Phil Elson & Tye Richardson discuss the Stony Brook series, plus FOMO Friday!
Razorbacks down Gamecocks for third straight SEC opening victory
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas men’s tennis team opened Southeastern Conference play with a 5-2 win at home over the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The win marks the third-consecutive season that the third-consecutive season that the Razorbacks have won the SEC opener.
Arkansas jumped to a quick 1-0 lead with a pair of doubles wins on courts one and three. Oscar Mesquida and his partner Adam Sanjurjo def. Daniel Rodrigues and Raphael Lambling (USC) 6-1. The win was quickly followed up with a win on court three by Alex Reco and Jose Dominguez Alonso 6-3.
In singles play, Arkansas jumped to a 2-0 lead on court three with a 6-2, 6-0 win by Josh Howard-Tripp over Yancy Dennis (USC). Carolina would cut it to within 2-1 as fourth-ranked Paul Jub (USC) def. No. 102 Oscar Mesquida 6-4, 6-2 on court one.
The Gamecocks couldn’t cut it any closer as consecutive victories on courts four and six sealed it for Arkansas, 4-1. Alex Reco def. No. 95 Raphael Lambling 7-6(4), 6-2. The match was clinched on court six with a 6-3, 6-4 win by Jose Dominguez Alonso over Jake Beasley 6-3, 6-4.
Singles Results – Order of Finish (3,1,4,6,2,5)
1. #4 Paul Jubb (SC) def. #102 Oscar Mesquida (AR) 6-4, 6-2
2. #76 Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-4, 6-3
3. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) def. Yancy Dennis (SC) 6-2, 6-0
4. Alex Reco (AR) def. #95 Raphael Lambling (SC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
5. Enrique Paya (AR) def. Joseph Brailovsky (SC) 7-5, 6-3
6. Jose Alonso (AR) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Results – Order of Finish (1,3)
1. Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Daniel Rodrigues/Raphael Lambling (SC) 6-1
2. Maxim Verboven/Enrique Paya (AR) vs. Paul Jubb/Joseph Brailovsky (SC) 4-5, unfinished
3. Alex Reco/Jose Alonso (AR) def. Yancy Dennis/Jake Beasley (SC) 6-3
Arkansas falls in SEC opener on Friday in match against Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The No. 41 Arkansas women’s tennis team fell at No. 25 Kentucky in its SEC opener Friday afternoon.
The Hogs got off to a solid start, taking the doubles point in straight sets. Martina Zerulo and Tatum Rice defeated No. 50 Akvile Parazinskaite and Justina Mikulskyte before Jackie Carr and Laura Rijkers clinched the point with a 6-2. Win at the No. 3 position.
In singles play, the Wildcats evened the match as No. 81 Rice fell 6-0, 6-2 to No. 46 Mikulskyte. Kentucky went up 2-1 as Carr was defeated at the No. 3 position.
The team got within one as Rijkers fell 7-5, 6-4 and clinched the match as Lauren Alter fell at the No. 5 position. Kentucky put the match away at the No. 2 position, with Zerulo falling 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Hogs will return to the court Sunday afternoon to face No. 6 at Vanderbilt.
For more information on Razorback women’s tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.
No. 25 Kentucky 5, No. 41 Arkansas 5
Doubles Results – Order of Finish (1,3,2)
1. Martina Zerulo/Tatum Rice (ARK) def. #50 Akvile Parazinskaite/Justina Mikulskyte (UKWTEN) 6-2
2. Tiphanie Fiquet/Lesedi Jacobs (UKWTEN) def. Lauren Alter/Miruna Tudor (ARK) 6-3
3. Jackie Carr/Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Anastasia Tkachenko/Alexis Merrill (UKWTEN) 6-2
Singles Results – Order of Finish (1,3,4,5,2)
1. #46 Justina Mikulskyte (UKWTEN) def. #81 Tatum Rice (ARK) 6-0, 6-2
2. Akvile Parazinskaite (UKWTEN) def. Martina Zerulo (ARK) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Lesedi Jacobs (UKWTEN) def. Jackie Carr (ARK) 6-1, 6-3
4. Tiphanie Fiquet (UKWTEN) def. Laura Rijkers (ARK) 7-5, 6-4
5. Diana Tkachenko (UKWTEN) def. Lauren Alter (ARK) 6-3, 6-2
6. Anastasia Tkachenko (UKWTEN) vs. Miruna Tudor (ARK) 4-6, 1-1, unfinished
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday
John & Tommy discuss what could have been with the Arkansas basketball team, interview angler Scott Suggs, and more!
