Former Razorbacks Ortiz, Landry make cut for final rounds of Masters

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Former Razorbacks Ortiz, Landry make cut for final rounds of Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Former Razorbacks Alvaro Ortiz and Andrew Landry will both advance to the weekend at The Masters.

Ortiz not only made the cut but is one of three amateurs to play on the weekend as he stands in a tie for 36th place, shooting rounds of 73-71 for an even-par total of 144 through 36 holes.

Landry sits in a tie for 46th place after rounds of 72-73 for a two-day total of 145 (+1).

Ortiz, who graduated from Arkansas in 2018, earned a berth to The Masters after winning the 2019 Latin America Amateur Championship.

Ortiz is one stroke behind Viktor Hovland for low amateur after 36 holes. Ortiz is additionally the first native of Mexico to advance to the weekend in 40 years when Victor Regalado tied for 31st (4-over par 292) in 1979.

Regalado also played in the 1975 Masters, tying for 30th (4-over par 292). The only other Mexican-born golfer to play at The Masters was Juan Antonio Estrada, who played at the major in 1962, ’63 and ’64.

Ortiz, playing with two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, was 1-under-par after three holes to start his second round. However, he had bogeys on holes 4. 6. 10 and 11.

After posting pars on the iconic 12th and 13th holes, Ortiz began his charge up the leaderboard, shooting 4-under-par over the last five holes. He started his run with a birdie on the par-5, 14th hole.

Ortiz followed that with an eagle on the par-5, 15th thanks to a 245-iron approach shot that left a five-foot eagle putt.

After pars on holes 16 and 17, Ortiz capped his round with a birdie on the 18th to card his 1-under-par 71.

Landry, a 2009 Arkansas graduate, qualified for The Masters after winning the 2018 Valero Texas Open. He was even par entering the day before shooting a 1-over 73 with 15 pars on Friday.

This is Landry’s first time playing in the Masters. His best finish in a major is tying for 15th in the 2016 U.S. Open.

Razorbacks host Furman for ‘Bark in the Park’ weekend series

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Razorbacks host Furman for ‘Bark in the Park’ weekend series

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas plays host to Furman University this weekend for the Razorbacks’ annual Bark in the Park.

The Hogs and Paladins are set for a Saturday morning start, with game one of the series to start at 10 a.m. Games two and three will be played as a doubleheader on Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. as well.

Bark in the Park

Admission is free for all fans at Bogle Park, but this weekend is special in that all of our two-legged fans are encouraged to bring their four-legged friends for our annual Bark in the Park.

The first 50 dogs to make their way into Bogle Park will get a free Razorback tennis ball. Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.

Last time out          

The Razorbacks continue their nine-game homestand after a doubleheader sweep of Wichita State on Wednesday.

Arkansas run-ruled the Shockers, 9-1 in game one behind a six-run sixth inning with a game-ending single by Sydney Parr.

The Hogs needed only four runs in the third inning to defeat WSU in game two, Katie Warrick hit her eighth home run of the season to score three runs and give Arkansas the lead and the win.

Diaz making way through record books         

Diaz recently surpassed former Razorback and current assistant coach Shana Easley for fourth all-time in career putouts and currently has 1,277 career putouts, 26 away from sliding into 3rd place (1,303).

Diaz is only one of two first baseman to surpass the 1,200-career putout mark.

Diaz is only three home runs from ranking fourth among Razorbacks for career home runs (has 27, needs 30); her success at the plate also puts her on track to move into second for career RBI (has 126, needs 131), and one sacrifice fly from the number one spot (has 9, needs 10).

10 years at Bogle     

The 2019 season marks the 10th season in Bogle Park. Since its opening, the Hogs have played 248 games inside the park, for a combined 138-110 record.

In the polls    

After a tough weekend in Gainesville, the Razorbacks are holding steady in the polls, cruising into Week 9 sitting at 26th in the NCAA Women’s Softball RPI, and ranked No. 18 by USA Today/NFCA, No. 17 by Fastpitch News, No. 22 by Softball America and receiving votes in the USA Softball/ESPN poll.

