Arkansas Baseball Scrimmage Opens Fall Slate Against Little Rock in Fayetteville
Arkansas defeated Little Rock 9-0 in a fall baseball scrimmage after Dawson Bryce hit two home runs and right-hander Mark Brissey threw a scoreless opening frame at Baum-Walker Stadium, wholehogsports.com reported. The exhibition kicked off a 12-inning format split into two six-inning games designed to give pitching staffs extended work under cloudy and cool conditions in Fayetteville.
Early Power Surge and Pitching Performance
Nolan Souza opened the scoring in the first inning by driving a 2-2 fastball from Tag Andrews 422 feet off the video scoreboard in right-center field with an exit velocity of 114 mph. Bryce followed immediately with a 407-foot shot to left field off a 90 mph offering from Andrews, pushing the lead to 2-0 before Andrews struck out the side. Brissey started the game for the Razorbacks, throwing fastballs at 96-99 mph alongside a 90-91 mph cutter during a clean 1-2-3 first inning.
Arkansas extended its advantage in the third inning when former Razorback Grant Wren struggled to find the strike zone, issuing walks and hitting batters to load the bases before being replaced by Marcelo Rodriguez. Rodriguez surrendered consecutive RBI hits and walks that plated multiple runs, building an 8-0 cushion. Bryce capped the scoring in the fourth inning by driving an Issac Evaniew pitch 417 feet over the wall in left-center field for his second home run of the night.
Roster Notes and Matchup Context
Little Rock enters the exhibition schedule under 13th-year coach Chris Curry, a former Arkansas volunteer assistant. The Trojans’ coaching staff includes former Razorback Evan Lee as pitching coach, alongside three former Arkansas players on the roster: pitchers Tag Andrews and Grant Wren, and outfielder Kade Smith. Arkansas played without outfielder Zack Stewart, who lacks an additional year of eligibility for outside fall competition, while Little Rock missed starting shortstop Jerdy Lopez due to elbow inflammation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Arkansas and Little Rock play two six-inning games?
The teams scheduled a pair of six-inning contests totaling 12 innings with a 15-minute intermission to allow both coaching staffs to test multiple starting pitchers without exceeding two innings per arm.
Which former Razorbacks played for Little Rock in the scrimmage?
Pitchers Tag Andrews and Grant Wren, along with outfielder Kade Smith, appeared on the Little Rock roster against their former team.
How many home runs did Dawson Bryce hit during the game?
Dawson Bryce hit two home runs for Arkansas, including a 407-foot blast in the first inning and a 417-foot shot in the fourth inning.
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