Phil & Tye discuss the Arkansas-Texas Tech, interview Southeast Hoops publisher Blake Lovell, and 3 up 3 down!
Kjerstad, Cronin, Fletcher pick up preseason honors from ‘Baseball America’ magazine
FAYETTEVILLE — Sophomore Heston Kjerstad, as well as junior reliever Matt Cronin and junior Dominic Fletcher added yet another preseason All-America nod to their growing list of accolades Monday afternoon as all three were recognized by Baseball America.
This is the third preseason honor won by Kjerstad and Cronin and second for Fletcher.
Cronin was the lone Razorback on the first team and one of four players from the SEC. Fletcher earned a spot as one of three outfielders on the second team, while Kjerstad earned a spot on the third team.
Arkansas ties with Stanford for the most preseason All-Americans on Baseball America’s list, which was voted on by major league organizations’ scouting departments and was based on performance, talent and professional potential.
On the mound, Cronin returns as one of the top relievers in the nation after setting a UA single-season record with 14 saves. The save total tied for the second-most in the SEC and was the 14th most in the nation.
Over his 48.1 innings, Cronin struck out 59 batters, which was the sixth-most on the staff and he held opponents to a .154 batting average, which was the lowest on the team for the second-consecutive season.
Fletcher returns to captain the outfield after another stellar year both defensively and at the plate.
The junior notched his second-straight year with a .280 average or higher and 10 or more home runs becoming the first Razorback since Rodney Nye (1998-99) to hit 10 or more homers in his first two seasons.
He finished his sophomore season with 23 multi-hit games and 11 multi-RBI games, which were both higher totals than his freshman season.
Fletcher’s best performances came in the postseason as he hit .346 in the College World Series with nine hits, two home runs and eight RBIs.
He was one of only two players in the CWS to record a four-hit game (vs. Texas Tech) last year and he was the first Razorback to do so since Jeff King in 1985.
After winning the 2018 SEC Freshman of the Year award, Kjerstad comes into his sophomore season as one of the most highly touted players in the nation.
Kjerstad was named a freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the NCBWA, while also making the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Freshman Team.
The Amarillo, Texas native started all 69 games for the Hogs in left field and finished second on the team with a .332 batting average, while leading with 87 hits, 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. His hit total, home runs and RBIs were all Arkansas freshman records.
Arkansas will open the 2019 season against Eastern Illinois on Feb. 15 at Baum Stadium.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday
John Nabors, Tommy Craft, & Nick Mason discuss the Texas Tech loss, Hunter Yurachek’s mindset, best/worst of the weekend and more!
Arkansas comes from behind to down Florida, 83-73
ESPN SEC NETWORK VIDEO
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Arkansas senior Malica Monk and sophomore Chelsea Dungee combined for 50 points helping the Razorbacks erase a 15-point Florida lead in an 83-73 Southeastern Conference victory in Gainesville on Sunday.
Monk dropped in a season-best 25 points and Dungee matched that with her ninth game with 20 or more after neither player scored in the first quarter.
In fact, almost no one scored in the first quarter as the Gators jumped out to a 19-7 lead after the first 10 minutes.
The Second Quarter
Arkansas rallied outscoring Florida 30-16 in the second frame to lead at the break. The Gators were up, 26-12 when Arkansas put together a 7-0 run that ignited the Razorbacks.
Dungee was fouled and hit a pair of free throws. Then Monk drained a 3-pointer from the right side. Monk bolted back on defense and got a steal that she drove the length of the court and laid in capping the run.
Down by just six points, the Razorbacks finished the frame with a 17-9 run including a dramatic 3-pointer from Mason at the buzzer giving Arkansas a 37-35 lead at the break. Dungee and Monk scored nine points each followed by five from Mason, four from Taylah Thomas and two from Alexis Tolefree.
Florida kept the game close for the early part of the third quarter until Monk got another layup for the 51-50 lead with 4:31 to play in the frame. Arkansas would go on to lead by as many as nine points before finishing off the 10-point victory.
The win is the third of the week for Arkansas who picked up a win at Tennessee on Monk’s last second shot on Monday. The Razorbacks defeated Alabama on Thursday and got their second road win on Sunday. The Razorbacks’ 5-2 league record moves them into a T-3rd in the SEC standings.
