Phil & Tye catch up with Dave Van Horn plus recap their weekend!
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday
John & Tommy discuss the Kentucky Derby, the UK series win, directions plus Tom Murphy!
Hogs take third straight SEC series, but can’t sweep Wildcats
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Arkansas picked up a third-straight conference series win on Sunday, defeating Kentucky, 9-1, in the first half of their doubleheader.
But they couldn’t complete a third-straight sweep, falling in the second game, 4-3, snapping their nine-game conference winning streak.
The Razorbacks (37-12, 17-7 SEC) have now won six SEC series this year, three coming on the road and have come out winners in nine of their last 10 conference games. The nine-game streak in league play is the longest for a Razorback team since 2010.
With the win on the front end of the doubleheader, coach Dave Van Horn picked up his 1,000th win in Division I play, joining eight other active head coaches in the nation.
In his 31-season career, Van Horn has a combined record of 1,265-616, with 25 seasons coming at the Division I level.
Arkansas used a six-run sixth inning to blow the first game open after trailing 1-0 going into the final two innings.
Junior Dominic Fletcher’s two-run home run in the top of the sixth, gave the Hogs the 2-1 lead and they never looked back. It was his only hit of the game, but was his ninth long ball of the year, third most on the team.
Freshman Patrick Wicklander looked strong on the mound through five innings in Sunday’s game one, giving up just one earned run on four hits with six strikeouts for his fifth win of the year.
It’s his third-straight outing with six or more strikeouts and each consisted of less than six innings pitched.
Game 1 | Arkansas 9, Kentucky 1 (Box Score)
In the first game of the day, it looked as if Kentucky starter Dillon Marsh and Wicklander were going to be locked in a pitchers’ duel.
Wicklander had the one blemish in the fourth inning when the Wildcats scored after a couple of singles, a throwing error and a groundout.
The San Jose, California native still looked sharp after giving up the run, as he struck out two more in the fifth to finish with six strikeouts on the day.
Wicklander never gave up more than one hit in an inning except for the fourth and walked only one in his outing. It was his lowest walk total in five innings or more since March 12 against Western Illinois (5.0 IP, 1 BB).
Arkansas finally got to Marsh in the sixth after Matt Goodheart led off with a single and then Fletcher unloaded a first-pitch fastball over the left-centerfield wall to make it 2-1.
Kentucky went to the bullpen after the homer, but still reached six of their next seven batters, scoring four more times for a six-run frame.
Right-hander Cody Scroggins relieved Wicklander in the bottom half of the sixth and looked very good in his first game back since April 14.
Scroggins faced six batters over the next inning and a third, striking out four. Marshall Denton finished the game, getting the final two outs on 10 pitches.
As a team, Arkansas finished with 10 hits, marking the ninth time in the last 10 games that it has notched 10 or more hits in a game.
This year the Hogs have 28 games with 10 or more hits and 10 with 15 or more hits.
Game 2 | Kentucky 4, Arkansas 3 (Box Score)
The Hogs nearly got the sweep in game two of the doubleheader, getting the tying run to third base in the top of the seventh, but grounded into a game-ending double play to fall one run short.
Arkansas’ offense struggled against Kentucky starting pitcher Zack Thompson all game, who ended up trying for the complete game, but made it only 6.1 innings, while striking out 11.
Arkansas did manage a run in the third and another run in the fifth to keep it within two runs before the seventh. In the final inning, Trevor Ezell doubled with one out and later scored on a Goodheart single to make it 4-3.
It was Goodheart’s second RBI of the game as he drove in Christian Franklin back in the third for Arkansas’ first run of the game.
Ezell and Goodheart both finished with two hits in the game. Ezell reached base four times in game one and two times in game two to complete a 4-for-7 day with two walks and three RBIs.
Starting pitcher Connor Noland was never able to settle in as he gave up four runs in 3.1 innings and six hits. He struck out four and walked only one, but gave up three solo home runs.
Up next
Arkansas returns home for the final regular-season series of the year at Baum-Walker Stadium against LSU starting on Thursday and running through Saturday.
