Gage Wood Makes History with No-Hitter for Arkansas in College World Series
Omaha, Neb. — Gage Wood, a standout pitcher for Arkansas, delivered an extraordinary performance on Monday, throwing the first no-hitter in 65 years at the College World Series. His impressive feat led the Razorbacks to a 3-0 victory over Murray State, marking only the third no-hitter in the tournament’s history.
Wood struck out a remarkable 19 batters, setting a record for strikeouts in a nine-inning College World Series game. Despite being dominant on the mound, Wood remained humble after the game. “I just didn’t want to go home,” he said, expressing excitement about advancing to the next round.
The Razorbacks, with a season record of 49 wins and 14 losses, are set to face the loser of the game between LSU and UCLA on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Murray State, which was participating in its first-ever College World Series, ended its journey with two losses.
Wood’s pursuit of a perfect game faced a hiccup in the eighth inning when a breaking ball inadvertently struck a Murray State batter. However, he quickly regained focus, finishing the inning strong with a foul out and consecutive strikeouts. The energy was palpable as fans rallied behind him with chants of “Woo Pig Sooie!” during the ninth inning.
In a dramatic ninth, Wood nearly faced another setback when a pinch-hitter was initially awarded first base after being hit by a pitch. However, Arkansas challenged the call, and it was overturned, leaving Wood to finish his masterpiece by striking out the final two batters.
Coach Dave Van Horn praised Wood for his precise pitching, noting that his team only needed to make a handful of plays in support of him. With 83 of his 119 pitches being strikes, Wood displayed remarkable control throughout the game.
This achievement adds to Wood’s impressive journey through college baseball; he has evolved from a closer to a middle reliever and now to a weekend starter. After dealing with a shoulder injury earlier in the season, he made a powerful comeback, culminating in this impressive no-hitter.
Wood’s historical performance joins the ranks of other notable pitchers in College World Series history, including Jim Ehrler and Jim Wixson, who threw no-hitters in the 1950s. His catcher, Ryder Helfrick, shared the joy of witnessing the historic moment, presenting Wood with the game ball to commemorate his achievement.
Arkansas capitalized on opportunities late in the game, notably when SEC player of the year Wehiwa Aloy doubled in a run in the seventh inning. Although Murray State’s Isaac Silva kept the game competitive for six innings, Arkansas broke through for the win.
This remarkable game not only highlights Wood’s talent but also reflects the determination and spirit of the Razorbacks as they continue their pursuit of a championship title in Omaha.