Razorbacks will play doubleheader Friday in series with Stony Brook
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas continues its 14-game homestand this weekend against Stony Brook for a three-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium starting with a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m.
Due to continued cold weather and possible freezing temperatures forecasted for this weekend in the Northwest Arkansas area, this weekend’s series will be two games on Friday and one on Saturday. No game will be played on Sunday.
The Razorbacks (6-1) are winners of six of their first seven games this season and are fresh off a 10-3 win over Memphis on Wednesday. Arkansas used a seven-run fifth inning and scored eight runs with two outs.
It was the sixth win in a row over the Tigers dating back to 2015 and seventh midweek win in a row going back to last season.
Stony Brook (3-3) enters the weekend after a series loss at Southeastern Louisiana, but won its opening weekend series at Florida International.
Junior Michael Wilson earned America East Player of the Week honors after recording an eight-hit weekend against FIU, which included the game-winning home run with two outs and two strikes in the top of the ninth.
Friday’s slate of games will mark the first-ever meetings between the two programs. Both teams did reach the 2012 College World Series, but did not face each other. Arkansas reached the semifinals with wins over Kent State (8-1) and South Carolina (2-1), while Stony Brook went 0-2.
Follow Live
You can listen to the games on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
This weekend’s series will be available on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com. Benjamin Kelly (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 for both games on Friday. Scott Inman will join Carpenter on Saturday.
Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch.
Probable Starters
• Game 1: (ARK) RHP Isaiah Campbell (2-0, 5.23 ERA, 10 K, 2 BB) vs. (SBU) RHP Greg Marino (1-1, 6.10 ERA, 8 K, 3 BB)
• Game 2: (ARK) RHP Cody Scroggins (0-0, 7.71 ERA, 10 K, 3 BB) vs. (SBU) RHP Brian Herrmann (1-0, 7.45 ERA, 10 K, 2 BB)
• Game 3: (ARK) RHP Connor Noland (0-0, 2.08 ERA, 9 K, 3 BB) vs. (SBU) TBA
Razorback Prime Nine
• Arkansas is back home for the next 14 games starting with a midweek contest against Memphis on Wednesday. This homestand will be the Razorbacks longest of the year.
• The Hogs are fresh off a road series win over USC, their first road series win since the 2017 season.
• Freshman Patrick Wicklander made his first career start on Wednesday against Memphis, his fourth appearance of the year. Wicklander has struck out 10 over 7.1 innings, tying for the team lead.
• Graduate senior Trevor Ezell was one of the toughest outs of the USC series, as he reached base seven times in 15 plate apearances, batting out of the three hole. Ezell leads all Hog hitters with a .381 average.
• This weekend’s series with Stony Brook will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Razorbacks and Sea Wolves were both participants in the 2012 College World Series. Arkansas reached the semifinals that year and Stony Brook went 0-2 in the series.
• Arkansas has already stolen 20 bases this year, including 11 in last week’s series with USC. The Hogs have stolen five bases in two of their last three games, the most in one game since stealing six against New Orleans on Feb. 19, 2013 against New Orleans.
• Sophomore Casey Martin is the only player to have at least one hit in all seven games this year. He has four doubles this year, which ties for sixth in the SEC.
• Freshman Christian Franklin went 3-for-7 last week against USC, but reached base seven times as he added four walks. His .591 on-base percentage is the second-highest in the SEC.
• Junior pitcher Matt Cronin earned two saves in as many days last week his first two saves of the year. In game one against USC he struck out four batters, the 11th time he struck out four batters in one outing.
Up Next
Arkansas stays home for week four as it will continue its 14-game homestand and will face Charlotte in a two-game midweek series starting on Tuesday, March 5, at 3 p.m.
Game two between the 49ers and the Hogs will be on Wednesday, March 6, also at 3 p.m.
Hogs’ rally against Missouri falls short in regular-season finale, 73-67
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas had four players in double figures and mounted a furious comeback in the second half, but fell just short in a 73-67 loss to Missouri on Thursday.
Chelsea Dungee paced the Razorbacks (17-12, 6-9 SEC) with 25 points and was joined in double figure scoring by Malica Monk with 16 points, Alexis Tolefree with 14 points and Jailyn Mason with 10 points. Missouri (20-9, 9-6 SEC) also had four players in double figures on Thursday.
About the game
Both teams were cold to start the game, but the Tigers managed a 24-16 lead at the break holding Arkansas to 28.6% in the first 20 minutes.
The Razorbacks rallied with a big third quarter outscoring Missouri 25-13 and erasing an 11-point deficit to lead, 41-37, at the end of the frame.
