Razorbacks Roll Past the Cowboys in Season Opener as Helfrick Goes Deep Twice

With the Razorbacks basketball team thriving and a restructured football program positioning itself for a comeback, the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team opened the 2026 season with a powerful offensive statement, overwhelming the Oklahoma State Cowboys 12–2 on Friday night in the Shriners Children's Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Arkansas opened the year at 1–0, piling up 13 hits, including four home runs, in a dominant performance against the Cowboys, now 0–1. Played in the first of four games at Globe Life Field over the next four days, the opener delivered an early and unmistakable signal about the Razorbacks’ offensive depth and pitching strength as the new season begins.

A Fast Start in Arlington

Arkansas Razorbacks starter Gabe Gaeckle worked through early traffic in a scoreless top of the first. Brock Thompson and Aidan Meola opened the game with back to back singles, but Gaeckle regrouped, striking out Kollin Ritchie and inducing routine groundouts from Colin Bruggemann and Avery Ortiz to escape the jam.

Arkansas answered immediately against Oklahoma State starter Hudson Barrett. Nolan Souza led off with a two strike double down the left field line, and Ryder Helfrick followed by crushing a two run homer on the first pitch he saw, putting the Razorbacks up 2–0. After a walk to Cam Kozeal, Barrett settled in, striking out Maika Niu and Kuhio Aloy before Reese Robinett grounded out to end the inning.

The next several frames moved quickly. Gaeckle retired Oklahoma State in order in the second, and Arkansas went quietly in the bottom half. Both pitchers controlled the game through the middle innings, with strikeouts and routine outs dominating the flow.

In the third, Arkansas extended the lead. After Souza struck out, Helfrick launched his second home run of the night, a solo shot to center field, making it 3–0. Kozeal grounded out, and Niu struck out to close the inning.

Oklahoma State continued to struggle offensively, going down in order again in the following frame. Arkansas added some late action when TJ Pompey lined a single to left for his first hit as a Razorback, but a replay review ruled that he slid past the bag on his attempt to take second and was tagged out, ending the inning after a three minute delay.

The early innings set the tone for a game controlled by Arkansas from the mound and powered by Helfrick’s bat, as the Razorbacks steadily built command of the opener at the Shriners Children's Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Momentum Shifts, Then Arkansas Pulls Away

Campbell Smithwick reached to open the inning on a dropped third strike. Ryder Helfrick made a strong throw, but Smithwick beat it out at first. Garrett Shull followed by driving a home run to right field, cutting the Razorbacks lead to one. TP Wentworth then singled back through the middle past Gabe Gaeckle, bringing the tying run aboard. Alex Conover struck out swinging for the first out, and Cole Gibler was called in from the bullpen to replace Gaeckle.

Brock Thompson grounded to Reese Robinett at first, who forced Wentworth at second, while Thompson reached on a fielder’s choice. Thompson then stole second without a throw from Helfrick. Aidan Meola struck out looking at a 94 mph fastball to end the inning.

Arkansas responded immediately. Carson Brumbaugh flew out to Wentworth in right for the first out. Damian Ruiz reached on a hard ground ball to third that was bobbled. Nolan Souza grounded out deep in the hole to Thompson at second, moving Ruiz to second base. Helfrick was intentionally walked, and Cam Kozeal followed with a five pitch walk to load the bases.

With one out and the bases full, Stormy Rhodes replaced Hudson Barrett on the mound. Maika Niu singled through the left side, bringing Ruiz home to make it 4–2. Kuhio Aloy then lined a single to right field, scoring both Helfrick and Kozeal to push the lead to 6–2, with Niu advancing to third. Robinett flew out to center to end the inning.

Gibler delivered a clean frame in response. Kollin Ritchie struck out swinging after jumping ahead 2–0 in the count, Colin Bruggemann grounded out to Kozeal at second, and Avery Ortiz struck out looking to close the inning.

