Arkansas Routs Northern Colorado in Game 1

Hogs cruise to 12-2 victory in series opener

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:39pm

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The No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks cruised to a 12-2 victory over the Northern Colorado Bears in the first game of their midweek series at Baum-Walker Stadium. Freshman right-hander Mark Brissey made his first career start for the Hogs, tossing 6 scoreless innings, while the Arkansas offense exploded for 12 runs on 14 hits.

Why it matters

This win keeps Arkansas firmly in contention in the SEC standings, as they look to build momentum heading into a crucial conference series next weekend. For Northern Colorado, the loss extends their struggles, as they fall to 3-19 on the season.

The details

Brissey was dominant on the mound, striking out 7 batters and allowing just 3 hits in his 6 innings of work. The Razorbacks' offense was led by Damian Ruiz, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBIs, and Zack Stewart, who drove in 3 runs. Northern Colorado starter Mitch Haythorn struggled, surrendering 7 runs in just 3.1 innings pitched.

  • The game started at 6:30 PM CT on March 17, 2026.
  • Arkansas scored 5 runs in the 4th inning to take control of the game.

The players

Mark Brissey

Freshman right-handed pitcher for Arkansas who made his first career start, tossing 6 scoreless innings.

Damian Ruiz

Arkansas left fielder who went 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBIs.

Mitch Haythorn

Northern Colorado right-handed pitcher who started the game and allowed 7 runs in 3.1 innings.

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What they’re saying

“Mark really set the tone for us on the mound tonight. When you get that kind of performance from your starting pitcher, it makes things a lot easier for the rest of the team.”

— Dave Van Horn, Arkansas Head Coach

“We just couldn't get anything going offensively against Arkansas. Their pitching was too good, and we made too many mistakes. We'll need to regroup and come out stronger tomorrow.”

— Bob Winans, Northern Colorado Head Coach

What’s next

The two teams will meet again on March 18 for the second and final game of the series.

The takeaway

Arkansas demonstrated its depth and talent, cruising to a lopsided victory over Northern Colorado in the series opener. The Razorbacks' strong pitching and timely hitting proved too much for the struggling Bears, setting the stage for a potential series sweep.