Dungee dropped in 10 points as the Razorbacks went 5-for-5 from distance while holding the Tigers’ leading scorer without a point in the period.
The Tigers got back to the line early in the final frame tying the game at 46-all with 7:35 to play. They went 26-for-27 from the line in the game while the Razorbacks made 12-of-12 bonus shots.
Arkansas kept the game close trailing by as little as four points five times, but they would never regain the lead.
Up Next
Arkansas wraps up the regular season with a trip to No. 17 Texas A&M on Sunday. It is the final game of the regular season before teams face off at the SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, March 6-10.
The Razorbacks’ six conference wins has them in ninth place overall.
About Chelsea Dungee
• 26 of 29 games in double figures
• 15 games with 20+ points
• 9 consecutive double figure scoring games
• Scored 20+ points in 7 of last 9 games
• Averaging 24.5 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and made 78-of-91 free throws in the last 10 games
• Led the team in scoring in 17 games
• Second game of the year playing 40 minutes
• She added her first five assist game and led the team with seven rebounds
Notes
• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee
• Arkansas finished the first half 0-for-10 and trailed, 24-16, at the break.
• Arkansas forced 12 Missouri turnovers in the first half. The Tigers had 21 turnovers in the game.
• The Razorbacks committed a season-low four turnovers and had single digit miscues for the 10th time this season.
• Arkansas hit 11 3-point field goals, making double digit baskets from distance for the ninth time this year.
• The Razorbacks had a season-low 23 rebounds.
• Malica Monk scored 16 points and was in double figures for the 21st time this season and 64th time in her career. She had five assists for the third time this year and the 22nd time in her career.
• Alexis Tolefree’s 14 points is her 15th double figure game of the year and her third in a row.
• Jailyn Mason has scored in double figures in nine games this year, 38 games for her career and in two consecutive games.
Neighbors on team’s improvement, previewing matchup with A&M
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors talked about how much better his team is playing now than at the beginning of the season and looked ahead to matchup with Aggies.
Missouri’s Pingeton talks Hogs’ improvement after win Thursday night
Tigers coach Robin Pingeton talked with the media after beating Arkansas, 73-67, and had high praise for the Hogs’ improvement from their first meeting this season.
Razorbacks hot in cold weather on first day of Woo Pig Classic on Thursday
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas secured two wins on opening day of the Wooo Pig Classic after the frigid temperatures forced a delay in first pitch.
The Hogs returned to the diamond to shut out Omaha, 2-0, and ran out to an early lead against Northwestern State before sealing the deal on an 8-2 victory.
Sophomore Nicole Duncan scored both runs for the Hogs against Omaha, first off the bat of Haydi Bugarin, whose single to left field pushed Duncan over home plate for the go-ahead run.
Maggie Hicks followed with a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield, that gave Duncan the chance to tag from third and score on the play.
The cold weather persisted through the night, but the Hogs were just warming up, and fired up the engines early in game two with a seven-run first inning.
Leadoff batter Hannah McEwen got things rolling with a successful bunt single on a 2-2 count, followed by back-to-back singles by Danielle Gibson and Katie Warrick. Ashley Diaz took the first pitch out to right field, good for a Razorback single and the Hogs’ first run of the game.
With no outs on the board, sophomore Kayla Green stepped up and sent one over the left-center wall, her third home run of the season, ninth of her career. But the bases-clearing grand slam? That was Green’s first in the cardinal and white.
Arkansas kept the energy high with a double to left field by Hicks that would score Bugarin and a couple extra bases due to an error by the Lady Demons.
Another RBI single by Diaz in the third gave the Hogs the eight-run lead they needed to end this one early, but NSU had other plans, as sophomore Cayla Jones took a 1-0 pitch from Autumn Storms over the wall, good for two runs on the board for NSU.
The sixth went scoreless for both teams, and the Razorbacks sealed the deal in the seventh and final inning, as Storms sat the Lady Demons down in order.
Storms’ seven-inning win is her sixth of the season, as she hurled in nine strikeouts, allowing only four hits and giving up only one base on balls.
Arkansas advances to 14-3 on the year, holding onto a 6-2 home record after last week’s 4-2 showing at the Razorback Invitational. The Razorbacks will return to Bogle Park for two more days of play, including consecutive games against Omaha once again and Nevada at 2:30 pm and 4:45 pm respectively.
Anderson on Razorbacks getting close against Kentucky, Ole Miss game
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talked with the media Thursday about the Hogs getting close to a win against the Wildcats on Tuesday night and upcoming game with Rebels.