Monk and Dungee scored 50 of Arkansas’ 83 points. Jailyn Mason was in double-figures for the seventh time this year with 12 points. The Razorbacks shot 47.6%, their fourth-best shooting percentage of the season and went 18-for-23 from the line. Arkansas forced 15 Gator turnovers, keeping the streak of double-digit turnovers by opponents in every game alive. The Razorbacks only turned it over eight times, the eighth time Arkansas has had 10 or fewer miscues.
Notes
• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee
• Arkansas is 10-28 all-time against Florida.
• The win snaps a five-game losing streak to Florida and a five-game losing streak in Gainesville, with the last road win coming with a 83-74 victory on Feb. 19, 2009.
• Arkansas scored just five first quarter points – the lowest first period point total of the season.
• Arkansas erased a 15-point Florida lead winning the second quarter, 30-16. Malica Monk and Chelsea Dungee each scored nine points in the second stanza.
• Arkansas has forced double figure turnovers by their opponent in every game this season. The Gators had 15 turnovers.
• Arkansas won the third quarter for the 12th time this season, 28-21.
• The win is the fourth in a row in SEC play – the first four-game league winning streak since 2012.
• Arkansas won three games in seven days (at Tennessee, Alabama and at Florida).
• Arkansas won the fourth quarter for the 14th time this year and is 11-4 when winning the final frame.
• Malica Monk has scored 20+ points three times this year.
• Chelsea Dungee has scored in double figures 18 times this year and had 20+ points in nine games.
Razorbacks roll past Golden Lions in women’s matches Sunday
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ women’s tennis team swept Pine Bluff Sunday afternoon in the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
The Hogs earned the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. The team quickly went up to 3-0 as Miruna Tudor defeated Malaik Muhammad. Laura Rijkers clinched the match for Arkansas, with Lauren Alter putting the match away at the No. 1 position.
The second match of the day consisted only of singles play, with the Hogs quickly going up once again. Tatum Rice put Arkansas within one, while Rijkers earned her second clinch of the day.
The team will return to the court Friday afternoon, hosting Oklahoma State at 1 p.m.
For more information on Razorback women’s tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.
Match One | Arkansas 7, Pine Bluff 0
Doubles Results – Order of Finish (1,2)
1. Martina Zerulo/Jackie Carr (ARK) def. C. Fenwick/Ta’Miya Strickland (UAPB) 6-0
2. Lauren Alter/Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Karissa Fenwick/Malaik Muhammad (UAPB) 6-0
3. Miruna Tudor/Shwetha Prabakar (ARK) def. No player/No player (UAPB), by forfeit
Singles Results – Order of Finish (6,4,2,3,5,1)
1. Lauren Alter (ARK) def. Ariel Zena Graves (UAPB) 6-3, 6-3
2. Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. C. Fenwick (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
3. Jackie Carr (ARK) def. Karissa Fenwick (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
4. Miruna Tudor (ARK) def. Malaik Muhammad (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
5. Shwetha Prabakar (ARK) def. Ta’Miya Strickland (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
6. Thea Rice (ARK) def. No player (UAPB), by forfeit
Match Two | Arkansas 5, Pine Bluff 0
Singles Results – Order of Finish (6,4,2,3,5)
1. Martina Zerulo (ARK) vs. Ariel Zena Graves (UAPB) 6-0, unfinished
2. Tatum Rice (ARK) def. C. Fenwick (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
3. Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Karissa Fenwick (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
4. Shwetha Prabakar (ARK) def. Malaik Muhammad (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
5. Miruna Tudor (ARK) def. Ta’Miya Strickland (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
6. Thea Rice (ARK) def. No player (UAPB), by forfeit
Hogs drop opening match to Ohio State in ITA Weekend Kickoff on Sunday
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Arkansas dropped its match to No. 2 Ohio State Sunday afternoon 4-1 in Columbus.
The Razorbacks were making their first appearance in the second round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend tournament since 2007 after defeating Cornell 4-3 Saturday.
“We were competitive,” said coach Andy Jackson. “At that level that is encouraging. In the end, Ohio State was too good today.”
The No. 2 Buckeyes took the doubles point in after taking courts two and one in succession.