The series

This is the first time the two teams are meeting. Furman is one of four teams that Arkansas is facing for the first time in program history this season (UAPB, Campbell, Furman, Lipscomb).

Furman is the second SoCon team to face the Razorbacks this season (Samford on Feb.9). Arkansas is 3-2 against SoCon teams in program history.

Keep Up with the Hogs

Game 1 | SEC+ | Live Scoring

Game 2 | SEC+ | Live Scoring

Game 3 | SEC+ | Live Scoring

Up Next

Arkansas will continue the nine-game homestand with a mid-week contest with UAPB on Tuesday (April 16) before hosting No. 7 LSU starting Thursday (April 18).

???? Friday Halftime Pod — featuring Aaron Torres of Fox Sports Radio

Tye Richardson
-
0
???? Friday Halftime Pod — featuring Aaron Torres of Fox Sports Radio

Phil Elson & Tye Richardson hit on the Arkansas basketball roster, Aaron Torres on Mus, plus FOMO Friday!

Razorbacks add one-day event, playing in Git-R-Done Husker Invitational

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Razorbacks add one-day event, playing in Git-R-Done Husker Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ men’s golf program has added a one-day, 36-hole event to its schedule, playing in the Git-R-Done Husker Invitational on Saturday.

The event will be played at Firethorn Golf Club (7,025 yards, Par 71) in Lincoln, Neb., and the six-team field includes Arkansas, Creighton, Drake, host Nebraska, Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota State.

The first round will begin with a shotgun start at 9 am while round two will get underway at 12:30 p.m. The second round will be continuous play.

Arkansas’ lineup will include Tyson Reeder, Mason Overstreet, Julian Perico, William Buhl and Luis Garza. Freshman Wil Gibson will play as an individual.

Following Nebraska, Arkansas will compete for the 2019 SEC Championship (April 24-28) in St.Simons Island, Ga.

The NCAA Regionals will be May 13-15 before Arkansas hosts the 2019 NCAA Men’s Championships May 24-29 at The Blessings Golf Club.

Arkansas and The Blessings Golf Club will also host the 2019 NCAA Women’s Championships May 17-22.

Git-R-Done Husker Invitational
April 13 • 36 holes

• Round 1 – 9:00 am: Shotgun Start, 18 holes
• Round 2 – 12:30 pm: Continuous Play, 18 holes

Firethorn Golf Club • Lincoln, Neb.
Par 71 • 7,025 Yards

Razorback Lineup

(1) Tyson Reeder (Jr.)
(2) Mason Overstreet (Jr.)
(3) Julian Perico (Fr.)
(4) William Buhl (Jr.)
(5) Luis Garza (Jr.)
(Ind) Wil Gibson (Fr.)

The Field

No. 38 Arkansas
Creighton
Drake
Nebraska
Nebraska-Omaha
South Dakota State

Amer advances to semifinals at FINA Grand Prix; Schumer to compete at meet

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Amer advances to semifinals at FINA Grand Prix; Schumer to compete at meet

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — Arkansas sophomore Maha Amer opened competition at the 2019 USA FINA Diving Grand Prix on Thursday afternoon, advancing to the semifinals in the 3-meter.

Amer represented her home country of Egypt, just one of two female divers to represent the country in the event.

In the preliminary round, Amer took third place with a score of 284.20. The Cairo, Egypt, native advanced to the Semifinal B round where she earned a fourth-place finish with a score of 267.20, just 6.45 points from advancing to the finals.

Amer will continue competition at the FINA Grand Prix on Sunday, competing in the 3-meter synchro and the 3-meter mixed synchro.

Fellow Razorback sophomore Brooke Schultz will also compete in the 3-meter synchro event.

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Tye Richardson
-
0
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

John & Tommy discuss Masters Day 1, the transfer problem, plus Mus on the Jim Rome show!

Razorbacks men’s team shut out against Alabama on Thursday night

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas’ men’s tennis team dropped a road match against No. 20 Alabama, 4-0, Thursday night. The Hogs are set to return home on Saturday, hosting Auburn in the regular season finale.

