Bybee’s strong start leads No. 7 Arkansas over UNLV

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 7 Arkansas (15-2) completed a midweek sweep of UNLV (5-10) with a 5-2 win on Wednesday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium behind a strong start from Ben Bybee and two home runs from Jared Wegner.

The Razorbacks extended their winning streak to 10 games by eliminating the Hustlin’ Rebels in the final tune-up before SEC play begins. Arkansas has now posted two winning streaks in each of the last three seasons.

Bybee, a true freshman, impressed in his second start as a Razorback. The right-hander threw five scoreless innings on the mound, striking out three while allowing six hits and one walk to earn his first career win.

The Razorback offense provided Bybee early, thanks to Kendall Diggs’ RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the first. Arkansas maintained a one-run lead until Wegner’s leadoff team hit eight home runs in the top of the fifth.

With a runner on first, Wegner hit the first pitch he saw over the wall in left center. He collected his team-leading 28th and 29th RBI with a blast in the fifth, which put the Hogs up by three.

Bybee faced two batters in the top half of the sixth before giving way to fellow freshman right-hander Gage Wood. The Batesville, Ark., native stranded two runners, recording all three outs in the inning with two strikeouts in the process.

UNLV would cut the deficit to one in the top of the seventh, but Arkansas came back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend the lead to three. Diggs’ double down the left field line brought home Jace Bohrofen before Harold Coll laced an RBI single to center, which scored pinch runner Mason Neville and put the Hogs ahead, 5-2.

Zack Morris pitched the final three innings of the Razorbacks’ win, striking out a pair of batters while allowing two unearned runs on one hit and a walk. The left-hander earned his first save of the season and second of his career.

Arkansas opens SEC play against West Division foe Auburn (13-3-2) this weekend at Baum-Walker Stadium. The first of the three-game series between the Hogs and Tigers is set for 6:30 pm on Friday, March 17, on SEC Network +.