Hogs can’t overcome 7-0 start against Texas in 8-7 loss Saturday night

After battling back from an early 8-0 deficit, the No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks fell to Texas, 8-7, at Minute Maid Park in Houston late Saturday night.

Arkansas (7-2) scored five unanswered runs starting in the fifth inning, but it was not enough to take down Texas in an 8-7 loss at Minute Maid Park in Houston late Saturday night.

Razorback starter Patrick Wicklander couldn’t get past the second inning, giving up six runs. Caleb Bolden and Jacob Burton kept the Hogs in the game the rest of the way.

The Arkansas lineup struck out a total of 18 times in Friday’s matchup against Oklahoma and 11 times Saturday night. Casey Martin struck out four times in the game.

Cole Austin got a walk in the seventh and a double down the left field line by Christian Franklin brought Austin home to cut the Texas lead to four. The Hogs’ Heston Kjerstad sent a grounder right up the middle to bring Franklin home.

Kjerstad singled through the right side in the top of the ninth and after Franklin walked. Matt Goodheart came up to the plate with one out and crushed the pitch to right-center to bring both runners home and narrow the score to 8-7.

Casey Opitz struck out for the second out of the inning and Martin went down on strikes to end the game.

Arkansas will send Kole Ramage to the hill on Sunday in the final game of the Shriners Classic with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.

Ramage has a 1-0 record and a 2.84 ERA in 6.1 innings pitched on the season. He has struck out four and walked three in the three games he’s pitched in. His last start ended in a 7-5 victory over Gonzaga on Feb. 20.