Wehiwa Aloy, Zach Root carry Arkansas to victory over UCLA in CWS elimination game
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Arkansas has fought off elimination again. The Razorbacks notched their second win of the College World Series, picking up a 7-3 victory over UCLA in a do-or-die game.
Once again, Dave Van Horn’s team got a strong start on the mound. It wasn’t Gage Wood’s no-hitter, but Zach Root bounced back from his Saturday struggles by tossing 5 shutout innings, allowing just 3 hits while striking out 5 and walking 2 over 87 pitches (55 strikes). Root worked around a bases-loaded jam in the 1st inning and got UCLA to strand 2, looming large much of the night.
Some Ks from Root @ZachRoot07 #MCWS x ESPN / @RazorbackBSB pic.twitter.com/bAH5QT0u9Q
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 18, 2025
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Root got to pitch with the lead for 4 of his 5 innings. The Hogs broke the scoring ice in the 1st inning when Golden Spikes finalist Wehiwa Aloy hit the ball 377 feet at 29.33 degrees and 109 mph off the bat for a 2-run home run.
Razorbacks came out swingin'#MCWS x ESPN / @RazorbackBSB pic.twitter.com/w4qFovdhdS
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 17, 2025
On the most important night of the season, it was Aloy with the RBI again, this time from a triple off the wall.
Piggies go weeeeeeee#MCWS x ESPN / @RazorbackBSB pic.twitter.com/XmuyaTKIZk
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 18, 2025
With Root out of the game, Van Horn turned to Aiden Jimenez. He was able to go 3 scoreless innings, allowing the Razorbacks to limit the use of their bullpen coming out of the loser’s bracket. Will McEntire pitched the 9th inning.
Jimenez pitched with a cushion as the Hogs added some insurance runs. In the 7th, Logan Maxwell doubled to center, plating Brent Iredale and Aloy to extend the lead to 5-0.
Arkansas made it a 7-0 game in the 8th, its last at-bat. Cam Kozeal came around on a wild pitch after starting the inning on a leadoff walk. Justin Thomas Jr. doubled down the line to plate Iredale.
With the win, Arkansas will next take on LSU to decide their half of the bracket. The Tigers can advance to the CWS Finals with 1 win, while the Razorbacks need to win twice.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