Game time for the series opener is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU.
Razorbacks down Auburn, 5-2, to complete sweep behind Diaz’ homer
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas completed its first sweep of the season, closing out the regular season with a 5-2 win over Auburn on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park.
Ashley Diaz hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the first and the Razorbacks never looked back.
Hannah McEwen was on base when Diaz’ home run soared over the left-field wall, giving Arkansas the 2-1 lead.
For the second game in-a-row, the Tigers were the first on the scoreboard. Auburn opened up the contest with a leadoff double by Casey McCrackin and was driven in by Alyssa Rivera on a follow up base hit.
The score remained deadlocked until the bottom of the fifth inning, when sophomore Danielle Gibson connected on the first pitch of the inning far beyond the center-field fence.
Katie Warrick scored Arkansas’ third run of the game, extended the Hogs’ lead to 3-1 after five frames. Warrick reached base early in the inning on a fielder’s choice and after an Auburn error and wild pitch, crossed home.
The Tigers’ Kendall Veach homered to start the sixth inning but Diaz’ bat stayed hot, and with an RBI-double to right-center field in the bottom of the inning, the Razorbacks had the insurance run they needed to close out the win.
Starter Autumn Storms pitched six innings for Arkansas in her 20th win of the season, giving up only four hits. Mary Haff entered in relief for Storms and earned her fifth save of her sophomore campaign after retiring the Auburn lineup in the top of the seventh.
Notables
• Arkansas has now outhit its opponents in six-straight contests, and 14 of the last 15.
• Storms and Haff combined to recorded 12 strikeouts and not a single walk all weekend.
• The series victory over Auburn extends Arkansas’ home-series winning streak to eight .
• Diaz’ home run was the 30th of her career, pushing her up to fourth all-time at Arkansas for career home runs.
Up next
With the sweep of Auburn complete, the Razorbacks finished the regular season tied for sixth and 12-12 in conference play for the second year in a row.
The Hogs earn the ninth seed after a four-way tie in the SEC rankings between Florida, Missouri and Georgia.
Arkansas will face eighth-seeded Georgia in the first round on Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m.
How five of Hogs’ league foes could be headed downhill this year
After last year’s disaster, anything beyond four wins for Arkansas fans will be a step forward for some while others figure they won’t win all of the non-conference games.
Such is life with Razorback fans. Some of them determine the entire fate of the program on each snap of the ball.
But here’s to a ray of hope. In addition to four games out of the league that should be winnable, there are some SEC teams on the schedule who will be backing up from last year … you can count on it.
One of the most accurate things I ever heard came from Lou Holtz back in spring practice of 1978 after the Hogs had just gone 11-1, finished third in the country and beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
Lou was trying to temper the predictions for 1978 as folks had the Razorbacks beating everybody on the schedule about 90-0 or something like that.
“Last year has nothing to do with this year,” Lou said.
Over the years that has proven to be one of the most accurate statements ever made.
This year that could be a dangerous way to predict the SEC West … after you get past putting Alabama somewhere near the top. While LSU and Texas A&M should be good again. Whether they are better or not, well, that’s up in the air.
The interesting part is everybody else.
Arkansas will likely be picked at the bottom. That really doesn’t matter, though, because the only thing that matters is where you finish.
As we said, though, you probably could put the four teams below those top three mentioned earlier in a bag, shake ’em up and pour ’em out and get about as good of a guess as anybody else.
Yes, I’m putting Auburn in there, too. The only thing evident down there is the football program appears to be in chaos just a year after they committed $7 million a year to make sure Gus Malzahn stays there.
Now he may not be there by Halloween.
To say Gus has a short leash may be an understatement. Considering he collapsed after he got his new contract might be an understatement. The Tigers are 8-7 since reportedly flirting with the Hogs after Bret Bielema was fired.
After an 8-5 season that pleased absolutely no one at Auburn, there was a juggling of the coaching staff and now Gus is taking over the offense again, which is drawing mixed reviews.
