 — Middle 9th Inning
Braydon Webb was stranded at second base after a two-out hit by pitch and stolen base in the top of the ninth.
Kevin Kopps will face Tennessee's 2-3-4 hitters in the bottom of the ninth.
Arkansas 6, Tennessee 5 — End 8th Inning
Kevin Kopps struck out Liam Spence swinging at a 3-2 pitch to strand a runner at second base in the eighth.
That was quite the battle. Kopps is the NCAA's ERA leader. Spence has the SEC's highest batting average.
Tennessee got a two-out base runner with pinch hitter Kyle Booker doubled to opposite-field left.
This has been a tough outing for Kopps, but he has been unscathed so far. He'll face the heart of the Vols' order in the bottom of the ninth.
Arkansas 6, Tennessee 5 — Middle 8th Inning
Brady Slavens doubled to lead off the eighth inning, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Robert Moore's sacrifice fly to center field. That was Moore's third RBI today.
Arkansas 5, Tennessee 5 — End 7th Inning
Kevin Kopps struck out Luc Lipcius to end a 15-pitch at bat and strand a Tennessee base runner in the seventh inning. Kopps issued a rare walk with two outs.
Lipcius fouled off eight pitches against Kopps, including six in a row at one point. He succeeded to get Kopps' pitch count up. Kopps threw 31 pitches in the inning.
Arkansas 5, Tennessee 5 — Middle 7th Inning
The Razorbacks are not putting anything together against Tennessee reliever Sean Hunley.
The right hander has not allowed a base runner in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out Cayden Wallace to end the top of the seventh after a couple of groundouts by Zack Gregory and Matt Goodheart.
Arkansas 5, Tennessee 5 — End 6th Inning
Caden Monke caught two-hole hitter Max Ferguson looking at a 1-2 pitch to strand a Tennessee runner at second base.
The Vols have stranded six runners tonight.
Monke hit Pete Derkay in the backside with his first pitch of the inning. Jackson Greer was called out looking for the first out of the inning and Derkay advanced on a groundout by leadoff hitter Liam Spence.
Monke has thrown 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. He has three strikeouts and has not allowed a hit, but has given up two free passes.
Arkansas 5, Tennessee 5 — Middle 6th Inning
The Razorbacks went down in order in the sixth inning. Cullen Smith and Casey Opitz flied out, and Jalen Battles grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
Arkansas 5, Tennessee 5 — End 5th Inning
Caden Monke has retired seven consecutive Tennessee batters. He struck out Evan Russell to lead off the bottom of the fifth, then the Vols had a couple of outs on balls in play.
The Razorbacks will send the bottom of the order to the plate in the top of the sixth.
Arkansas 5, Tennessee 5 — Middle 5th Inning
Christian Franklin and Robert Moore struck out against Tennessee ace reliever Sean Hunley to strand the bases loaded.
Both teams have left the bases loaded in an inning tonight, but Arkansas' scoring chances were better with one out and Franklin at bat.
Caden Monke is back to pitch the bottom of the fifth. You have to wonder how much longer the Razorbacks will go before Kevin Kopps becomes an option.
Arkansas 5, Tennessee 5 — Top 5th Inning
Cayden Wallace has tied the game with a one-out RBI single to score Jalen Battles. Brady Slavens followed with a single to load the bases for Christian Franklin.
Battles and Zack Gregory drew consecutive leadoff walks by Chad Dallas in the inning. Battles advanced to third base on a fly out by Matt Goodheart.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 4 — End 4th Inning
Caden Monke worked Arkansas' first perfect inning in the bottom of the fourth. The Vols' 2-3-4 hitters all grounded out.
Jalen Battles will bat first for Arkansas in the fifth, then the top of the lineup will come to the plate for the third time against Chad Dallas.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 4 — Middle 4th Inning
The Razorbacks went down in order in the top of the fourth inning. Robert Moore struck out on a breaking pitch from Chad Dallas, then Cullen Smith grounded out and Casey Opitz flied out to end the inning.
That was the first 1-2-3 inning today for Dallas, who has thrown 70 pitches.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 4 — End 3rd Inning
Liam Spence grounded out to pitcher Caden Monke to strand the bases loaded in the third inning. Monke loaded the bases with a two-out walk to catcher Jackson Greer on a 3-2 pitch.
