Dietz’s Career-Best Start Propels Razorbacks to Win

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – Hunter Dietz racked a career-high 12 strikeouts over six innings of work on the mound to propel No. 6 Arkansas (12-3) to a 13-1 run-rule win against Stetson (5-10) in baseball Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Thanks to Dietz’s career-best start, Arkansas can secure its 35th consecutive non-conference weekend series at home with a win tomorrow or Monday. The Hogs, who have not lost or tied a non-conference regular season weekend series at Baum-Walker Stadium since 2014, and Hatters square off in game three at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 8, on SEC Network+.

Dietz logged his second win of the season and carded his second consecutive quality start, firing six innings of one-run ball (zero earned) with 12 strikeouts while allowing only four hits without any walks. The left-hander threw 66 of 91 pitches for strikes and overpowered the Stetson lineup all afternoon to carry Arkansas to its fifth consecutive win.

Through four starts this season, Dietz boasts a 2-1 record with a 2.84 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 19.0 innings. He has allowed nine runs (six earned) on 14 hits and five walks, limiting opposing batters to a meager .194 average against.

Offensively, Arkansas scored in five of its six innings at the plate, pummeling Stetson pitching for 13 runs on 13 hits, nine walks and one hit batsman. After exchanging zeroes with the Hatters in the first inning, the Razorbacks scored three in the second, four in the third, three in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to cruise to a 13-1 run-rule win.

Led by Camden Kozeal and Maika Niu’s three-hit games, four Hogs turned in multi-hit performances Saturday. Kozeal, who finished 3-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in, raised his season slash line to .400/.485/.836 with a team-leading 21 RBI, while Niu, who went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI, raised his season slash line to .310/.349/.517.

Zack Stewart (2-for-2) added a pair of singles, bringing his team-leading slash line to .423/.500/.808 through nine games this season. Nolan Souza rounded out the multi-hit barrage, finishing Saturday’s ballgame 2-for-3 with three RBI.

In relief of Dietz, Cooper Dossett entered the game in the top half of the seventh inning and closed out the win with a scoreless frame. The right-hander faced the minimum and struck out one to seal Arkansas’ win in seven innings.

Colin Fisher (2-0, 0.00 ERA) gets the ball tomorrow against Stetson with an opportunity to clinch the series win for Arkansas. Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) will have the call on SEC Network+.

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