In singles play, Ohio State played four players that held national rankings. On court one, No. 3 JJ Wolf (OSU) def. Oscar Mesquida 6-3, 6-3 as the Buckeyes took a quick 2-0 lead.
Ohio State took a 3-0 lead as Jose Dominguez Alonso was beaten by Hunter Tubert (OSU) 6-4, 6-1. The Razorbacks would pull within 3-1 as Adam Sanjurjo def. No. 36 John McNalley (OSU) 7-5, 6-3 on court two.
Ohio State clinched the match shortly after as No. 13 Kyle Seelig (OSU) def. Alex Reco 6-4, 7-6(7-5).
The Razorbacks return home Sunday, Feb. 3 to host a doubleheader against Tulsa and Omaha. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Doubles Results – Order of Finish (1,2)
1. Wolf/Joyce (OSU) def. Mesquida/Sanjurjo, 6-3
2. Kobelt/Trotter (OSU) def. Verboven/Paya (AR), 6-2
3. Tubert/McNally (OSU) vs. Reco/Howard-Tripp, 5-3, unfinished
Singles Results – Order of Finish (1,6,2,3)
1. No. 3 Wolf (OSU) def. Mesquida (AR), 6-3, 6-3
2. Sanjurjo def. No. 36 McNally 7-5, 6-3
3. No. 13 Seelig (OSU) def. Reco (OSU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
4. P. Dominguez Alonso (AR) vs. No. 122 Trotter (OSU), 2-6, 7-5, unfinished
5. Paya (AR) vs. Joyce (OSU) 7-6(7-5), 3-6, unfinished
6. Tubert (OSU) def. J. Dominguez Alonso (AR), 6-4, 6-1
Sooner or later youth, inexperience fail to be excuses that fans buy
It appears the only consistent thing with Arkansas these days is a startling common inconsistency.
It happened again Saturday evening on the road against Texas Tech.
The Razorbacks cut a 12-point deficit to two with 1:01 left and trailed by three with 32 seconds left but could not complete the comeback, falling 67-64 to the 13th-ranked Red Raiders as part of the Big 12-SEC Challenge.
Same old story for this team.
Now the question is if youth and inexperience will be the reason for yet another game where the offense was completely erratic. By the way, when you hear the word reason given for something bad from a coach, that’s really just the excuse, a word coaches hate to use.
Mike Anderson might want to start coming up with a few … and fast.
The Hogs are now 11-8 overall and currently on a 1-5 streak in their last six games. No, Anderson should not be in jeopardy, but there will be fans that want him to be.
Of course, there will be some that know a guy who knows a guy who said he is, but remember, the ones talking don’t know anything and the ones not talking do know.
Saturday was yet another different version of the same old story where Arkansas’ offense disappeared for a brief period in the second half before a furious comeback in the final five minutes made it a three-point game with a 26 seconds left.
The Razorbacks, with plenty of time for some kind of quick points, then a foul to get a shot to win it or tie it … and they never got off a shot of any kind, turning the ball back over to the Red Raiders with six seconds left.
Jalen Harris got a foul, but Davide Moretti made both free throws to leave the Hogs fresh out of options before a layup at the buzzer for the final margin.
Too little too late is one way to look at it. Morretti scored 21 to lead all scorers and Tech’s defense was anotehr part. They came into the game as one of the best defensive teams in the country and they frustrated the Hogs all evening.
Daniel Gafford led Arkansas with 14 points with a perfect six-of-six from the floor, Mason Jones added 11 before fouling out in the final minute and Harris scored 11.
In the end, though, Arkansas didn’t have the experience to figure things out against the Red Raiders. That’s how you end up being down by 3 with 26 seconds left in the game and turn the ball without a shot 20 seconds later.
Yes, part of it is youth and inexperience.
But 19 games into the season there will be some that think that’s not really much of an excuse any longer.
And, by the way, not a reason, either.
Parker, top-ranked Arkansas captures Razorback Invitational title
FAYETTEVILLE — No. 1 Arkansas wrapped up action at the Razorback Invitational scoring 145.5-points en route to the team title Saturday afternoon at Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
“It was across the board,” said coach Lance Harter. “Obviously our sprints, Chris Johnson put on a clinic today. The 60-meters, the 60-meter hurdles, the 200-meters last night was fantastic.
