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Gage Wood Dominates With Record 19 Ks in No-Hitter \ TezzBuzz \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood threw the third no-hitter in College World Series history and first since 1960, striking out 19 in a 3-0 win over Murray State. The dominant performance kept the Racers hitless and secured Wood’s place in CWS history.

Quick Looks

• Gage Wood throws first CWS no-hitter in 65 years
• Records 19 strikeouts, most ever in nine-inning CWS game
• Arkansas beats Murray State 3-0 in elimination game
• Wood joins CWS legends Jim Ehrler (1950) and Jim Wixson (1960)
• Bid for perfect game ended in 8th inning by hit batter
• Arkansas fans erupted with chants ahead of historic final inning
• Razorbacks advance to face LSU or UCLA next
• Murray State goes 0-2 in its first Omaha appearance

Deep Look

In a performance destined to live in College World Series lore, Arkansas junior Gage Wood delivered one of the most dominant outings in NCAA postseason history, throwing a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts in the Razorbacks’ 3-0 win over Murray State on Monday. It marked only the third no-hitter ever recorded in the College World Series—and the first in 65 years—placing Wood in a historic class alongside Texas’ Jim Ehrler (1950) and Oklahoma State’s Jim Wixson (1960).

But this wasn’t just a no-hitter. This was a clinic.

From the opening pitch, Wood showcased impeccable control of his arsenal—featuring a live four-seam fastball, a devastating breaking ball, and a changeup that kept hitters off-balance. He fanned nine of the first 12 batters he faced, striking out seven in a row between the third and fifth innings. By the end of the game, he had racked up a CWS-record 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning contest—shattering the previous mark and turning what was expected to be a tight elimination battle into a historic one-man show.

Wood’s rhythm was unshakable. The Razorbacks’ defense barely had to move behind him, save for a handful of routine plays, including a key moment in the seventh inning when Carson Garner’s hard grounder pulled Arkansas first baseman Reese Robinett to his left. Robinett made a slick scoop and stepped on the bag to preserve the no-hitter—arguably the Racers’ closest attempt at breaking through.

Wood’s bid for perfection ended in the eighth inning when his 2-2 breaking ball grazed the foot of Dom Decker. Visibly frustrated, Wood quickly bounced back by inducing a foul out and then striking out the next two batters. As he walked off the mound, he roared skyward and pumped his fists in celebration, met with a wave of “Woo Pig Sooie!” chants from Arkansas fans who sensed history in the making.

The ninth inning brought more tension. Wood hit pinch-hitter Nico Bermeo with a fastball to start the frame, but a successful challenge from Arkansas reversed the call—ruling that Bermeo had leaned into the pitch. With the pressure reset, Wood locked in and struck out the final two Racers batters, sealing the no-hitter with a mix of power and poise.

As his teammates mobbed him between second and third base, Wood’s journey to this moment came full circle. Once a freshman closer, then a sophomore middle reliever, he was forced to redefine his season after suffering a shoulder injury in February. That injury sidelined him for nearly two months, but his April return brought steady progress. A 13-strikeout performance in the regionals against Creighton hinted at what was possible. On Monday, it all came together.

Wood’s historic feat adds his name to a minuscule list of pitchers who have thrown no-hitters in Omaha. Ehrler’s and Wixson’s no-hitters in 1950 and 1960, respectively, came during dominant Texas and Oklahoma State victories. But in an era of deeper lineups, tighter competition, and enhanced media scrutiny, Wood’s gem arguably stands as the most impressive of the three.

His timing was just as crucial. This was an elimination game. The Razorbacks needed a spark to stay alive in the tournament. Instead, they got a memory that will last a lifetime—and possibly a launchpad for a deeper postseason run.

Offensively, Arkansas didn’t do much early, but a seventh-inning rally gave Wood a cushion. SEC Player of the Year Wehiwa Aloy drove in a key insurance run with a double, and Logan Maxwell’s bloop to right got past a diving outfielder to add another.

Murray State, meanwhile, exits Omaha winless but with respect. As just the fourth No. 4 regional seed to ever make the CWS since 1999, their run was improbable and emotional. But they were simply overmatched by Wood, whose precision and pace never gave them a chance to settle in.

Wood now carries momentum into Arkansas’ next elimination game, set for Tuesday night against the winner of LSU vs. UCLA. Whether the Razorbacks go the distance or not, Gage Wood’s no-hitter has secured his place in Razorback history—and the annals of college baseball forever.

This wasn’t just a performance. It was a statement.

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