Fayetteville, Ark.- Dallas Baptist controlled nearly every pitch on both sides of the game throughout the first six innings, but this contest was one that the Razorbacks have become notorious for – one dominated by their pitching staff and strong defense behind it. On the mound the Hogs allowed three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. They also had many quick innings at the plate, but managed to score all of their runs in a five-run seventh. The win was preserved with two outs in the ninth inning by a highlight reel catch at the wall of a potential game-tying home run by redshirt freshman and fast-rising prospect for 2027, Brenton Clark.

Already a top prospect for the 2027 draft, Cole Gibler took the ball for Arkansas on the mound and he started the afternoon off with a strikeout. Gibler’s best pitch continues to be a plus, low-80s breaking ball and it induced a sword swing for strike three by DBU's Brooks Sartain and Gibler showed just how nasty this pitch can be after producing a 60% whiff rate last spring. His fastball sat 90-92 and he subtracted velo and spin with a 83-84 changeup (1700 rpm). Gibler pitched two innings and allowed one run on two hits and struck out three. Also ultra competitive, Gibler and Texas’ Dylan Volantis are currently the top two college lefthanders on our draft board for 2027.

The upcoming 2026 draft is very light on top two round lefthanders, but Hunter Dietz could move into first-round consideration with more outings like this one. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound southpaw pitched two scoreless, no-hit innings. He walked one and struck out one. Most impressive was his feel for a three-pitch arsenal. His fastball sat 95-97 mph, supplementing with an 89-91 cutter and 78-79 curve. After two years of little work in college while battling injury and recovery, he’ll need to post a big spring in 2026 to make the first round a reality, but his stuff is all there to do just that.

Another large-bodied lefty who has shown big stuff in the past and a one time first round prospect as a prep, Ethan McElvain struggled during his one inning of work. Although his delivery looked cleaner and tighter in warmups, the Vanderbilt transfer soon struggled as hitters got in the box, out of sync with poor balance to his operation. As a result the control of his 92-95 fastball, 85 cutter and 75-77 slurve was sporadic. McElvain allowed two runs on two hits and a walk during his one inning of work. There’s still a lot to like and a lot to work with, but at this point he’s very much a wild card for the upcoming 2026 season and draft.

Sophomore righty Steele Eaves posted good numbers in limited work as a freshman Hog (1.86 ERA, 2 BB, 10 SO, 9.2 IP) and was dominant during his appearance against the Patriots. He faced seven batters and threw just 20 pitches during his two innings of hitless, scoreless relief. At 6-foot, 210 pounds he isn’t the most projectable draft prospect, but his present stuff is plenty good: 92-93 sinker, 87 changeup and a best pitch, swing/miss 81-83 hard curveball.

Junior righthander Tate McGuire continues to be a personal favorite in the 4th-6th round area for next summer’s draft. Up to 95-96 in previous outings, McGuire settled in at 92-93 with his four-fastball (20-21” IVB) and mixed a 84-85 cutter/slider, although he’s a “feel guy” who has shown additional pitch types in the past.

Razorbacks in the batter’s box:

Besides his airtime catch above the wall to save what would've been a game-tying home run, Brenton Clark also went 1-for-2 at the plate with a pair of walks from the leadoff spot. He’s an exciting prospect for 2027 who covers ground in the outfield with plus defense and run tool.

Another young prospect who is not eligible until 2028 is infielder Carson Brumbaugh. The shortstop was a Prep Baseball All-American in 2024 and ranked No. 77 nationally for the 2025 draft. With power, speed and arm strength, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Brumbaugh could join the list of prep infielders from the 2025 class who became first-rounders – the list is already eight deep after this summer’s draft. Brumbaugh was 1-for-3 with two RBIs at the plate. His fifth inning 109.6 mph smash of a changeup for a lineout was the game’s top EV and he recorded two of the top six EVs for both teams combined with a 103.3 mph fly out off a cutter during his first at-bat in the second inning. Defensively, he looked to possess the whole package with plus arm strength, sure hands and range in all directions.

