FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Southeastern Conference series opener defined by opportunistic offense and a dominant start, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 6-3 on Thursday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The victory improved Arkansas to 26-13 overall, while Georgia, which entered with the nation’s top scoring offense, fell to 30-9. The result defied a pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast an 8-6 Georgia win, though the Razorbacks’ 59.8% win probability by ELO rating proved prescient.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the first inning and set the tone. Georgia starter Joey Volchko, despite striking out eight over five hitless innings, struggled with command. He walked Carter Rutenbar and Ryder Helfrick to open the frame, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Wehiwa Aloy then delivered a sacrifice fly to score Rutenbar. Damian Ruiz followed with an RBI double to plate Helfrick, and Ruiz later scored on another wild pitch by Volchko. The three-run response erased an early 3-0 Georgia lead established before an out was recorded, a deficit created by aggressive baserunning and Arkansas miscues on the game’s first play.

Georgia had struck in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Paul Toetz reached on a fielding error by Arkansas shortstop Nolan Souza, advanced to third on a single and a stolen base by Kolby Branch, and scored on a wild pitch by Arkansas starter Hunter Dietz. Two batters later, Branch scored on a passed ball. The third run came home on a balk, staking Volchko to a 3-0 lead before he took the mound.

Dietz, named the top star for Arkansas, settled in brilliantly after the chaotic first. He limited the potent Bulldogs lineup to two earned runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out six. His performance built on a recent gem against Alabama where he threw six no-hit innings.

The Razorbacks took the lead for good in the fourth. Ruiz singled, stole second, advanced to third on a balk and scored on a sacrifice fly by Niu. Souza, who walked and stole two bases, later scored on an RBI single by Reese Robinett to make it 5-3.

Georgia chipped back with a solo home run by Daniel Jackson in the sixth, but Arkansas answered in the seventh when Rutenbar launched a solo shot off reliever Zach Brown. The Bulldogs threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with one out against reliever Gabe Gaeckle. Ethan McElvain entered and, after a wild pitch allowed a run to score, induced a groundout to third to end the threat with two runners in scoring position. McElvain earned the save with 1 2/3 perfect innings of relief.

Both teams finished with seven hits. Ruiz went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs for Arkansas. Ryan Wynn and Jackson homered for Georgia. Volchko took the loss despite his unusual line: five innings, no hits, four runs (three earned), eight strikeouts and five walks.

The teams continue the series Friday.