Their schedule has six conference games in the first eight, including Oregon, Texas A&M, Florida and LSU. Half of their first eight games are on the road, including a trip to Fayetteville on October 19.
If the Tigers are 6-2 heading into November it will be surprising.
Something similar is happening at Mississippi State that had the same record as Auburn last year (8-5), but had four players among the first 44 players taken in the draft and a first-year coach in Joe Moorhead, who didn’t appear to do a lot to keep his offensive coordinator from going to the Green Bay Packers.
Moorhead is taking over much of that and has road trips to Auburn, Tennessee and Texas A&M in the first eight games … and LSU at home. If MSU is at 4-4 heading into November that will be shocking.
Ole Miss may be in the worst shape of all. When a relatively inexperienced head coach fires both coordinators and loses the top playmakers off a 5-7 team (1-7 in the SEC), there are no questions about changes.
While the NCAA basically slapped the Rebels on the wrist, the long and drawn-out investigation has taken it’s toll in terms of instability within the program under two head coaches and a revolving door for coaches and players.
Kentucky had a dream 10-3 season last year and lost their best playmakers on both sides of the ball to the NFL. Losing players isn’t necessarily a bad thing, unless it’s the guys who make the plays that got you those 10 wins.
Finally, Missouri at the end of the Hogs’ schedule won’t be playing for a bowl game. They are on probation for a year because their administration couldn’t handle the NCAA properly and you always wonder what’s going to happen in that situation, plus they aren’t exactly loaded with talent. Kelly Bryant and quarterback isn’t an upgrade from Drew Lock.
That’s five teams on Arkansas’ schedule that won’t be improved over last year.
When you look at the playmakers they lost and the folks they are trying to replace them with, well, they won’t be as good.
At a couple of places throw in staff changes to an already rocky situation and the potential for chaos is there.
Yes, I know Alabama had a major shuffle, too, and they aren’t mentioned much here. They still have the best talent in the league.
And Nick Saban’s still there.
Razorbacks’ bats get hot late in 7-1 win to clinch series over Auburn
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas trailed by a run heading into the bottom of the sixth, then put seven on the board to take a 7-1 win over Auburn in the second game of the series Saturday at Bogle Park.
The Razorbacks recorded seven runs on six hits to take the lead and secure the win.
Pinch-hitter Ryan Jackson hit a two-out, bases-clearing double off the left-center wall to give Arkansas the 4-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.
Arkansas tacked on three insurance runs before the inning was over to solidify the victory.
Heading into the sixth inning, Arkansas trailed, 1-0 after Auburn scored on a single to center field in the third inning. The Hogs were unable to capitalize at the plate, tallying only three hits, stranding four Razorbacks on base — three in scoring position.
Sophomore Danielle Gibson led off the rally that included runs batted in by four different Razorbacks. Senior Carley Haizlip was called on to pinch run for Arkansas after Gibson safely reached first with a base hit to center field. Haizlip scored the tying run from second after an Auburn throwing error left Kayla Green’s hit in right field.
Starter Mary Haff pitched a complete game for the Hogs, striking out four Tigers and giving up no free bases on balls. Haff retired the Auburn lineup in order in four of the seven innings and recorded 14 first-pitch strikes against the Tigers.
Notables
• Hannah McEwen has reached base safely in 49 of 54 contests this season.
• Nicole Duncan was hit by a pitch for the 17th time this year, breaking the single-season record previously held by Kim Eiben in 2002.
• Tonight marks the fifth time the Hogs have scored seven runs in a single inning this season.
• The Razorbacks have outhit their last five opponents, 13 of the last 14.
• Arkansas has scored the most runs in the sixth inning, plating 57 of their 275 runs in the sixth.
Keep up with the Hogs
• Game 3 | Watch | Live Scoring
Up Next
The two teams will meet for game three, tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Sunday’s game will be available via live stream on the SEC Network+.
After the weekend series against the Tigers, Arkansas will hit the road and return to College Station for the SEC Tournament, set to start on Wednesday, May 8th.
