Arkansas linebacker De’Jon Harris talked with the media after a cold start to spring football practice on Friday and said the defense was getting back to basics with young guys.
Strong pitching in both games lifts Razorbacks to sweep of Stony Brook
FAYETTEVILLE — Isaiah Campbell and the Razorback pitching staff had, arguably, its best outings of the season Friday night as 12th-ranked Arkansas swept a doubleheader with Stony Brook, 3-1 and 4-3, at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Campbell, making his third start of the year, tallied a career-high 13 strikeouts in the game one win, five more than his previous high of eight that he totaled against No. 4 Kentucky last year.
He also worked through seven scoreless innings and only allowed four baserunners, three by hits, in what ended up being his longest outing of the year.
Redshirt junior Kevin Kopps and junior closer Matt Cronin finished off the final two innings for the Hogs in game one, striking out a combined five batters to help tie the Arkansas single-game record for strikeouts in a game (18, Missouri State, March 25, 2009; Grand Canyon, April 5, 2017).
It was a strong day throughout both games for the pitching staff as Cody Scroggins, Kole Ramage and Jacob Kostyshock, struck out 11 more batters in game two to give the Razorbacks a total of 29 strikeouts on the day.
Scroggins, who was making his second-consecutive start, struggled early, but settled in to work 3.1 innings, while Ramage earned the win out of the bullpen, his third of the year.
Kostyshock picked up the save, throwing a nearly perfect eighth and ninth innings. He did put the tying run on third after a throwing error on a comebacker to the pitcher sailed into the stands behind first base.
However, he settled back in and struck out the final batter to finish off his first save of the season.
Game 1 | Arkansas 3, Stony Brook 1 (Box Score)
Arkansas’ offense wasn’t as powerful as had been seen in recent weeks. The Hogs scattered six hits in the game, all coming from six different players. Fortunately, the Razorbacks got the hits when they needed them, scoring a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to take a 3-0 lead.
Fletcher led off the fifth with a double off the right-centerfield wall, missing his second home run of the year by inches. He was followed by a perfect bunt down the third-base line by Matt Goodheart that got beaten out for an infield single.
Casey Opitz finished the scoring opportunity with a ground ball to the right side, scoring Fletcher from third, and notching his fifth RBI of the year.
In the sixth, Arkansas led off the frame with another double, this one coming from Casey Martin, which extended his hitting streak to eight games. He was driven in by a triple to deep right-centerfield by Trevor Ezell, Arkansas’ second triple of the year.
Ezell scored in the next at-bat on a wild pitch after Stony Brook made a pitching change.
Cronin picked up his third save of the year even after he ran into some trouble in the ninth inning. Two singles put the tying run on base and then a walk loaded the bases with two outs before he struck out the final batter to lock up his third save in as many appearances.
Game 2 | Arkansas 4, Stony Brook 3 (Box Score)
Game two was nearly a similar performance for the Hog offense as in game one, but a couple of Razorbacks were able to record multi-hit games, including sophomore Heston Kjerstad, who broke out for a 3-for-4 game, his first three-hit game of the season.
Kjerstad was struggling at the plate in recent weeks, recording only one hit in six of the previous eight games, but totaled his ninth three-hit game of his career as his single in the third drove in Arkansas’ third run of the game to give it its first lead.
He followed that with a hustling double in the fifth where he legged out what should have been a normal single up the middle, but was able to beat the throw back in from the outfield for a two-bagger. He ended up scoring two batters later on sacrifice fly that ended up being the winning run.
Kjerstad entered the day with a .219 batting average, but raised it to .275 after his four-hit day in the doubleheader.
On the mound, Ramage earned his third win of the year after throwing 3.2 scoreless innings, his longest outing of the year, and four strikeouts. Arkansas pitching not only racked up the strikeouts, but it minimized the walks as only four batters reached via walk combined in Friday’s games.
Up Next
Arkansas and Stony Brook will finish off their series on Saturday with first pitch set at 2 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The original game time of 3 p.m. was changed due to the impending weather conditions that are expected to develop over the afternoon.
The game will still be broadcast on SEC Network+ and on the radio via the Razorback Sports Network on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home with Scott Inman and Bubba Carpenter calling the game.
Campbell after 13 K’s in Hogs’ 3-1 opening win over Stony Brook
Arkansas pitcher Isaiah Campbell went seven innings in the cold weather against Stony Brook on Friday in the first game of a doubleheader and talked about the pitchers in the game.
Razorbacks on familiar ground at Querencia Cabo Collegiate to start week
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will travel south of the border, but be on familiar ground as the Razorbacks play in the ninth annual Querencia Cabo Collegiate, March 3-5.
The 14-team, 54-hole tournament will be played over three days at the Querencia Golf Club (par 71/6,928 yards) in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.
Top-ranked Oklahoma State headlines the 14-team field that features 12 programs ranked among the nation’s top 50.
This marks the fourth time Arkansas has faced the Cowboys this season and the third straight tournament this spring Arkansas has played with at least nine teams ranked among the nation’s top 50.
Arkansas regularly serves as a co-host at the event and won the first two Querencia Cabo Collegiate championships — shooting a 1o-under par 854 in the fall of 2010 and 21-under 831 in the fall of 2011.
In addition to team wins, Jamie Marshall was an individual medalist in 2010 and Sebastian Cappelan won the 2011 tournament. The Razorbacks have played in eight of the nine previous events.
William Buhl shot a career-low 66 in the final round of the 2017 Cabo Collegiate and tied for 19th. Luis Garza likes the second day of the event as he carded a 69 in the second round as a freshman and shot a 68 last season. Mason Overstreet has posted a 68 at Cabo.
The 9th Annual Querencia Cabo Collegiate
Schedule: March 3-5| 54 holes (18 holes each day)
Course: Querencia Golf Club – San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
Yardage: 6,928 – Par 71
Razorback Lineup
(1) William Buhl (Jr.)
(2) Mason Overstreet (Jr.)
(3) Luis Garza (Jr.)
(4) Julian Perico (Fr.)
(5) Tyson Reeder (Jr.)
The Field
14 Alabama
32 Arkansas
50 Arizona
9 Arizona State
36 Baylor
27 Florida State
Houston
12 LSU
48 Mississippi
1 Oklahoma State
Rice
19 Texas A&M
3 Vanderbilt
???? Friday Halftime Pod — FOMO Friday
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.
