Watch: Kendall Diggs' three-run blast lifts Arkansas to victory over LSU

Arkansas and LSU were locked in a fierce top 10 battle at Baum-Walker Stadium on Thursday night, but it was Arkansas infielder Kendall Diggs who had the final say.

With Arkansas clinging to a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, Diggs put a ball into orbit on an 0-2 count with two fellow Razorbacks on base.

The homer further exemplifies Diggs' history of clutch hits, with the slugger knocking home walkoff wins over Texas A&M in last year's SEC Tournament and against Illinois State earlier in the season.

The three-run home run put the Hogs comfortably ahead, with pitcher Will McEntire going 2 1/3 innings in relief on the mound after another stellar outing from Arkansas ace Hagen Smith.

Smith only gave up two runs to a potent LSU lineup, striking out 10 Tiger hitters in a game that only further fortified those making claims that he's the best pitcher in college baseball. Smith only gave up five hits in six innings, walking zero batters in Thursday's contests.

McEntire's outing got slightly hairy late, as LSU pushed a run across in the eighth to make the score 7-4, but Kansas transfer Stone Hewlett got the final out to seal a series-opening win in the biggest game of the season thus far for both teams.

Arkansas will have a chance to win the series Friday at 8 p.m. ET and a potential rubber match or sweep opportunity awaits the Razorbacks and Tigers on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.