Expected bad weather forces Hogs-’Cats to play two Sunday
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Due to storms moving into the Lexington area Saturday afternoon, game two of the series between Arkansas and Kentucky has been postponed and will be part of a doubleheader Sunday starting at noon.
Both games will be seven innings and the second game will start approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
Phil Elson will bring you the action over the radio on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Both games on Sunday will also be broadcast online via SEC Network+ on Watch ESPN and WatchESPN.com.
Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch. There will also be a live radio link available on ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
Storms’ two-hit shutout paces Razorbacks to 1-0 win over Auburn
FAYETTEVILLE — Autumn Storms pitched a complete game for Arkansas, giving up just two hits, in a 1-0 win over Auburn in a rain-delayed Friday night game.
Nicole Duncan connected on the 3-2 count from Auburn starter Chardonnay Harris in the fifth inning to give the Razorbacks the lead.
The Hogs (36-17, 10-12) controlled the game from start to finish, recording a hit in every inning and putting Razorbacks in scoring position in three of the six. The Hogs recorded seven hits including Duncan’s long ball.
Storms success in the circle led to her 19th win and fourth shutout of the season. With the help of the Razorback defense, Storms gave up no extra base hits and held Auburn to an 0-for-10 showing at the plate with runners on base.
Notables
• After the win, the Razorback pitching staff leads the conference in strikeouts against SEC opponents.
• The Razorbacks have outhit their opponent in four consecutive games and 12 of the last 13.
• Arkansas did not allow a single Tiger to third base and it wasn’t until the seventh inning in which an Auburn base runner made it safely to second.
Up next
The two teams will meet for game two, tomorrow afternoon at 5 p.m. The game will be available via broadcast on ESPNU with Erin Miller and Kevin Fitzgerald on the call.
Sunday’s game will be available via live stream on the SEC Network+, first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
After the weekend series against the Tigers, Arkansas will hit the road and return to College Station for the SEC Tournament, set to start on Wednesday, May 8.
Sullins takes first place in hammer throw at ‘Twilight’ regular season finale
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas wrapped the regular season on a rainy Friday night at the Arkansas Twilight at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville.
Senior Erich Sullins kicked off the afternoon for the Razorbacks with a first-place finish in the hammer throw.
The senior improved in each of his first three attempts, landing on a Friday-best of 64.45m (211-5) to earn the win in the event for the second consecutive year.
Before the weather delay, senior Gabe Moore posted a victory in the javelin behind a throw of 54.88m (180-1) on his second attempt.
Freshman Daniel Spejcher placed fourth in the event, improving his distance on each of his first four throws, topping out at 44.48m (145-11).
After the two-and-a-half-hour stoppage, the Razorbacks earned the top two marks in the shot put as senior Sam Kempka posted a lifetime best 18.57m (60-11.25) on his final attempt to win the event and senior Jeff Rogers followed at 17.03m (55-10.5).
Junior Nick Hilson took fifth in the 400 meters behind a time of 48.15 and sophomore Reese Walters placed fourth in the 800-meter run at 1:54.41 to round out the day on the track for Arkansas.
Up next, the Razorbacks turn their attention to the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 9-11 at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville.
Hammer Throw
1st – Erich Sullins – 64.45m (211-5)
Javelin
1st – Gabe Moore – 54.88m (180-1)
4th – Daniel Spejcher – 44.88m ( 145-11)
Shot Put
1st – Sam Kempka – 18.57m (60-11.25)
2nd – Jeff Rogers – 17.03m (55-10.5)
400 Meters
5th – Nick Hilson – 48.15
800 Meters
4th – Reese Walters – 1:54.41
Arkansas’ women closes out regular season with Smith’s personal best
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ women’s track and field team put a bow on the regular season after concluding the Arkansas Twilight on a rainy Friday night at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville.
Freshman J’Alyiea Smith posted a lifetime-best 1.76m (5-9.25) clearance in the high jump early in the afternoon to secure the event victory.
