Hogs get big hits, hold off Gamecocks twice for 13-8 win

HOOVER, Ala. — No. 4 seed Arkansas jumped out to an early lead and held on to defeat No. 5 seed South Carolina 13-8 in the second round of the SEC baseball tournament.

Arkansas sophomore Dominic Fletcher provided an early spark for the Razorbacks, launching a three-run homer in the first inning.

RBI singles from Eric Cole and Luke Bonfield and a sacrifice fly by SEC Freshman of the Year Heston Kjerstad added three more runs for the Hogs in the second.

South Carolina junior Jacob Olson hit a single and advanced to second on a throwing error to lead off the third. Olson moved to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate for the Gamecocks’ first run when Matt Williams reached on a throwing error.

The Razorbacks’ offense stayed hot in the third, tacking on two more runs on Jack Kenley’s RBI single and Carson Shaddy’s sacrifice fly.

Arkansas freshman Casey Martin extended the Razorbacks’ lead to 10-1 in the fourth by blasting a two-run shot. On Martin’s next trip to the plate in the sixth, he homered again to become only the second Arkansas player to hit multiple home runs in an SEC tournament game.

The Gamecocks were not going away quietly, posting five runs in the sixth inning, including four from a grand slam by LT Tolbert. Auburn’s Edouard Julien hit a grand slam in Game 6, making it the first time in SEC tournament history that two grand slams were hit on the same day.

With the bases loaded and facing two outs in the seventh, Fletcher got his second hit of the game to drive in two runs and increase the Hogs’ advantage to 13-6.

The Gamecocks’ final two runs came in the top of the ninth when senior Madison Stokes hit an RBI double and Tolbert delivered an RBI single.

Arkansas starter Kacey Murphy (7-4) earned the win.

UP NEXT: Arkansas advanced to the winners bracket and will face top-seeded Florida in Thursday’s fourth game on SEC Network. South Carolina plays in an elimination game against No. 8 seed LSU.