FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of form, the Stetson Hatters weathered an early offensive onslaught from Arkansas and rode a dominant relief performance from Connor Ball to a 6-4 victory over the Razorbacks on Monday afternoon at Baum Stadium, securing a series split.

A crowd of 8,713 watched as the visiting Hatters (7-10) ambushed Arkansas starter DeCremer in a decisive first inning, batting around and plating six runs before an out was recorded. The rally began with a walk to De La Cruz and a single by R. Gonzalez. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Apple singled to right field to drive in the game’s first run. Designated hitter Yohann Dessureault then delivered the crushing blow, launching a three-run homer to right field to extend the lead to 4-0. Following a single by Fernandez, Arkansas manager Dave Van Horn pulled DeCremer for Tate McGuire. Stetson added two more runs on RBI singles from Robinson and De La Cruz in the fourth.

The Razorbacks (12-5), who had outscored Stetson 20-2 in winning the first two games of the series, responded immediately in the bottom of the second. After Carter Rutenbar singled, Reese Robinett connected for a two-run homer to right-center, his team-leading fifth of the season. Niu followed with a single and scored on a double by Souza, cutting the deficit to 6-3. An unearned run in the fifth, scored on a Stetson fielding error, brought Arkansas within two.

The most important part of the game began in the bottom of the fourth inning. With a runner on second and the potent Arkansas lineup threatening to erase the remaining lead, Stetson turned to sophomore right-hander Connor Ball. The move proved to be the masterstroke. Ball, whose recent outings had been brief, was virtually untouchable. He retired all 17 batters he faced over 5 2/3 innings of perfect relief, striking out eight. He extinguished the fourth-inning threat with a groundout and then mowed down the Razorbacks in order in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, allowing no hits and walking none.

Ball’s outing completely stifled an Arkansas offense that had collected 12 hits but stranded nine runners. His performance preserved a lead built on Stetson’s nine hits and provided much-needed stability after the Hatters used three pitchers in the first 3 1/3 innings. Joel Core contributed 1 2/3 scoreless innings of bridge work before handing the ball to Ball.

Arkansas’s bullpen, after the rocky start, kept the game close. Steele Eaves provided four scoreless innings of relief, allowing just three hits, and Parker Coil added two more scoreless frames. Rutenbar was a bright spot for the Razorbacks, going 4 for 5 with two runs scored.

In the ninth, Andrew Lepine relieved Ball with two on and one out and induced a game-ending fielder’s choice to secure the win. The victory gave Stetson its second win in the four-game set after dropping the first two contests by a combined score of 20-2.

The loss snapped a four-game home winning streak for Arkansas, which had been projected as a heavy favorite by advanced metrics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-4 Arkansas victory, and its ELO system gave the Razorbacks an 80.9% probability to win.

Stetson travels to face Prairie View on Wednesday before opening a conference series with North Florida. Arkansas opens Southeastern Conference play at home this weekend against Mississippi State.