Hogs blast Trojans in Little Rock to kickstart big weekend

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas defeated the Little Rock Trojans Friday night, 16-3, over 14 innings at Gary Hogan Field, in what was a historic night between the two baseball programs.

Arkansas, which was playing its second of two fall exhibition games against outside opponents, was also facing an in-state school for the first time in any capacity.

Even though the scrimmage was not considered an official game, more than 1,300 fans were in attendance, which ended up being the largest crowd in Gary Hogan Field history.

The two teams are scheduled to play once during the 2019 regular season as that matchup is expected to be played on April 2 at Baum Stadium.

2018 Fall Exhibition Schedule
Oct. 5 – vs. Wichita State – W, 10-1 (14 innings)
Oct. 12 – at Little Rock – W, 16-3 (14 innings)

Sophomores Casey Martin and Casey Opitz led Arkansas’ offense throughout the night, combining for six hits in 12 at-bats and five runs scored.

Martin drove in a team high four RBIs and walked once.

Opitz wasn’t able to drive in any runs, but did score four times and showed his versatility by playing catcher, first base and second base.

Redshirt freshman Jacob Nesbit was also strong with the bat as he went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Over the two fall exhibitions, Nesbit has three hits and started both games at second base.

Unlike its game last week with Wichita State, Arkansas couldn’t use the long ball against Little Rock. Only five of the Razorbacks’ 17 hits went for extra bases, all doubles.

Two of Martin’s three hits were doubles, while Opitz, Jack Kenley and Christian Franklin all added two-baggers of their own.

On the mound, redshirt junior Isaiah Campbell got the starting nod for the second-straight week and looked comfortable, holding Little Rock hitters to only three hits over three scoreless innings.

In the third inning, Campbell ran into trouble after giving up a lead-off hit by pitch, a walk, followed by a single to load the bases with no outs. The Kansas native worked out of the jam, striking out the next two batters before inducing the inning-ending groundout, leaving the bases loaded.

A similar scenario to last week followed in the next six innings as Campbell was followed by Jacob Kostyshock, Kole Ramage, Cody Scroggins, Kevin Kopps and Matt Cronin.

Ramage was the only pitcher out of those five to work more than an inning, allowing only one hit and one walk, but striking out four.

Kopps, who had season-ending Tommy John surgery last January, was able to throw to live hitters in the eighth inning. He struck out two and walked one, while throwing 12 pitches.

Cronin finished the game, once again, and was just as untouchable as he was last week. The junior faced three batters and he struck out all three, throwing only 17 pitches. Combined in his two fall exhibition appearances, Cronin has faced six batters and struck out all six.

Arkansas has one more week of fall practice remaining and it will use that week to play its annual Fall World Series.

The best-of-five series will begin on Monday at 1 p.m. at Baum Stadium. Game two is expected to be played on Tuesday at 1 p.m. while game three will be on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.