Arkansas Routs South Carolina 22-6 in Series Opener

The fourth-ranked Razorbacks dominate the Gamecocks with a 17-run outburst in the first four innings.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:34am

The fourth-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks routed the South Carolina Gamecocks 22-6 in the series opener on Friday night. Arkansas plated 17 runs in the first four innings and kept pouring it on, with Maika Niu leading the way with a standout performance at the plate and in the field.

Why it matters

This lopsided victory over a struggling South Carolina team shows the offensive firepower of the Razorbacks, who are now 3-1 in SEC play. The win also gives Arkansas momentum heading into the rest of the series as they look to solidify their position in the conference standings.

The details

Arkansas jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back, scoring 3 more runs in the second, 2 in the third, and an explosive 8 runs in the fourth to take a commanding 17-0 lead. Maika Niu led the Razorbacks' offensive onslaught, going 3-for-5 with 6 RBIs, 2 home runs, a double, and a stolen base. The Gamecocks managed to hit three 2-run home runs, but it was not enough to overcome Arkansas' huge early lead.

  • The Razorbacks scored 4 runs in the first inning.
  • Arkansas plated 3 more runs in the second inning.
  • The Razorbacks added 2 runs in the third inning.
  • Arkansas exploded for 8 runs in the fourth inning.

The players

Maika Niu

The Arkansas outfielder had a standout performance, going 3-for-5 with 6 RBIs, 2 home runs, a double, and a stolen base.

Gabe Gaeckle

The Arkansas pitcher got the win, going 5 innings and striking out 6 batters.

Josh Gunther

The South Carolina pitcher took the loss, dropping to 2-1 on the season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The two teams will face off again on Saturday at 3 p.m., with the game available on SEC Network+.

The takeaway

This dominant performance by the fourth-ranked Razorbacks showcases their offensive firepower and depth, as they were able to cruise to victory even with some of their top hitters struggling. Arkansas looks primed to continue their strong start in SEC play.