In the javelin, sophomore Riley Hoogerwerf picked up a victory with a personal-best 32.59m (106-11), while junior Elleyt Belote placed second at 30.48m (100-0).
Hoogerwerf also hit a mark of 41.35m (135-8) in the discus on her third attempt to finish sixth overall.
The running events began after a two-and-a-half hour weather delay with the 3,000-meter event.
Sophomore Greta Taylor paced the Razorbacks with a 10:24.42, crossing the finish line in third, while sophomore Payton Brown placed sixth at 10:35.40.
Sophomore Tamara Kuykendall cruised to a first-place time of 11.73 in the 100-meter dash.
Senior Sydney Hammit followed with a first-place finish among collegians in the 400-meter dash at 53.58, which sophomore Morgan Burks-Magee closely behind at 53.92.
Another sophomore, G’Auna Edwards, easily took home gold in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.60.
Burks-Magee returned to the track to top all collegiate runners in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.28, while Kuykendall was second among college sprinters in the event at 24.41.
Senior Sydney Brown and freshman Quinn Owen went 1-2 in the 1,500 meters at 4:24.86 and 4:25.27, respectively.
Up next, the Razorbacks turn their attention to the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 9-11 at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville.
Discus
6th – Riley Hoogerwerf – 41.35m ( 135-8)
Javelin
1st – Riley Hoogerwerf – 32.59m (106-11)
2nd – Ellyt Belote- 30.48m (100-0)
Pole Vault
3rd – Morgan Hartsell – 3.46m (11-4.25)
High Jump
1st – J’Alyiea Smith – 1.76m (5-9.25)
Long Jump
N/A – Rachel Jantzi – Foul
3,000 Meters
3rd – Greta Taylor – 10:24.42
6th – Payton Brown – 10:35.40
100 Meters
1st – Tamara Kuykendall – 11.73
400 Meters
3rd – Sydney Hammit – 53.58
4th – Morgan Burks Magee – 53.92
7th – Paris Peoples – 54.67
10th – J’Alyiea Smith – 55.96
11th – Sydney Davis – 56.54
100-Meter Hurdles
1st – G’Auna Edwards – 13.60
800 Meters
6th – Micah Huckabee – 2:15.99
200 Meters
2nd – Morgan Burks-Magee – 24.28
3rd – Tamara Kuykendall – 24.41
7th – Shafiqua Maloney – 24.82
1,500 Meters
1st – Sydney Brown – 4:24.86
2nd – Quinn Owen – 4:25.27
7th – Josie Carson – 4:41.67
14 – Tess Iler – 5:01.34
N/A – Meghan Underwood – DNF
Razorbacks hold off late charge from Kentucky, open series with win
Behind Isaiah Campbell’s solid seven innings and Casey Martin getting yet another inside-the-park homer, Arkansas downed Kentucky in Lexington on Friday night, 5-2.
Campbell threw 104 pitches in getting his eighth win of the season, striking out six and giving up five hits. He didn’t walk anybody and lowered his ERA to 2.54.
And there was Martin, who got the third inside-the-park homer of his career and second straight in a game, which has to be some sort of record. Most players never get one and now he has three, thanks to his speed … and some luck.
Friday night, Martin lined a pitch off the wall in center in the fifth inning, then scored when the centerfielder sailed into the wall and took a little to long to get the ball.
The Razorbacks had their first four batters reach on three base hits and a throwing error by the pitcher. Dominic Fletcher then hit a two-run single, Matt Goodheart came home on a passed ball and Jacob Nesbit scored on a fielder’s choice as the Hogs raced to a 4-0 lead.
Beat the Wildcats allowed the Hogs to keep a two-game lead in the SEC West.
Kevin Kopps relieved Campbell in the eighth, but couldn’t get anybody out and Matt Cronin came on to record four strikeouts and get Arkansas out of a jam to record his 10th save of the season.
The Razorbacks are supposed to play the second game Saturday at 1 p.m., but there is a 70% chance of rain in the Lexington, Kentucky, area Saturday afternoon.
