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Seven-run rally in sixth inning lifts Razorbacks to series-clinching win over Gamecocks

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas fired up the bats in the sixth inning Saturday with seven runs against South Carolina for a 7-4 comeback win to lock down the weekend series.

The Razorbacks scored on a bases loaded single by Katie Warrick, an RBI walk by Kayla Green, then back-to-back home runs by Ashley Diaz and Aly Manzo.

Trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, the Gamecocks made a pitching change after Arkansas put Hogs on first and second with base hits from junior outfielder Sydney Parr and sophomore Hannah McEwen.

South Carolina’s Dixie Raley would load the bases with Razorbacks, dishing out a four-ball walk to freshman catcher, Taylor Greene. Warrick stepped up and took a 2-2 pitch into left field, dropping the hit behind third base, scoring Parr and leaving the bases loaded for Green.

Green notched her team-leading 11th walk of the season, good for another Razorback RBI. Arkansas would call on their elite pinch-running staff to add speed to the bases, bringing in Sam Torres, Keely Edwards, and Maggie Hicks.

The Gamecocks made another pitching change after, returning to starting pitcher Kelsey Oh. Oh would face only two batters, Diaz and Manzo. Diaz’ grand slam is her first of the season, but her second home run.

Manzo’s blast to left-field was her first of the season, making her the ninth Hog to hit one out of the park this season.

The Razorbacks retired the Gamecock order in the top of the seventh, walking away with their first SEC series win of the season.

Junior Autumn Storms entered in the third inning for starter Mary Haff and went on to hold South Carolina completely scoreless for the final four innings. Storms faced 16 batters and gave up only two hits. The win is the tenth of the season for Storms.

The win was the second of the series for Arkansas (21-5, 3-2), clinching the series after its 3-2 win over the Gamecocks on Friday evening (March 16). The series win if the first of the Deifel-era and the first since 2010 when Arkansas swept a double-header in Columbia.

The Razorbacks and Gamecocks will be back in action tomorrow for the finale of the three-game series. First pitch at Bogle Park is slated for 1 p.m. with live stream available online via SEC Network+, live scoring links for game three are also available at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Hogs’ players on Franklin’s big catch, Ramage, Noland’s pitching after win

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks’ players Christian Franklin had a big catch in the ninth to clinch game while Connor Noland started, got through some early trouble with Kole Ramage coming on and getting the win over the Tigers that opens the door for an opening weekend sweep.

Van Horn recapping Hogs’ big plays, solid pitching in 4-3 win

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn spoke with the media after clinching the opening SEC series of the year Saturday with a 4-3 win, despite a complete game by Missouri pitcher T.J. Sikkema.

Campbell’s strong outing paces Razorbacks to 2-0 shutout Friday night

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Isaiah Campbell was dominant once again as he racked up 11 strikeouts over seven innings to lead Arkansas to a 2-0 shutout over Missouri in its Southeastern Conference opener Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Campbell’s performance was just the start of the phenomenal wire-to-wire night by the entire Arkansas pitching staff that saw a combined two hits allowed, three walks and 15 strikeouts.

For Campbell, it was his third-straight outing of six or more innings and 10 or more strikeouts, becoming the first Hog pitcher since Trevor Stephan in 2017 to strikeout 10 or more in three-consecutive outings.

Arkansas (15-2, 1-0 SEC) opens conference play with a victory for the third-straight year and it’s the first conference-opening shutout for the team since beating Georgia, 1-0, in 1992, the program’s first official conference game as part of the SEC.

Campbell set the table, but it was Jacob Kostyshock and Matt Cronin that closed things out in the eighth and ninth inning. Both juniors worked an inning each and allowed only one baserunner. Cronin earned his fifth save of the year and has garnered a win or a save in six of his seven outings this season.

Arkansas’ hitters weren’t able to jump on Missouri starter Jacob Cantleberry too easily, but were able to scratch across runs in the first and fourth to be enough to give the Tigers’ junior his first loss of the season.

The Hogs managed five hits and two walks against Cantleberry and got the runs in via a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly.

Sophomore Matt Goodheart broke out of a slump in a big way, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run scored, an RBI and a walk. He had yet to tally a multi-hit game since the season opener against Eastern Illinois (Feb. 16) and was only hitting .241 coming into Friday’s game.

PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

Nesbit extends on-base streak

Redshirt freshman Jacob Nesbit extended his team-best hit streak to seven games and on-base streak to 14 games with a lone single in the seventh inning.

Even though the single didn’t lead to any runs, he was still able to provide the key insurance run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Goodheart for his 11th RBI of the year.

Arkansas pitching staff rolls on

Over the last four games, Arkansas’ pitching has been virtually unhittable. With 55 strikeouts over the previous 35 innings and only one run allowed and no extra-base hits, the Razorbacks have already recorded half of the number of shutouts (3) that they had during the entire 2018 season (6).

PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

Razorback quotables

“He saw the ball well tonight. He squared up two or three balls, took a nice walk and really didn’t go out of the zone too much. He had a really good night.” — Coach Dave Van Horn on Matt Goodheart’s two-hit night

“I thought he was really good in the middle of the game. The fourth, fifth, sixth, those were his best innings. Just obviously throwing a lot of strikes, locating that fastball in and away, both sides of the plate. He had a couple of innings in there, maybe the fifth and the sixth, where he utilized his cutter a little more and his changeup and got a couple of quick ground balls. It seemed like he had them all rolling tonight.” — Van Horn on Isaiah Campbell seven-inning, 11-strikeout performance

“I saw a Friday night ace. He came out and he really just set the tone from the start of it. Having an ending of the year like last year, where he built some confidence off that and brings it into this year and he’s going to be a tough one every Friday night this year for whoever we’re playing. That’s just big if you can win game one of a series. We saw it last year with Blaine Knight and how far it got us. If Isaiah can do that again, it’s going to be huge.”  — Matt Cronin on Isaiah Campbell’s outing

“It’s just a Friday night in the SEC. We’re going to get their best on the other side. For me, I just got to take it one pitch at a time, and when I take it one pitch at a time, you just can’t dwell in the past if I’m getting behind on counts and stuff, and that’s just what I did tonight. It paid off really well.” — Isaiah Campbell on pitching in a tight game in the SEC

PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

Up Next

Arkansas and Missouri will return to the field at Baum-Walker Stadium for game two of the series.

The Hogs will be looking for their 18th-straight home series victory dating back to 2017 and will have first pitch at 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.

 

Campbell recapping strong seven-inning outing in SEC opener

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas pitcher Isaiah Campbell didn’t like starting Friday night with a walk, but he recovered and gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out 11 over seven innings to get the win over Missouri, 2-0.

Van Horn gets another strong pitching effort in SEC opening win

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas got seven strong innings from pitcher Isaiah Campbell and two singles for a 2-0 win over Missouri on Friday night to open the SEC schedule.

Goodheart on new contacts helping him see ball; Cronin likes way staff looks

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks designated hitter Matt Goodheart apparently was having trouble seeing because he hadn’t been to the eye doctor recent and talked about his 2-for-3 night against the Tigers along with reliever Matt Cronin.

Razorbacks down South Carolina behind Green, Duncan’s hitting

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas snapped a three-game losing skid Friday night, downing South Carolina, 3-2, behind the bats of Kayla Green and Nicole Duncan.

Green put the Razorbacks ahead in the first, with a two-run shot in dead center. Duncan soared one out to left field to score pinch-runner Sam Torres for what would prove to be the game-winning run.

Arkansas (20-6, 2-2) is now 13-1 in games the Hogs score in the first inning. The long ball from Green came with two outs on the board, as sophomore Hannah McEwen started the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and sacrifice fly by freshman Taylor Greene.

Green’s home run is her fifth of the season and 11th of her career. The sophomore from Temecula, California has batted in 12 runs on long balls this season.

Duncan’s double in the fourth inning helped score Torres with ease. Torres was brought in for senior Ashley Diaz who started the inning with a crucial walk. Torres advanced to second and into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt by Aly Manzo. Manzo is now tied for the team lead with three sacrifice bunts on the season.

Starting pitcher Autumn Storms pitched almost five full innings, giving up only two hits and no earned runs. Storms and relief pitcher Mary Haff combined to hold the Gamecocks to only three hits, all of which came from lead-off batters. South Carolina when 0-8 with two outs and 0-11 with runners on base.

