Arkansas Baseball Drops Series Finale to Stetson Despite 12 Hits

Carter Rutenbar records four hits while Arkansas strands runners as Stetson uses timely offense to secure a 6-4 win.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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No. 5 Arkansas collected more hits than Stetson on Monday, but the key moments belonged to the Hatters. Stetson defeated the Razorbacks 6-4 at Baum-Walker Stadium, handing the Hogs their second straight loss in the series and dropping their record to 12-5 heading into SEC play. Arkansas finished the afternoon with 12 hits compared to Stetson's 11, yet the Hatters produced timely offense while the Hogs struggled when runners reached scoring position.

Why it matters

The loss capped a rough stretch against Stetson and added to a résumé that now includes defeats against Stetson, Arkansas State and UT-Arlington before conference play begins. Arkansas now turns its attention to SEC competition as No. 3 Mississippi State is scheduled to visit Fayetteville for the conference-opening series later this week.

The details

The game began poorly for the Razorbacks when Stetson quickly built momentum in the opening inning. Arkansas starter James DeCremer ran into immediate trouble as the Hatters strung together hits before he could record an out. Four hits and a walk in the first five batters forced an early pitching change and helped Stetson jump ahead. Reliever Tate McGuire entered in the first inning and immediately stabilized the situation, retiring the next nine batters he faced to give the Hogs a chance to regroup. Despite those bullpen efforts, the early damage proved costly. While the scoreboard did not reflect it, Arkansas actually generated plenty of offense, with freshman Carter Rutenbar delivering one of the best performances of the day, finishing 4-for-5 at the plate. Outfielder Reese Robinett added a highlight moment with his first home run of the season. Despite those efforts, the Razorbacks could not produce the clutch hit needed to erase the early deficit.

  • The game began on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • The Razorbacks will host No. 3 Mississippi State to open SEC play later this week.

The players

Dave Van Horn

The head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team.

James DeCremer

The starting pitcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the game against Stetson.

Tate McGuire

The relief pitcher who entered the game in the first inning and stabilized the situation for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Carter Rutenbar

A freshman player for the Arkansas Razorbacks who finished the game 4-for-5 at the plate.

Reese Robinett

An outfielder for the Arkansas Razorbacks who hit his first home run of the season in the game.

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What they’re saying

“It is what it is. Hopefully we learn from it, hopefully we get better.”

— Dave Van Horn, Head Coach (si.com)

“When he was getting loose, [we knew] it wasn't going great. Obviously, we had guys sitting in the pen, normally we wouldn't, and 5 hitters, bang, we got him out, and we're down 4 runs.”

— Dave Van Horn, Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

The upcoming series against Mississippi State marks the start of the SEC schedule and provides an opportunity for the Razorbacks to reset after the Stetson losses.

The takeaway

This loss against Stetson highlights the offensive inconsistency that has plagued Arkansas at times this season, as they struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities despite generating plenty of hits. As the Razorbacks shift their focus to SEC play, they will need to find more consistency at the plate to compete with top conference opponents like Mississippi State.