Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood threw a no-hitter against Murray State on Monday, striking out a record 19 batters in the process. This achievement marks the third no-hitter in Men’s College World Series history and first since 1950.
Wood dominated the game from start to finish, never allowing Murray State to get close to scoring. He started strong, retiring 12 of his first 13 batters with nine strikeouts. His defense was challenged briefly in the eighth inning when he hit a batter with a breaking ball, but Wood recovered and continued pitching well.
The Razorbacks won the game 3-0, advancing to another elimination game on Tuesday night against LSU or UCLA. Murray State’s loss marks the end of their season as the fourth No. 4 regional seed to reach Omaha since 1999.
Wood, a junior right-hander, has come a long way since being a closer in his freshman year and eventually becoming a weekend starter. His performance on Monday showcased his excellent command of his fastball, breaking ball, and changeup. He is now part of an exclusive group of pitchers to throw no-hitters in the MCWS.
The Razorbacks’ win was sealed when Wehiwa Aloy doubled home a run in the seventh inning, and Dustin Mercer’s attempt to make a shoestring catch on Logan Maxwell’s shallow fly resulted in another score. The team’s celebration spilled over from behind the mound to the area between second and third base after Wood struck out Connor Cunningham and Jonathan Hogart to finish the game.
Wood’s impressive performance joins Jim Ehrler of Texas and Jim Wixson of Oklahoma State as the only pitchers to throw no-hitters in MCWS history. The Razorbacks will look to build on this momentum as they move forward in their postseason run.
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/45525422/arkansas-gage-wood-pitches-third-no-hitter-mcws-history