South Carolina (20-6, 0-4) jumped on the board in the fifth inning after a Razorback error allowed a hit through the left side and gave the Gamecocks the chance to score a pinch runner from third.

The Gamecocks struck again in the final inning, as Alyssa Kumiyama launched a pitch from Haff into left field. Haff retired the next three batters, securing the win for the Hogs.

The Razorbacks and Gamecocks will be back in action tomorrow (March 16) for game two of the three-game series. First pitch at Bogle Park is slated for 1:00 pm (CT), no broadcast available but live scoring links are available at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Razorbacks’ women’s tennis gets first SEC win of year, stopping Missouri

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — In it’s lone match of the weekend, the Arkansas women’s tennis team earned its first conference win of the season with a victory over Missouri Friday afternoon.

The Razorbacks had a solid start to the match, taking the doubles point in straight sets. Martina Zerulo and Thea Rice earned a 6-2 victory at the No. 2 position, before Laura Rijkers and Jackie Carr clinched the point at the No. 3 position.

Arkansas quickly went up 3-0, as No. 98 Tatum Rice earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 2 position and Miruna Tudor earned a 6-2, 7-5 victory. The Tigers cut the lead to 3-1 as Alter fell 6-2, 7-6(5), and got within one of a tie with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 win at the No. 5 position.

Zerulo earned the clinch for Arkansas with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory at the No. 1 position. Rijkers fell at the No. 3 position, putting the final score at 4-3.

The team will return to the court next weekend to close out its five-match homestand, hosting LSU and Texas A&M.

For more information on Razorback women’s tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.

Arkansas 4, Missouri 3

Doubles Results – Order of Finish (2,3)

1. Lauren Alter/Tatum Rice (ARK) vs. #65 Macken Middlebrooks/Ellie Wright (MIZ) 5-2, unfinished
2. Martina Zerulo/Thea Rice (ARK) def. Serena Nash/Taylor Gruber (MIZ) 6-2
3. #79 Laura Rijkers/Jackie Carr (ARK) def. Marta Oliveira/Lisa Fukutoku (MIZ) 6-1

Singles Results – Order of Finish (2,4,6,5,1,3)

1. Martina Zerulo (ARK) def. #97 Macken Middlebrooks (MIZ) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
2. #98 Tatum Rice (ARK) def. Serena Nash (MIZ) 6-1, 6-1
3. Lisa Fukutoku (MIZ) def. Laura Rijkers (ARK) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Ellie Wright (MIZ) def. Lauren Alter (ARK) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Taylor Gruber (MIZ) def. Jackie Carr (ARK) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
6. Miruna Tudor (ARK) def. Vivien Abraham (MIZ) 6-2, 7-5

???? Friday Halftime Pod — featuring Arkansas Pitching Coach Matt Hobbs

Tye Richardson
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???? Friday Halftime Pod — featuring Arkansas Pitching Coach Matt Hobbs

Phil Elson & Tye Richardson hit on a short week in Nashville, what to look forward to in Arkansas basketball, plus Arkansas baseball Matt Hobbs joins the pod!

Arkanas opens SEC play this evening against Mizzou at Baum-Walker

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas finishes a 14-game homestand this weekend when it faces Missouri in a three-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium, opening SEC play tonight.

Friday’s game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start, while Saturday’s game will be at 2 p.m. Sunday’s series finale will be at 1:30 p.m. and all games will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

You can also listen to all games at ESPN 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

The Razorbacks (14-2) will be opening SEC play against Missouri (11-5) for the first time since the Tigers joined the league in 2012-13 and will be looking to win its third-straight SEC-opening series.

The Hogs have swept each of their last two conference-opening series, coming against Kentucky last year and Mississippi State in 2017.

Isaiah Campbell, at 3-0, will return to the mound on Friday and look to continue his strong start to his redshirt junior season. Campbell has gone five or more innings in each of his four starts and has struck out 10 or more in each of his last two starts (13 vs. Stony Brook; 10 vs. Louisiana Tech).

Campbell currently ranks in a tie for eighth in the SEC in strikeouts (33) and has only allowed three walks in 23.1 innings pitched.

