LEXINGTON (Interstat) — The Arkansas Razorbacks held off a late rally by the Kentucky Wildcats to claim a 5-4 Southeastern Conference victory Friday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park.

Arkansas improved to 35-19 overall and 17-14 in league play, while Kentucky fell to 31-19 and 15-14.

The Razorbacks struck first in the third inning when right fielder Zack Stewart homered to right-center field. Kentucky answered in the bottom half, scoring on Ben Van Cleave’s single that drove in J. Tharnish after Tharnish was hit by a pitch and stole second.

Arkansas regained the lead in the fourth on a solo home run by shortstop Camden Kozeal, but Kentucky again tied the game in the bottom of the inning when first baseman Hudson Brown went deep to left-center.

The Razorbacks scratched ahead for good in the fifth. Stewart walked, and after a single by Wehiwa Ruiz and a walk by Justin Pompey, Ryder Helfrick delivered a run-scoring fielder’s choice that brought home Stewart.

Arkansas extended its lead to 4-2 in the seventh. Ruiz led off with a double down the right-field line, and after a groundout and a walk to Helfrick, Kuhn Aloy doubled to left, scoring Ruiz.

Kentucky mounted its most serious threat in the bottom of the seventh. Luke Lawrence singled, and Eli Hindle doubled to left-center. Lawrence scored when the ball was misplayed in center field for an error. After a pitching change to Ethan McElvain, a passed ball on a pickoff attempt moved Hindle to third. W. Marcy walked, and Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought in Hindle, cutting the Arkansas lead to 4-3. The Wildcats had runners at second and third but stranded them when Cloud struck out.

Arkansas answered in the top of the eighth. Niu walked, stole second and scored on a double to left-center by Souza, giving the Razorbacks a 5-3 lead. The Wildcats got one back in the bottom of the inning when Hindle doubled again and later scored on Brown’s sacrifice, making it 5-4.

Kentucky threatened in the bottom of the eighth, putting runners at second and third with two outs, but relief pitcher Ethan McElvain struck out S. Campbell to end the inning. In the ninth, McElvain retired the Wildcats in order, striking out the side to secure the win.

The Razorbacks used four pitchers. Starter Gabe Gaeckle exited after five innings. McElvain earned the save. For Kentucky, starter Ben Cleaver was replaced in the fifth by Ira Austin, who gave way to Jackson Soucie, then B. Bounds and Nile Adcock. Hudson Brown led Kentucky with two hits and two RBIs, including a home run.

Arkansas outhit Kentucky 9-11 but got clutch two-out hits in the fifth and seventh. Kozeal and Aloy each had two hits for the Razorbacks.

The series continues Saturday. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Arkansas 7, Kentucky 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Arkansas a 55.90 percent probability to win. Arkansas was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus 1.5.