FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Interstat) — A dominant six-inning start from Gabe Gaeckle and a four-run first inning fueled by Stetson miscues propelled Arkansas to a 7-1 victory over the visiting Hatters on Friday night at Baum Stadium.

The Razorbacks, improving to 11-3, capitalized on a critical error in the bottom of the first to seize early control. After Stetson starter Landon Coppersmith issued a leadoff walk in the top of the first that resulted in the game’s first run, Arkansas responded immediately against the right-hander. Leadoff hitter Nolan Ruiz opened with a bunt single but was erased on the bases. Ty Helfrick then reached on a throwing error by Stetson third baseman Brandon Dessureault, opening the door.

Camden Kozeal drove in Helfrick with an RBI double to tie the game, and Kuhio Aloy followed with a run-scoring single to give Arkansas a 2-1 lead. After a lineout, Wehiwa Niu delivered another RBI double, scoring Aloy. Coppersmith was relieved by James Hays, but the right-hander allowed an RBI single to Jayson Pompey that plated Niu, capping the four-run, three-unearned-run outburst that gave the Razorbacks a 4-1 lead they would not relinquish.

That first-inning sequence was the most important part of the game, transforming the contest after Stetson had drawn first blood. The Hatters, who fell to 5-9, could not recover from the defensive lapse and the subsequent offensive onslaught.

Gaeckle (1-0) was the story from there, silencing the Hatters’ bats. The right-hander, coming off a loss to Texas-Arlington where he allowed four earned runs, was brilliant. He scattered five hits over six scoreless innings, striking out six and walking none. He faced minimal trouble, with Stetson putting two runners on in the third and sixth innings but failing to score.

Arkansas provided ample support, racking up 13 hits. The Razorbacks added single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to extend their lead. In the fifth, Carson Brumbaugh lifted a sacrifice fly, and Helfrick and Kozeal added RBI singles to make it 7-1. Kozeal finished 2 for 5 with two RBIs, while Aloy was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Stetson’s lone run came in the seventh off reliever Parker Coil, when Yohann De La Cruz doubled and scored on an RBI single by R. Gonzalez. That was the extent of the Hatters’ offense, as they managed just six hits total and struck out 12 times.

The Razorbacks bullpen closed the door efficiently. Mark Brissey and Jackson Kircher combined for two perfect innings, with Kircher striking out two in the ninth. Arkansas turned two double plays to erase potential threats.

For Stetson, relievers Lathan Haywood, Andrew Lepine, and Hays provided scoreless work after the first, but the early deficit was too large to overcome. Haywood threw two perfect innings with a strikeout, and Lepine added 1 1/3 hitless frames.

The victory extended Arkansas’s strong early-season form, while Stetson continued to search for consistency. The teams are scheduled to continue their four-game series on Saturday.

The final score aligned with the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-5 Arkansas win. The system’s ELO rating gave the Razorbacks an 81.3% probability of victory entering the contest.