Missouri comes into the weekend off a perfect five-game homestand after defeating Arkansas State, 14-4, on Wednesday. The Tigers have scored 10 or more runs in each of the last two games and have scored 10 or more five times this season.

Coach Steve Bieser enters his third season at the helm in Columbia and won more games than any other coach in their first two seasons (70) in school history. It was the winningest two-year stretch for Missouri since 2008-09.

Follow live

This weekend’s series will be available on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com. Brett Dolan (PxP) and Troy Eklund (Analyst) will call the action.

Phil Elson (PxP) and Bubba Carpenter (Analyst) will have the radio call on the Razorback Sports Network where you can listen at ESPN 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

Fans can listen to the radio call via the Razorback Gameday app. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch. There will also be a live radio link available on ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Important links

Game 1 – WATCH | LIVE STATS
Game 2 – WATCH | LIVE STATS
Game 3 – WATCH | LIVE STATS

Probable starters

Fri.: (ARK) RHP Isaiah Campbell (3-0, 3.09 ERA, 33 K, 3 BB) vs. (MIZZ) LHP Jacob Cantleberry (2-0, 2.91 ERA, 33 K, 9 BB)

Sat.: (ARK) RHP Connor Noland (0-0, 4.32 ERA, 13 K, 5 BB) vs. (MIZZ) LHP TJ Sikkema (2-0, 0.46 ERA, 25 K, 4 BB)

Sun.: (ARK) RHP Cody Scroggins (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 26 K, 5 BB) vs. (MIZZ) LHP Tyler LaPlante (1-1, 3.43 ERA, 15 K, 3 BB)

Ballpark promotions

Free Shirsey Fridays are BACK at Baum-Walker Stadium for all five SEC Friday night games in 2019. Be one of the first 2,000 fans through the gates and receive a Brain Anderson Razorback Shirsey. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

SEC opening weekend – Arkansas takes on Mizzou

Arkansas and Missouri will face off in the first weekend of SEC play for the first time in series history.

The Razorbacks have swept their last two SEC-opening weekend series (Kentucky – 2018; Mississippi State – 2017), but have only won three SEC-opening weekend series since 2012.

Arkansas is 11-10 in SEC opening series since 2012 and will be opening against an SEC East opponent for the fourth time since 2012.

Pitching leads way in early going

With the addition of first-year pitching coach Matt Hobbs, the Razorback pitching staff hasn’t lost stride in the first five weeks of the season.

Arkansas currently ranks fifth in the nation in strikeouts-per-nine innings (11.5) and sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.07).

Arkansas pitchers have struck out 10 or more batters in nine of their last 10 games and haven’t walked more than three batters in 13 games.

Kjerstad heating up

Sophomore outfielder Heston Kjerstad did not have the best start to his second season when he was 8-for-36 (.222) after eight games.

Since then, the Amarillo, Texas native is batting an even .500 (16-for-32) with five multi-hit games, four with three hits or more, and slugging .767 with five extra-base hits and six RBIs.

For the year, Kjerstad is now batting .353, good for third on the team.

Scroggins shuts down Louisiana Tech

Making his third-consecutive start on Sunday against Louisiana Tech, Cody Scroggins went a career-long six innings and struck out a career-high 11 batters, while walking only one and giving up two singles on 88 pitches.

Scroggins didn’t even allow a baserunner past first base for his entire outing and retired seven of the first eight he faced.

Sunday’s game was his’ first victory of the year and first decision in 27 career appearances dating back to 2016.

Welcome to the show, kid

Freshman right-hander Elijah Trest made his collegiate debut in the ninth inning on Sunday, striking out the side on 20 pitches to help secure Arkansas’ 12th victory of the year.

Trest is the seventh different freshman pitcher to see time on the mound so far this season and fourth to strike out the side in their first collegiate inning of work (C. Monke, P. Wicklander, E. Taylor).

Up next

Arkansas will make its annual Spring Break road trip next week when it starts a six-game road stretch in Austin, Texas.

The Hogs will take on the Texas Longhorns on Tuesday and Wednesday with both games starting at 6:30 p.m. on the Longhorn Network.

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