The Tide jumped out to a 1-0 lead after taking the doubles point. Arkansas dropped the first court, as Maxim Verboven and Enrique Paya took court two 6-3.

Court three reached the tiebreaker, as Sam Fischer and Zhe Zhou (Alabama) narrowly defeated Alex Reco and Jose Dominguez Alonso 7-6(0).

Arkansas would trail 2-0 as No. 52 Mazen Osama (Alabama) would top No. 65 Oscar Mesquida 6-2, 6-4 in straight sets.

Alabama would take a 3-0 lead as Adam Sanjurjo would fall in three sets to Edson Ortiz (Alabama) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

The match would be clinched on court five as Zhe Zhou (Alabama) beat Jose Alonso 6-4, 6-4.

The Razorbacks are set to return home this Saturday to host Auburn at 1 p.m. The Hogs will be welcoming back more than 60 former players and coaches for a reunion, as well as recognizing four senior Razorbacks in Branch Terrell, Pedro Alonso, Adam Sanjurjo and Oscar Mesquida.

Doubles Results – Order of Finish (1,2,3)
1. No. 25 Mazen Osama/Patrick Kaukovalta (UA) def. Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (ARK) 6-1
2. Maxim Verboven/Enrique Paya (ARK) def. Edson Ortiz/Riccardo Roberto (UA) 6-3
3. Sam Fischer/Zhe Zhou (UA) def. Jose Alonso/Alex Reco (ARK) 7-6 (7-0)

Singles Results – Order of Finish (1,2,5)
1. No. 52 Mazen Osama (UA) def. #65 Oscar Mesquida (ARK) 6-2, 6-4
2. Edson Ortiz (UA) def. Adam Sanjurjo (ARK) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
3. Patrick Kaukovalta (UA) vs. Alex Reco (ARK) 4-6, 6-2, 4-5, unfinished
4. Riccardo Roberto (UA) vs. Enrique Paya (ARK) 6-4, 6-6 (2-4), unfinished
5. Zhe Zhou (UA) def. Jose Alonso (ARK) 6-4, 6-4
6. Jeremy Gschwendtner (UA) vs. Maxim Verboven (ARK) 6-7 (1-7), 5-5, unfinished

No, Morris, Musselman won’t get until 2021 if they don’t win enough

Andy Hodges
-
0
No, Morris, Musselman won’t get until 2021 if they don’t win enough

There was a column recently by a longtime friend in the media that Chad Morris and Eric Musselman would basically be judged by what the football and men’s basketball teams do in 2021.

Sorry to disagree, but they won’t get that long.

Face it, if Arkansas doesn’t win six football games in 2019, Morris is going to have problems in just his second season. Whether that’s right or not is not up for debate right now.

And, as always, there will be those more patient but the majority of fans are going to be slightly above restless with five wins or less.

Razorback fans aren’t patient in the best of circumstances. The lunatic fringe of the fan base is right up there with the most bipolar in all of college sports, basing the entire fate of the program on every little play.

Throw in the occasional psychotic internet trolls claiming to be fans of LSU and other schools who delight on social media in the negatives of things with the Hogs and, well, you end up with some dysfunctional folks.

It’s not really new, though. Old folks like me remember in 1967 when Frank Broyles had folks grumbling about him when Arkansas was 4-5-1. That was a decade when the Razorbacks had the third best winning percentage in all of college football. It was behind Alabama and Texas, which still rubs folks raw.

By 1975, they were screaming for Broyles the athletics director to fire Broyles the coach. He won the Southwest Conference, the Cotton Bowl and that subsided … until a collapse at the end of 1976 helped him fire himself and bring in Lou Holtz.

That set up a nice little 13-year run where the Hogs went 115-38-3. But even Ken Hatfield had some folks griping because he didn’t have a quarterback flinging the ball around enough and he took a job at Clemson without seeing the place in 1990.