“The vault always takes care of business, we had three vaulters compete absolutely fantastic last night, but then our fourth vaulter last night (Bailee McCorkle) was a big breakthrough.
“Then we come back with the pentathlon and welcome back Kelsey [Herman] after being off for a year to take care of some leg issues and she opens up with a national qualifying mark.”
Kiara Parker and Jada Baylark advanced to the final of the event with times of 7.18 and 7.33, respectively.
Parker not only broke the school record time of 7.20 set by Veronica Campbell in 2004, but she also recorded the fourth-fastest time in the world this season.
The final would see the senior from Waldorf, Maryland, shave even more time off as she blew away the field with her winning time of 7.15 that not only was a meet record, program record, and personal-best but is currently tied for the world lead in the event with USC’s Twanisha Terry who recorded her time yesterday in Lubbock, Texas at the Texas Tech Classic.
From the 60-meter flat, to the 60-meter hurdles it was the Payton Chadwick show as the defending NCAA Champion in the event was the fastest on the track from prelims to finals where she recorded times of 8.02 and 8.01, respectively to take the title.
Teammate Janeek Brown, a 2018 NCAA All-American in the event finished second in the finals running 8.02. The Razorback duo is currently ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in the world this season in the event.
In the women’s 400-meters invitational, Morgan Burks-Magee led the way running 53.12 for third-place while teammate Tiana Wilson — a true freshman — clocked 53.80 in the event to take fifth in the event.
“Our 4×400-meter relay came back and ran 3:31.26, which is a huge PR from where they were earlier in the season,” Harter said.
Burks-Magee and Wilson would return to the track to cap the meet running the 4×400-meter relay where the Razorbacks took the title running the No. 2 time in the NCAA of 3:31.26, trailing USC’s 3:31.25 that they ran just a few minutes earlier in Lubbock, Texas. Burks-Magee turned in the fastest-split of the event running 51.64 on the second leg of the Arkansas relay.
“Then the distances, you have Taylor [Werner] in the 3,000-meters and our two milers just ran crazy fast. I have a lot of respect for Dominic Scott and Christin Wurth-Thomas. Both are Olympians, but these two (Lauren Gregory/Carina Viljoen) opened up right off her school record,” said Harter.
Taylor Werner her season with a near-PR performance in the 3,000-meters demolishing the field with the second-place finisher crossing the line more than 17-seconds after she finished. Werner currently holds the No. 1 mark in the NCAA and No. 5 in the world in the event this season.
The mile duo of Gregory and Viljoen held tough with the NCAA defending champion at 1,500-meters Jessica Hull who won the event in 4:31.03 turning in times of 4:32.92 and 4:33.88 themselves, destroying their previous-best marks in the event.
“So across the board, I think we had lots of breakthroughs,” Harter continued. “Tonight when I talk to the team I’ll have to put things into perspective – ‘ladies we’re now a best for the SEC, but now we’re also a best for the NCAA, oh yeah now we’re a best for the world.’ Our two hurdlers being 3-4 in the world, man that’s rarefied air and it’s so nice to have them on our team.”
Arkansas will split the squad three ways next week as the Razorbacks travel to the New Mexico Classic, the Charlie Thomas Invitational, and the New York Armory Feb. 1-2.
Moore wins heptathlon; team places third at Razorback Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas concluded the two-day Arkansas Invitational with a third-place finish scoring 74-points on the weekend at Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
“We definitely had some bright spots,” said coach Chris Bucknam. “We’re not usually in this position, we’re usually batteling for that team title. what you saw this weekend is what we have and we’re going to have to work hard to keep improving as a total team.
“it was a good exercise to see where we’re at. I’m glad we kept those team scores, hopefully, we can improve across the board in all events and try to get closer to a team like Florida and hopefully improve on some national marks and get some qualifiers as well.
“Got a lot of work to do, but we’re young and a little inexperienced but there are some bright spots in there we just have to work hard to try and get better each and every week.”
Continuing the action from yesterday, Gabe Moore and Derek Jacobus finished the men’s heptathlon with the duo finishing first and third, respectively.
Moore finished with marks of 8.17 seconds, 4.25m (13-11.25), and 2:43.17 in the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1,000-meters to win the heptathlon with a two day total of 5,865-points that falls just nine points shy of his personal-best.
Moore currently leads the NCAA in the event.
