#22 Arkansas powers past #8 Alabama with six-run 8th inning

TJ Pompey's two-run homer caps Razorbacks' comeback in series opener

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:30pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a college baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the colors of the Arkansas Razorbacks and Alabama Crimson Tide uniforms.Arkansas' late-inning offensive explosion stuns Alabama in the series opener, setting up a pivotal game two showdown.Trinity Today

No. 22 Arkansas rallied for six runs in the eighth inning, capped by TJ Pompey's two-run home run, to defeat No. 8 Alabama 7-5 in the series opener on Friday night. The win snapped the Crimson Tide's 18-game home winning streak.

Why it matters

This was a key SEC matchup between two ranked teams, with Arkansas looking to earn its first series win in Tuscaloosa since 2019. The Razorbacks' comeback victory in the late innings showcases their resilience and offensive firepower against a tough conference opponent.

The details

Arkansas starter Hunter Dietz pitched six solid innings, allowing two solo home runs. The Razorbacks took a 1-0 lead in the fifth before Alabama went up 3-1 in the seventh. But Arkansas erupted for six runs in the eighth, highlighted by Pompey's two-run shot, to take a 7-3 lead. The Crimson Tide scored twice in the ninth but couldn't complete the comeback.

  • The series opener was played on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2026 at 4 p.m. CT.

The players

TJ Pompey

Arkansas third baseman who hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to cap the Razorbacks' comeback.

Hunter Dietz

Arkansas left-handed starting pitcher who threw six innings of two-run ball with nine strikeouts.

Cole Gibler

Arkansas left-handed pitcher scheduled to start game two of the series on Saturday.

Zane Adams

Alabama left-handed pitcher scheduled to start game two of the series on Saturday.

Justin Lebron

Alabama shortstop who committed two errors in the eighth inning that allowed Arkansas to score two runs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew we had to keep battling and stay in the game. That big eighth inning really turned things around for us.”

— TJ Pompey, Arkansas third baseman

What’s next

Arkansas will look to clinch the series with a win on Saturday afternoon, while Alabama aims to even things up and force a rubber match on Sunday.

The takeaway

Arkansas' resilient comeback win on the road against a top-10 SEC opponent demonstrates the Razorbacks' ability to win close games and battle back from deficits, a valuable trait as they continue their push for an NCAA Tournament berth.