Versatile infielder TJ Pompey impressed in every facet of his game-playing abilities as he already possesses the tools, athleticism and projectable body type at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds. He could cut the bases tighter to allow his plus speed underway to play even greater, but there’s little doubt he can move along, especially underway. At the plate the righthanded hitter was 1-for-2 with a walk. His eighth inning triple jumped off the stick at 107.2 mph and was the second highest EV of this contest. Between his athleticism, defensive value on the left side of the infield and a strong chance to hit, Pompey looked every bit a top three round prospect for next summer’s draft.

Another potential top three-rounder is Kuhio Aloy who hammered a hanging changeup for a home run that traveled 391’ with a 103.3 EV off the bat. Finding a defensive home and cutting down on the swing/miss will be the most significant keys to his draft value. There’s little doubt that he can get to his 65-grade raw power (113.6 max EV in 2025) during games as he homered 13 times with 15 doubles as a sophomore this past spring.

Reese Robinett continues to impress at the plate and in the field. The lanky bodied first baseman was 2-for-4 with an RBI. His opposite field home run traveled 350’ with a 94.6 mph EV. Long levered and wanting to extend at the plate, Robinett consistently works the other way, but will need to better-cover the inner half against velocity to fully develop his potential next-level abilities in the box.

Speaking of next-level, senior centerfielder Maika Niu screams pro caliber tools. He showed plus range and excellent closing ability with body control on a diving catch late in the game. He also went 1-for-4 at the plate with two strikeouts. His seventh inning single left the barrel at 106.8 mph while his top EV from last spring was 113.4 mph. Working on seeing and better-adjusting to the breaking ball, Niu took some hittable heaters against DBU, which are usually his strength. After committing 33 errors (.889 FLD%) at shortstop for Marshall in 2025, his national level exposure began this past summer. Niu was named Cape Cod League MVP after batting .280 with an .872 OPS in 35 games. He hit a league-leading eight home runs with 23 RBIs that placed him second in the league. He’s currently the top senior position player for next summer’s draft, but will need to cut down on his swing/miss to rise anywhere close to where his toolset (plus arm, plus speed, plus power) would ordinarily slot. He’s a player much comparable to Casey Martin (2020 3rd round) in the context of tools over performance at this point in the development process.

Patriots on the Hill:

Russ Smith, Jared Schaeffer, Aiden VanDeHatert and JT Long combined for six shutout innings to start the game. All mixed their pitches to different locations and kept Arkansas off-balance and off-time at the plate throughout the first six innings. Smith, a sophomore transfer from Cowley County JC, was especially effective with a best-pitch downer curve ball in the upper-70s. The righthander also sat 91-93 with his fastball and spun a slider into the zone at 83-85. He struck out three in two innings.

Schaeffer also sat 92-94 with a heavy-sink fastball, relied on a low-80s changeup to slow bats and induced three empty swings of the eight low-80s sliders that he threw. Long showed the most arm strength of the trio, touching 96 while also showing very good bore on low-90s two-seamers.

Patriots in the batter’s box:

Outfielder Ryan Martin led DBU with two RBIs and utilityman Ben Tryon led the Patriots with two hits. Tryon is a good runner and defender in right field who also looks like he’ll anchor the middle of the lineup this season, along with fifth-year senior first baseman Chayton Krauss. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder provided an early highlight for the Patriots with a no-doubt home run against Gibler in the first inning. It was launched at a 24.6 degree angle, off the bat at 104 mph and traveled 418’. Krauss was on some area scout’s draft lists last summer, but returned to DBU for his final season. His top tool is raw power which maxed at 110.2 mph last spring.

Brooks Sartain is a redshirt freshman who impressed with his athleticism and tools. He battled at the plate and finished the day 0-for-4, but looked very comfortable making consistent hard contact – 99 mph, 374’ flyout to centerfield and lineout to the pitcher. His development as a middle of the diamond talent who has a chance to hit and hit with some power is definitely one to watch this coming spring and beyond.