Cronin saves day for Razorbacks in first game against USC, retiring four straight

LOS ANGELES — Matt Cronin didn’t have such a good outing against Eastern Illiniois last weekend, but made up for it in the first game of the series against USC as Arkansas held on for a 6-3 win.

The Razorbacks never trailed in the game as Casey Martin got things started with a three-run double in the second inning for a 3-0 lead.

With a pair of runs in the third and a solo run in the fourth, the Hogs ran through pitchers Cody Scroggins, who started before yielding to Patrick Wicklander, who proceeded to let the three baserunners he inherited cross.

Cole Ramage then got in some work, followed by Zebulon Vermillion before Cronin finished it by getting the last four outs of the game, all on strikeouts.

Arkansas will try to win the series Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. Isaiah Campbell will start on the mound for the Razorbacks.

You can hear the game on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.