FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Wehiwa Aloy and Ryder Helfrick delivered impressive performances with multiple home runs each, while Zach Root dominated with a six-inning scoreless outing, leading to a decisive 12-1 victory for No. 3 national seed Arkansas over Creighton on Saturday night.
Arkansas, boasting a 45-13 record, now moves forward to the Fayetteville Regional final scheduled for Sunday. They will face either Creighton, who stands at 42-15, or North Dakota State. The Razorbacks have made an impactful start to the regional, achieving a 2-0 record for the first time since 2022.
Cam Kozeal initiated the scoring spree with his 15th home run of the season during the second inning. His action-packed performance continued in the third with an RBI double to right field, advancing the score to a 3-0 lead.
Aloy, who has been recognized as the SEC Player of the Year, extended the lead with a three-run home run, launching the ball over the left-field wall to push the Razorbacks up 7-0. Demonstrating his powerful batting skills, he hit his 20th homer of the season in the seventh inning, contributing a two-run shot that added up to five RBIs for him, stretching the lead to 9-0.
Meanwhile, Helfrick showcased his long-ball capability with a solo home run during the sixth inning, followed by a two-run homer in the seventh inning, giving Arkansas an 11-run advantage.
Taking the mound, Zach Root (7-5) was effective, striking out seven batters while limiting Creighton to just three hits during his six-inning tenure.
On the opposing side, Creighton’s starting pitcher, Wilson Magers (6-3), struggled, giving up four earned runs within only three innings.