Basketball was a little different, but you still had folks complaining about two Hall of Fame coaches in Nolan Richardson and Eddie Sutton except for one year when the Hogs won a national title (1994).

That title gave Richardson about three seasons before folks started complaining because he wasn’t getting close to another one.

There is a segment of the fans that just like to complain about something all the time.

Broyles the AD shrugged off all the negative stuff when it was the loudest.

“The worst thing of all is if they don’t care,” he was quoted as saying.

Fan apathy is the biggest problem for Morris and Musselman. Attendance at football and men’s basketball is dropped off dramatically. It looks worse because they are playing in environments designed for fan support of teams winning at extremely high levels.

Combine subpar records with every game in both sports now televised (well, except for usually one game in Little Rock in men’s basketball) and you have a problem getting bodies in seats.

Musselman might get one year. Maybe.

Morris had his last year.

Expectations are not off the charts right now for football. I don’t care what you say if the record is less than 6-6 this year it’s going to be a LOT of noise that Morris is going to have to deal with.

In basketball, I’m not sure Musselman can have a losing record. There hasn’t been one for the Hogs in so long you have to question how well this fan base could deal with one.

And I’m not talking about the SEC schedule. Since the league basically mandated improvement there it’s gotten tougher and this past season showed it.

But Musselman better pile up some wins, especially in some rent-a-wins at Bud Walton in November and December.

Get ready because it’s going to be an interesting year in both sports.

Wins immediately will matter for many fans.

That won’t be longer than a year, either.

Five of Musselman’s former Nevada players enter NCAA transfer portal

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Five of Musselman’s former Nevada players enter NCAA transfer portal

Nevada hired former UCLA coach Steve Alford to replace Eric Musselman just in time for him to discover five players have entered the NCAA transfer portal over the last 48 hours.

Yes, basically a complete lineup has at least given themselves the option to jump ship. All have said in reports by NevadaSportsNet.com they are still keeping the Wolf Pack in mind, but they are keeping their options open.

Jazz Johnson, a guard who could be looking at his third team in five years, started things by entering his name Wednesday evening.

Johnson was the fourth-leading scorer on the team last year with 11 points a game.

Johnson had shoulder surgery on his shooting shoulder earlier this month, was a 48.7% shooter from the field, including 45.2% on 157 3-point attempts and was that league’s top six man.

Johnson told Nevada Sports Net on Wednesday that it’s

“It’s only natural to see what my options are after a coaching change,” he told NevadaSportsNet.com on Wednesday. “It doesn’t mean I am leaving.”

The others who are leaving:

• Jordan Brown, the first McDonald’s All-American to play at Nevada (3 points, 2.1 rebounds as a freshman).

• Redshirt junior guard Jalen Harris (yes, a Nevada player with the same name as a Razorback) sat out last year after transferring from Louisiana Tech where he averaged 15.3 points as a sophomore.

“Nevada is still my priority and I fully intend to meet with the new coach before making any decisions,” according to NevadaSportsNet.com before Thursday afternoon’s announcement of Alford.

• K.J. Hymes, who redshirted last season as a freshman, entered the portal, according to ESPN.com.

• Nisre Zouzoua, who played sparingly in his one season at Nevada, will explore a graduate transfer, according to ESPN.

 

Sullins dominates field on first day of John McDonnell Invitational on Thursday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Sullins dominates field on first day of John McDonnell Invitational on Thursday

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ men kicked off the John McDonnell Invitational Thursday afternoon with two athletes in action at John McDonnell Field.

Erich Sullins highlighted the day for Arkansas with a first-place finish in the hammer throw, closing competition with a best mark of 65.95m (216-4), winning by more than 15-feet over the second-place finisher.

The win for Sullins is his sixth on the year including the indoor season that yielded four individual victories.

Daniel Spejcher made his Arkansas debut Thursday afternoon in the men’s decathlon finishing day one with a five-event total of 3,439-points.

Spejcher opened up with an 11.25 in the 100-meters earning 806-points.

Event two of the day saw Spejcher jump to a mark of 6.57m (21-6.75) in the long jump for 713-points.

