FAYETTEVILLE, AR--NJIT led 3-0 in the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but top-ranked Arkansas exploded for a seven-run fourth inning and went on to win 13-8 on Friday in front of 11,081 fans at Baum-Walker Stadium in the Fayetteville Regional.

The Razorbacks, the 2021 SEC regular-season and tournament champions, won its ninth straight, improving to 47-10.  Arkansas will play the winner of Nebraska/Northeastern on Saturday, June 5 at 8pm.

NJIT's program-record nine-game win streak was snapped as the Highlanders moved to 26-23 overall and will face the loser of Nebraska/Northeastern in the elimination game on Saturday at 3pm ET on ESPN3.

Arkansas ranked second in the nation in home runs, and hit five on Friday in the victory.

The Razorbacks used seven pitchers as Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year Kevin Kopps was credited with the victory improving to 11-0 on the season.  The Highlanders forced Arkansas manager Dave Van Horn to go to Kopps much earrlier than normal as the closer tossed 2.1 scoreless innings to earn his 11th win of the season.

Arkansas' Cayden Wallace (1-for-5) and Braydon Webb (1-for-2) each drove in three runs for the Razorbacks.

NJIT's starting pitcher Tyler Stafflinger (5-6) took the loss, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing four hits, six runs (all earned) and fanning three Razorback batters.  Fifth-year senior Jared Kacso, who made his first appearance out of the bullpen in his first relief outing, went 3.2 innings, letting up six hits, four runs (all earned) and striking out three batters.

Daniel Helfgott went 3-for-3 and reached base two more times via hit by pitch while also scoring one run and and recording an RBI, while DH Matthew Cocciadiferro finished 2-for-5 with three runs and one RBI, including a double - his fourth of the season.  Nick Hussey went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and David Marcano went 2-for-4. 

Four different Highlanders -- Albert Choi, Julio Marcano, Hussey, and Jared Donnelly each recorded one hit.

America East Rookie of the Year Albert Choi set the tone for the Highlanders early in the first inning, blasting a solo shot on a two-strike pitch to left field to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead in the programs first regional appearance.

NJIT tacked on a run in the top of the second with two outs and runners on the corners after a Razorback fielding error to jump ahead, 2-0.

The Highlanders added a run in the top of the third on a bases-loaded RBI walk by graduate student Kevin Blum, giving NJIT a 3-0 lead.

Host Arkansas  got on the board with a two-run home run by Braydon Webb in the bottom of the third to pull the Razorbacks within one of NJIT, 3-2.

The Razorbacks exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, including three home runs taking a 9-3 lead.

Jalen Battles added to the Razorbacks lead with a solo shot to left field for a 10-3 advantage in the fifth.

NJIT added two runs in the top of the seventh on a pair of RBI base hits through the right side by Nick Hussey and Jared Donnelly, making the score 10-5.

Arkansas Jacob Nesbit drove in a pair of runs in the seventh and added a run in the eighth, increasing the Razorback lead to 13-5.

NJIT plated three runs in the top of the eighth on an RBI double by Cocciadiferro, RBI single by Helfgott and sacrifice fly to center by Hussey, his second RBI of the game, trailing 13-8.