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It was a performance for the ages. The type that marks time. The kind that grandparents will tell and retell to their grandkids.
Gage Wood’s 19-strike-out, no-hitter Monday in the College World Series against Murray State is a feat Arkansas Razorback fans of all ages will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
It’s a moment in time that joins the likes of Scotty Thurman’s national-title sealing 3-pointer against Duke in 1994, the Hogs’ game-winning drive against Nebraska in the 1965 Cotton Bowl that locked down an undefeated season, Brady Toops’ Regional-winning grand slam in 2004, Matt Jones’ 2002 Miracle on Markham touchdown pass to DeCori Birmingham, Mike Conley Sr. scoring 20 points in 1984 NCAA Championship to lead Arkansas to its first track, field and cross country triple crown, Preston Carpenter’s 1954 Powder River play touchdown over Ole Miss, the “immortal” Teddy Barnes TD catch against Texas A&M in 1975, and U.S. Reed’s 49-foot shot to upend Louisville in the 1981 NCAA Tournament as a Razorback accomplishment fans will never forget.
I’m sure there are dozens of other big Razorback moments that I’m forgetting, but no matter how big they were, Wood’s performance on Monday ranked high among them.
Beyond the junior from Batesville’s individual excellence, the Razorbacks defeated the Racers, 3-0, to knock them out of the double-elimination tournament, held at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.
The Razorbacks (49-14) are scheduled to play at 6 p.m. Tuesday against the loser of the UCLA-LSU game, which was suspended Monday because of storms in the Omaha area. LSU (49-15) was leading UCLA (48-16) in the top of the fourth inning, 5-3, when play was suspended. Play is scheduled to resume at 10 a.m.; however, the chances of more rain on Tuesday are high.
Oregon State (48-15) and Louisville (41-23) also must play their game before the Razorbacks will take the field against the loser of the LSU-UCLA game.
Wood’s 119-pitch masterpiece was just the third no-hitter in the history of the College World Series and the first since 1960, when Oklahoma State’s Jim Wixon accomplished the task.
Wood’s 19 strikeouts set a new CWS and Razorback standard. Previously, Hagen Smith against Oregon in 2024 and Jess Todd against South Carolina in the 2007 SEC Tournament jointly held the record with 17 strikeouts.
Wood had a perfect game in his sights until the eighth inning, but he hit Donnie Decker with a pitch. Wood, however, quickly regained his composure to polish off the no-hitter in short order.
Wood’s no-hitter was the 14th in program history, but his performance came on the biggest stage with elimination at stake.
Gage Wood is the first Razorback to throw a complete game in the College World Series since Rich Erwin and Steve Krueger did so in 1979.
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