Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn was pleased to see the way his team recovered from a slow start to get one-run win to even series with Tigers.
Pallette on relief appearance shutting Auburn down
Peyton Pallette came to the mound with two outs in the third and worked 4.1 innings of relief and shutting down the Tigers in 6-5 win.
TRUSTING THE PROCESS: Tom Murphy, ADG-Whole Hog Sports
Tye and Tom on his love for gardening, interviewing legends, Fayettetchill, growing up in a military family, ol’ glory football days and more!
Williams may have just been tired of dealing with portal, says Torres
Fox Sports Radio’s Aaron Torres thinks Roy Williams didn’t care to have to re-recruit his players every year and decided to retire.
McPherson on hyper-active Muss going after transfers
Kevin McPherson of Pig Trail Nation thinks there will be more transfers because Eric Musselman is constantly working the portal.
Tabor on Wicklander, Kopps’ strong performances in loss
Patrick Wicklander and Kevin Kopps pitched well enough for a win, but errors behind them were just too much for Hogs to overcome in 2-1 series-opening loss, says former Razorback Scott Tabor on The Morning Rush.
Errors spoil strong pitching from Wicklander, Kopps in loss
Strong outings from Patrick Wicklander and Kevin Kopps fell by the wayside as Arkansas, undone by one too many defensive lapses, dropped a 2-1 decision to Auburn on Thursday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The loss snaps the Razorbacks’ eight-game win streak, moving Arkansas to 20-4 overall on the year and 5-2 in SEC play.
Wicklander impressed in his second consecutive start, striking out the Auburn side in the top of the first to begin his outing. The left-hander ultimately went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight.
A solo home run in the third was the only true damage against Wicklander before one of Arkansas’ three errors on the night proved costly. The Tigers took advantage of the Razorbacks’ defensive lapse in the fourth inning, advancing a runner to third on a misthrow.
The Auburn base runner would eventually score on a sacrifice fly to left as the unearned run against Wicklander extended the Hogs’ deficit to two.
Braydon Webb got one back for Arkansas in the bottom half of the frame, launching his third homer of the year over the wall in the left. The outfielder’s blast, Arkansas’ nation-leading 46th home run this season, brought the Razorbacks within one.
It was ultimately all the Hogs scored as they were unable to get it going against Auburn starter Cody Greenhill and the bullpen.
Arkansas mustered four hits on the night, including two by Cayden Wallace, who extended his hitting streak to eight consecutive games.
Kopps finished off the final three innings of the ballgame, taking over at the start of the seventh in relief of Wicklander. The right-handed reliever was filthy, striking out eight of the first nine batters he faced in his scoreless outing.
Arkansas looks to even the series against Auburn tomorrow evening. First pitch in game two is at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Burnside gets 18th homer, Haff’s pitching lifts Hogs past Tigers
Infielder Braxton Burnside etched her name into the Razorbacks record book by hitting her single-season school record 18th home run of the year in No. 11 Arkansas’ 6-1 victory over No. 25 Auburn on Thursday evening.
Burnside accomplished the feat playing in just 31 games and her 18 bombs this season rank second nationally.
The Razorbacks (29-3, 10-0 SEC) remain the SEC’s only undefeated team in league play and are on a program-best 10-game conference win streak.
How it happened
Arkansas was limited to one baserunner through the first three innings but took advantage of free bases in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.
Burnside led off drawing a walk and with two outs, catcher Kayla Green walked putting runners on first and second.
Outfielder Aly Manzo then lined the Razorbacks first hit of the game to center, plating a run and moving Green to second. On a passed ball, Green advanced to third and scampered home on an errant throw by Auburn’s catcher that went into left field.
The Razorbacks blew the game open in the top of the fifth, posting a four spot. Infielder Nicole Duncan was hit by a pitch and outfielder Sam Torres singled, setting up outfielder Hannah McEwen’s RBI knock to center field.
With two runners on, Burnside smashed her record-setting three-run dinger to left center, providing a comfortable cushion.
Mary Haff (18-2) was outstanding inside the circle, throwing a complete game and allowing just three hits with four strikeouts. Haff did not walk or hit a batter and surrendered her only run in the seventh inning.
Maddie Penta (6-4) took the loss for the Tigers (19-9, 1-6 SEC), throwing 4.0 innings and allowing two runs. A tandem of relief pitchers allowed the big Arkansas four-run fifth.
The Razorbacks outhit the Tigers, 5-3, with Torres’ 2-for-3 day leading the offense.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a noon first pitch tomorrow, April 2, on SEC Network.