From the long jump, the competition moved to the shot put where Spejcher used a fourth-place finish in the event to earn 686-points with a best throw of 13.31m (43-8).

A clearance of 1.75m (5-8.75) in the high jump netted the freshman 585-points.

Spejcher finished the day with a run of 53.77 in the 400-meters to finish with a day one total of 3,439-points, currently sitting in sixth-place.

Arkansas will return to John McDonnell Field for day two of the John McDonnell Invitational with the combined events getting underway at 10:30 a.m.

Razorbacks go on road for Top 10 matchup with Vanderbilt this weekend

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Arkansas faces its fourth-ranked opponent of the year and second from the Top 10 starting tomorrow when it faces sixth-ranked Vanderbilt in a three-game series.

The series is set to start at 7 p.m. on Friday on the SEC Network, while Saturday’s game will be on ESPNU and first pitch is at 8 p.m.

Sunday’s series finale will be at 1 p.m. and be broadcast online via SEC Network+.

Follow Live

Mike Morgan (PxP) and Chris Burke (Analyst) will have the call on Friday and Saturday’s national broadcast.

All three games can be viewed online via the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com. Phil Elson will have the radio call all three days on the Razorback Sports Network.

Fans can listen to the radio call on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home and 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 (6-0, 2.29 ERA, 59 K, 10 BB) vs. (VU) RHP Drake Fellows (6-0, 3.44 ERA, 58 K, 22 BB)

SAT: (ARK) RHP Connor Noland (0-1, 4.59 ERA, 22 K, 9 BB) vs. (VU) RHP Kumar Rocker (2-4, 5.90 ERA, 32 K, 8 BB)

SUN: (ARK) TBA vs. (VU) RHP Patrick Raby (5-1, 2.47 ERA, 38 K, 22 BB)

The Razorbacks (25-8, 8-4 SEC) have won three in a row after dispatching Oral Roberts on Tuesday, 15-8.

Heston Kjerstad had one of his best days, offensively, this season, hitting two home runs, one being a grand slam. It’s the third time in his career that he’s homered twice in a game and two of those times have been against the Golden Eagles.

Kjerstad is leading the team with nine home runs on the year and hitting .312 with 27 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

He ranks in the Top 10 in the SEC in home runs (9) and total bases (77) and has two or more RBIs in three of his last four games with a career-high five RBIs coming on Tuesday.

Razorback Prime Nine

• Arkansas goes to Vanderbilt for the first time since 2015 for a three-game series with the Commodores. The Hogs last won a three-game series in Nashville in 2010.

• Arkansas won its second road series in conference play last week when it took 2-of-3 from Auburn. It’s the Hogs’ third road series win overall this year, matching their most since 2015.

• The Razorbacks won a marathon 15-inning game on the backend of a doubleheader with Auburn on Friday. It was the longest game in terms of innings since 2004 (16 innings vs. SE Missouri St.).

• Freshman Patrick Wicklander has made 13 appearances this year, seven as a starter. In those games as a starter, the San Jose native has a 1.98 ERA, six earned runs allowed and 39 strikeouts.

• Patrick Wicklander has held opponents to a .186 batting average this season, which is the second-lowest among all freshman pitchers in the SEC.

• Friday night starter Isaiah Campbell was named to the Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List on Wednesday. Campbell has a 6-0 record with a team-best 2.29 ERA and is the only pitcher in the SEC with three wins, a 1.80 or lower ERA and 25 or more strikeouts in conference games.

• Junior Dominic Fletcher added to his league-best doubles total last week, hitting two against Auburn. He added another against ORU and is tied for the SEC lead (17) with Jake Mangum.

• Heston Kjerstad hit two homers against Oral Roberts on Tuesday, his third multi-home run game of his career. One of his home runs was a grand slam, a career first.

• Redshirt senior Trevor Ezell batted in the leadoff spot for the first time this year last week and he responded with a .389 average, including two multi-hit games, two home runs and a team-best seven RBIs.

1...1,3991,4001,401...1,812Page 1,400 of 1,812