Arkansas star throws first College World Series no-hitter in 65 years
University of Arkansas baseball star Gage Wood made history on Monday by pitching just the third no-hitter in College World Series history and the first in 65 years. Wood’s incredible performance against Murray State included striking out a record-breaking 19 batters to secure a 3-0 victory for his team.
Wood now joins the exclusive club of pitchers who have thrown a no-hitter in the College World Series, alongside Jim Ehrler of Texas in 1950 and Jim Wixson of Oklahoma State in 1960. The junior right-hander displayed remarkable control on the mound, with only two three-ball counts out of his 119 pitches being strikes.
Despite coming close to a perfect game in the eighth inning, Wood’s pitch hit Dom Decker in the foot, ending his bid for perfection. Reflecting on the moment, Wood admitted, “When I hit the guy in the foot, I knew I screwed up.”
After the game, Wood expressed his excitement about the victory, stating, “The only special thing was I didn’t want to go home. That’s it. We’re not going home. We get to play tomorrow night. But it’s pretty cool.” Wood’s journey to this remarkable achievement has seen him transition from a closer to a weekend starter, overcoming a shoulder injury earlier in the season.
When asked about the game ball from his historic performance, Wood revealed, “I gave it to my dad and said happy late Father’s Day.” Arkansas, with a record of 49-14, will face another elimination game on Tuesday night against the winner of the LSU vs. UCLA matchup.
The Associated Press contributed to this report, providing additional insights into Wood’s remarkable achievement. Stay tuned for more updates on the College World Series and other sports news by following Fox News Digital’s sports coverage.
