FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Interstat) — In a stark reversal from the previous night’s offensive outburst, the Arkansas Razorbacks used a dominant pitching performance and a first-inning run to edge the Arkansas State Red Wolves 1-0 in a tightly contested nonconference baseball game Wednesday evening at Baum Stadium.

The victory allowed the seventh-ranked Razorbacks (7-2) to quickly rebound from a surprising 12-4 loss to their in-state foe just 24 hours earlier. The Red Wolves, who had pounded out 12 runs on Tuesday, saw their record fall to 6-3.

The game’s only run materialized in the bottom of the first inning. Arkansas’s Ryder Helfrick worked a leadoff walk against Arkansas State starter Collin Maloney, advanced to second on a pickoff error, and moved to third on a walk to Jack Robinett. Wehiwa Aloy then delivered a single to right-center field, scoring Helfrick. The threat was extinguished when the next batter, Jared Souza, grounded into a double play, a theme that would haunt the Razorbacks all afternoon as they grounded into three twin killings.

That lone run proved sufficient thanks to a masterful collective effort from the Arkansas pitching staff. Starter James DeCremer set the tone, working 3 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit—a fourth-inning double by Arkansas State’s Patrick Engskov—while striking out three. Steele Eaves followed with 2 2/3 perfect innings, striking out four. Parker Coil closed the door over the final 2 2/3 innings, striking out six of the eight batters he faced. The trio combined for 13 strikeouts and allowed only that one hit.

The most critical juncture of the game came in the top of the eighth inning. After DeCremer Martinez walked and was sacrificed to second, the Red Wolves had their best scoring chance with a runner in scoring position and only one out. Coil, however, entered the game and struck out pinch-hitter Jackson Williams looking. After an intentional walk, Coil fanned Lane Walton swinging to end the threat.

Arkansas State’s bullpen was equally impressive after the first inning. Following Maloney, who took the loss, relievers Ryan Ashford, Tyler Weimer, Kole Turner, Isaac Sewell and Jelle van der Lelie combined for six hitless innings, walking three and striking out seven. The Red Wolves’ staff held Arkansas to seven hits, but the Razorbacks’ inability to add insurance, compounded by the three double plays, kept the game in the balance until the final out.

The Red Wolves’ offense, which had scored 25 runs in its previous two games, was completely stifled. Engskov’s double was their only hit, and they advanced a runner to second base only twice, failing to capitalize each time.

According to pregame projections by Interstat, the result defied expectations. Their game simulator had predicted a 7-6 Arkansas victory, while their ELO system gave the Razorbacks an 89.8% probability to win, though not in such a low-scoring fashion.

Arkansas looks to carry the momentum into a weekend series against Texas-Arlington beginning Friday. Arkansas State returns home to host Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a three-game set starting the same day.