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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday
John & Tommy discuss the Florida loss, the future of the program, plus Scott Tabor talks Arkansas baseball!
Don’t start wanting Anderson gone without having a plan beyond hope
Arkansas’ season is probably over after collapsing in the final couple of minutes against Florida, 66-50, at the SEC Tournament in Nashville.
It probably should be, too.
For a team that has been wildly inconsistent over the course of a 17-15 season, nothing is official until the end of the weekend in terms of tournament announcements, but it’s doubtful they will be in many discussions.
Now the low grumbling about Mike Anderson’s job security from some that was reduced a little with a three-game winning streak at the end will increase in volume.
That’s what happens when you make the NCAA Tournament only three times in eight years and go 2-3 in those games. Razorback fans got used to a run over 17 years where not getting to the Sweet 16 was reason enough for some to start griping.
Here’s a comparison of how things have gone at Arkansas since the last Sweet 16 appearance in 1995 (Overall, SEC, Postseason):
• Nolan Richardson: 6 seasons, 117-74 (61.3%), 50-45 (52.6%), 3-5 (2-1 NIT, 2-4 NCAA)
• Stan Heath: 5 seasons, 82-71 (53.6%), 31-49 (38.8%), 0-2 (0-2 NCAA)
• John Pelphrey: 4 seasons, 69-59 (53.9%), 25-39 (39.1%), 1-1 (1-1 NCAA)
• Mike Anderson: 8 seasons, 168-101 (62.4%), 78-64 (54.9%), 3-4 (1-1 NIT, 2-3 NCAA)
Some fans say Anderson’s not winning enough games, even though the numbers clearly show he’s won more than anybody since Richardson’s last team to reach the Sweet 16.
Over Anderson’s last seven seasons, the Hogs are third in SEC wins in the league behind Kentucky and Florida.
Anderson’s supporters will argue this season is out of the ordinary, it’s harder to even get into the NCAA Tournament now (thanks to mid-majors’ success over the past few years) and the SEC’s increased emphasis on basketball.
His detractors will say the trend is heading down, which is true, and this team is inexperienced with no older leadership, also true.
Of course that falls on Anderson. He’s not a new coach and he can read a roster. He knows he didn’t sign a team of one-and-done players, but that’s still on him.
Ultimately, the question is not going to be if anyone is happy with the up-and-down record of the Hogs over the last eight seasons.
Nobody — fans, coaches, players, administration — is happy with that.
The loss to Florida was this team looking more like the team that had losing streaks of four and six games that sank the team’s season.
They got a lead as high as eight in the first half, trailed by two at halftime and kept it close for a little bit in the second half.
The only eyebrow-raising came when it looked like half the team quit in the final two minutes of the game. That’s never a good sign and one that you can rest assured Anderson took note of, whether he will admit it or not.
Anderson is going to have to convince an ever-doubting fan base he can pull the program out of the situation many believe is mired in mediocrity. For an arena that at times looked more like an intimate gathering as opposed to the rowdy crowds of a past era, that’s going to be an even bigger issue.
Don’t listen to the hype. There were some games that was loud, but there was a time when the early exhibition games had ear-splitting crowds.
Ultimately, though, you wonder if the question is, quite simply, could Anderson be replaced with anyone better?
Arkansas has tried hope in hiring basketball coaches in recent memory. It didn’t work out well with Heath or Pelphrey, but Anderson was supposed to put all of that in the rearview mirror.
That hasn’t worked out exactly the way anybody planned or certainly hoped. Replacing Anderson now would be another case of hoping somebody could come in and change things drastically.
And, in case you haven’t figured it out by now, hope isn’t a good plan.
Anderson, Gafford, Joe recapping loss to Florida at SEC Tournament
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson along with Daniel Gafford (15 points, 6 rebounds) and Isaiah Joe (12 points, 2-9 on 3-pointers) talk about the 66-50 loss to the Gators on Thursday afternoon.
???? Thursday Halftime Pod — featuring Bob Holt of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Phil Elson & Tye Richardson discuss the Arkansas-Florida matchup, plus Bob Holt!