The strike zone in this game is really tight and that is likely going to cause both teams to have to rely on their bullpens for more innings than usual. Arkansas is already having to with Patrick Wicklander out of the game, but it's hard to envision Chad Dallas will be able to go too long pitching to the same zone. He has thrown 58 pitches through three innings.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 4 — Bottom 3rd Inning
Patrick Wicklander's outing is over after 67 pitches in 2 2/3 innings. Wicklander just missed getting out of the inning, but his 3-2 pitch was called low by home plate umpire Fred Cannon, whose zone has been tight.
Caden Monke is coming out of the bullpen and inherits runners at first and second base with two outs.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 4 — Middle 3rd Inning
Brady Slavens' opposite-field two-run home run to left field has pulled Arkansas within 5-4.
Slavens' 11th homer of the season came on a 1-2 pitch from Chad Dallas and one pitch after Tennessee challenged whether Dallas picked off Cayden Wallace at first base. A replay review was inconclusive and Wallace was allowed to stay on base.
Wallace gave Arkansas its first runner of the inning with a two-strike single past shortstop in the at-bat before Slavens.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 2 — End 2nd Inning
Liam Spence led off the second inning with a double down the left field line, but he was stranded at second after a strikeout and a couple of fly outs to center field.
Christian Franklin made an incredible diving catch for the second out that robbed Jake Rucker of an RBI hit. It looked like Franklin had no chance to catch the ball, but he laid out after covering a lot of ground.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 2 — Middle 2nd Inning
Jalen Battles hit into a double play to end the top of the second inning. That stranded Cullen Smith, who singled following Robert Moore's home run.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 2 — Top 2nd Inning
Robert Moore hit a line-drive home run into the right-field bullpen to cut into Tennessee's big lead. Moore's homer came on a 3-1 pitch after Christian Franklin led off the inning with a first-pitch single.
That was Moore's 12th home run this season.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 0 — End 1st Inning
Tennessee nine-hole hitter Jackson Greer struck out to end a 38-pitch first inning for Patrick Wicklander. The Vols stranded one runner.
Christian Franklin is due up first in the second inning for the Razorbacks.
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 0 — Bottom 1st Inning
Jordan Beck's three-run home run has given Tennessee a 5-0 lead with two outs in the first inning.
This is easily the worst Patrick Wicklander has looked in conference play. The Vols have four hits in the inning — it should be five, but a hot shot to Cullen Smith at third base was ruled an error — and have taken him to the opposite field several times.
The Razorbacks have climbed out of some holes this year, but it feels like this could be an uphill battle with the way the Vols are hitting, plus the crowd and Wicklander's struggles. He has already thrown more than 30 pitches. Arkansas' bullpen is likely to have a busy night.
Tennessee 2, Arkansas 0 — Bottom 1st Inning
The Vols have three base hits with no outs and lead 2-0 after Jake Rucker's two-run double to opposite-field right.
Arkansas missed on a chance for an out when Max Ferguson bunted between the catcher and pitcher after Liam Spence singled to right field. But Patrick Wicklander hesitated just a little on whether to pick up the ball or let catcher Casey Opitz field it, and Ferguson was safe on a close play at first base.
Arkansas 0, Tennessee 0 — Middle 1st Inning
Matt Goodheart drew a one-out walk but didn't advance past first base. Cayden Wallace and Brady Slavens flied out to strand him.
Tennessee stater Chad Dallas threw 18 pitches in the half inning.
Pregame
The Razorbacks and Volunteers are tied for the top spot in the SEC race coming into the game.
This is one of the biggest — if not the biggest — series ever played at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Volunteers have had some baseball success, but not much and certain not in a while. Arkansas is ranked No. 1, while Tennessee is ranked No. 5.
The Vols have opened their stadium to full capacity and all three games in the series are sold out.
Arkansas will keep its lineup similar to weeks past and will play Cullen Smith at third base tonight.
The pitching matchup is between Arkansas left hander Patrick Wicklander (4-1, 1.69 ERA) and Tennessee right hander Chad Dallas (8-1, 3.86).