OMAHA, Neb. — Gage Wood, a right-handed pitcher for Arkansas, etched his name in the annals of the Men’s College World Series on June 16, delivering only the third no-hitter in the event’s history and the first since 1960. Wood’s remarkable performance included a record-setting 19 strikeouts, leading the Razorbacks to a 3-0 victory over Murray State and extending their season.
With each strikeout and inning that passed, Wood’s confidence grew, as he walked to the dugout with increasing enthusiasm, embodying the energy of his hometown of Batesville, Arkansas. The junior repeatedly checked off significant milestones throughout the game, showcasing his electric fastball as he struck out seven consecutive batters between the third and fifth innings — four swinging and three looking.
By the end of the fifth, Wood had amassed 11 strikeouts, becoming the sixth pitcher since 1999 to achieve seven consecutive strikeouts in an MCWS game, tying for the most ever. This performance marked him as the first Arkansas pitcher to record more than 10 strikeouts in MCWS history and the second to carry a perfect game into the sixth inning.
In the seventh, he reached a career-high in strikeouts at 14, setting a record for the longest perfect game bid in MCWS history. However, his pursuit of perfection was interrupted in the following frame when he hit Murray State’s Dom Decker in the left foot with no outs on a 2-2 count.
Undeterred, Wood swiftly retired the next three batters, closing with two additional strikeouts. After fanning left fielder Dan Tauken with a low-80s curveball, Wood celebrated exuberantly, marking his 16th strikeout. In the ninth inning, he hit another batter, pinch hitter Nico Bermeo, but the call was reversed, ruling Bermeo out for leaning into the pitch, adding to Wood’s astounding tally of 17 strikeouts.
His final two batters exemplified his record-breaking performance. Wood struck out shortstop Conner Cunningham on five pitches and secured his 19th strikeout of the game against center fielder Jonathan Hogart with a blazing 97-mile-per-hour fastball.
Celebrating with his teammates, Wood displayed the red letters spelling ‘Arkansas’ on his jersey amidst the jubilant atmosphere, while proud parents looked on from the stands. This 19-strikeout achievement set a record for the most in a nine-inning game in MCWS history and marked the 11th no-hitter in Division I baseball for the season. Just two weeks prior, Wood had struck out 13 batters in the regional matchup against Creighton.
Next, Arkansas will compete against the winner of the UCLA vs. LSU game on Tuesday, vying for a spot in the MCWS semifinals.