Arkansas entered the SEC Tournament showdown with Tennessee riding a comfortable 5‑0 lead, a cushion built on early homers from Zack Stewart and Camden Kozeal that had the crowd buzzing.
Injury Shadows Early Dominance
The momentum shifted abruptly in the bottom of the third when designated hitter Kuhio Aloy limped off the field after an apparent injury, prompting a quick visit from Coach Dave Van Horn and trainer Corey Wood.
Aloy, who had been a steady presence in the lineup, was replaced by freshman Carter Rutenbar, who struck out looking in his first at‑bat, underscoring the thin bench depth the Razorbacks have been forced to rely on.
Aloy had been enjoying a solid season, batting .294 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs before the setback, numbers that had helped stabilize the team’s offense amid a volatile schedule.
The incident also drew attention to the broader context of the Razorbacks’ roster health, as the team looks to maintain its early advantage and push forward in the tournament without one of its key bats.