Cameron Griffith added his name to the sub-4 club as he clocked a time of 3:59.68 in a second-place finish. Griffith is currently ranked No. 5 in the NCAA in the event.
Jacobus’ third-place finish was sparked by a personal-best mark in the pole vault as the senior cleared 4.75m (15-7) for 834-points. Jacobus is currently No. 4 in the NCAA in the event.
Josh Olgesby made his Arkansas debut scoring in the men’s 60-meters. Olgesby qualified with a personal-best time of 6.79 and followed with a 6.83 in the finals to finish eighth.
Fellow freshman Tre’Bien Gilbert represented Arkansas in the men’s 60-meter hurdles qualifying for the final with a time of 8.01 before recording a personal-best of 7.85 for sixth-place.
Sam Kempka took sixth in the men’s shot put with a best of 17.17m (56-4).
Gilbert Boit and Austen Dalquist turned in season-best marks in the 3,000-meters with their times of 8:01.63 and 8:07.09, respectively. Boit is currently ranked No. 12 in the NCAA in the event.
Jalen Brown scored in the 400-meters turning in a fifth-place finish in the event running a season-best time of 47.02 that is currently No. 19 in the NCAA.
Kieran Taylor posted a personal-best in the 800-meters that is currently ranked No. 16 in the NCAA as he crossed the line in 1:49.46 followed by teammate Hunter Woodhall who lowered his PR from 1:58.04 to 1:50.68 for an eighth-place finish.
Arkansas will return to the track next weekend as they travel to Albuquerque, N.M. for the New Mexico Classic Feb 1-2 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Razorbacks put up season high at Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH, Texas — Despite being forced to count a fall, the No. 21 Arkansas gymnastics team posted a season high score of 195.825 at the Metroplex Challenge here.
First Rotation: Arkansas Bars: 48.925
Sophomore Hailey Garner, freshman Kennedy Hambrick and sophomore Sarah Shaffer scored season highs in the first rotation to lead the Gymback to a season high bar score of 48.925. Junior Jessica Yamzon and sophomore Sydney Laird led off the rotation with a pair of 9.700’s.
Hambrick followed that up with a 9.875, which ties her career high on any event. Garner and Shaffer ended the rotation with a pair of 9.825’s.
Second Rotation: Arkansas Beam: 48.400
Arkansas led off with a 9.875 from Yamzon and a 9.825 from Hambrick, which set or tied season highs for the pair, but was forced to count a fall in the rotation.
Sophomore Sophia Carter scored a 9.750 as junior Michaela Burton anchored to rotation with a season high 9.900.
Third Rotation: Arkansas Floor: 49.250
The Razorback had its highest floor score of the season in Fort Worth with a pair with all five scorers putting up scored rotations being higher than 9.800.
Yamzon led the rotation off with a 9.825. In the third spot, Hambrick put up a 9.800 that led to three big scores from senior Sydney McGlone, Shaffer and Carter.
McGlone tied her career high of 9.900 on the event. The senior has scored 9.900 on the floor four times in her career and for the first time since 2017. Shaffer and Carter put up a 9.875 and a 9.850, respectively.
Fourth Rotation: Arkansas Vault: 49.250
It was another team season high on the final event, as the Razorbacks’ five scorers all put up 9.825’s or higher. The rotation was led off with a 9.825 from Yamzon.
A 9.775 from freshman Savannah Pennese was followed up with a 9.825 from Shaffer.
Arkansas’ anchors proved strong in the end, Hambrick put up a 9.850 to give her a 39.350 in the all-around. McGlone put up a 9.875 to lead to freshman Amanda Elswick’s debut as the anchor on the event.
Elswick, who suffered a fall earlier in the competition, recovered to put up a 9.875 on vault.
Team Scores:
No. 1 Oklahoma: 197.975
No. 7 Denver: 196.350
No. 15 Missouri: 196.200
No. 21 Arkansas: 195.825
Up Next
The Razorbacks end their four-week road trip with a trip to Athens, Georgia, for a Southeastern Conference meet against the Georgia Gymdogs.
The meet will be televised by the SEC Network and will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Kenley on Hogs closing in on start of 2019 season
Hogs infielder Jack Kenley talked with the media about the start of the new season is getting close and the anxiousness to get started.