TJ Pompey opened the next frame with his second hit of the night, a ground ball past Ortiz at short. Brumbaugh lined out to Thompson at second, doubling Pompey off first. Ruiz followed with a sharp line drive single to left. Drew Blake replaced Rhodes on the mound, and Souza struck out swinging to end the inning.

Oklahoma State went quietly again. Smithwick grounded out to Kozeal, Shull struck out swinging, and after Wentworth worked a walk from an 0–2 count, Conover lined out to Ruiz in left to close the frame, as Arkansas maintained firm control of the game.

Power Surge Seals the Game

Ryder Helfrick reached on a dropped third strike that was scored as a wild pitch, then stole second on the first pitch to Cam Kozeal. Kozeal followed by crushing a home run deep to right field, stretching the lead to 8–2 for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Maika Niu struck out looking for the first out. Kuhio Aloy lined a single to left, and Reese Robinett followed with another single to left to move Aloy to third. TJ Pompey lifted a fly ball to left that brought Aloy home, making it 9–2, before Carson Brumbaugh grounded out to close the inning.

Brock Thompson struck out looking to start the next frame. Aidan Meola flew out to Kozeal at second, and Kollin Ritchie struck out swinging to end the inning, giving Cole Gibler his sixth strikeout in 3.2 innings of work.

Parker Jennings replaced Drew Blake on the mound to open the next inning. Freshman Christian Turner entered the game for Damian Ruiz and drew a walk in his first at bat as a Razorback. Nolan Souza singled to right for his second hit of the night. Helfrick struck out, Souza stole second, and Kozeal struck out looking on a breaking ball from Jennings.

Then Niu delivered the finishing blow, launching a home run deep to right field to end the game early and seal a 12–2 mercy rule victory.

Offensive Leaders

Junior catcher Ryder Helfrick homered in each of his first two at bats to stake Arkansas to a 3–0 lead. The Hogs responded with a three run fifth inning after Oklahoma State closed the gap to 3–2 on a two run home run by Garrett Shull.

Cam Kozeal delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the seventh, crushing a two run homer off Drew Blake to break the game open.

Eight Razorbacks recorded hits, with Nolan Souza, Helfrick, Maika Niu, Kuhio Aloy, and TJ Pompey each finishing with two. Niu punctuated the night with a three run home run in the eighth inning, his blast with two outs triggering the mercy rule.

On the mound, Gabe Gaeckle delivered a polished season debut, working into the fifth inning on a 75 pitch limit while surrendering four hits and two earned runs, striking out nine and allowing only one walk. He was followed by sophomore Cole Gibler, who delivered 3.2 innings of no hit relief, striking out six and showcasing a fastball in the 93 to 94 mph range with a sharp 82 to 83 mph slider.

Together, Gaeckle and Gibler combined for 15 strikeouts and only two walks in a dominant pitching performance.

Helfrick Sends a Message

Ryder Helfrick entered the season with heavy preseason acclaim, though one national outlet notably left him off all three of its preseason All America teams. Even so, Perfect Game still ranked him as the fourth best catcher in the country.

Helfrick answered any doubts emphatically on Friday night, blasting two towering home runs in his first two at bats of the season.

He needed only one pitch for the first, sitting on a Hudson Barrett fastball in the opening inning and launching it 423 feet into the left field stands to give the Arkansas Razorbacks a 2–0 lead. In his next plate appearance, after fouling off several pitches, he drove a ball deep to center field, a 432 foot blast that left no doubt.

He was just as impactful defensively, showing off his arm early by throwing out a runner attempting to steal second base. A third home run chance never came. Oklahoma State head coach Josh Holliday chose caution instead, issuing an intentional walk to Helfrick in the fifth inning.

Up Next

Game 2 arrives Saturday night, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. CST, when Arkansas right hander Hunter Dietz meets TCU left hander Mason Brasfield under the lights at Globe Life Field in Arlington. The game will be carried on television and streamed live on FloCollege.