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Hogs drop opening match to Ohio State in ITA Weekend Kickoff on Sunday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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PHOTO BY RAZORBACK SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS

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

Andy Hodges
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PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

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

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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PHOTO BY RAZORBACK SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS

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

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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PHOTO BY RAZORBACK SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS

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

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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PHOTO BY RAZORBACK SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS

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

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs infielder Jack Kenley talked with the media about the start of the new season is getting close and the anxiousness to get started.

Noland on juggling two sports with Razorbacks

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas pitcher Connor Noland is not new to playing football and baseball at the same time, he’s been doing it since he was seven years old and doesn’t see a difficult balancing act.

Kjerstad on being ready to get back on field again

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks outfielder Heston Kjerstad talked with the media Saturday morning on battling the boredom and how working against his own pitchers helps him playing in the field.

Sullins brings home weight throw title at first day of Razorback Invitational

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Erich Sullins turned in his second-straight win this season in the weight throw as Arkansas hosted day one of the Razorback Invitational Friday night at Randal Tyson Indoor Track.

Sullins, who rewrote his school record mark at the season opener, captured the event title for a second straight time this season finishing the day with a best of 20.07m (65-10.25).

Gabe Moore and Derek Jacobus got the day started with the opening events of the men’s heptathlon.

Moore currently leads the competition with a day one total of 3,399 points that includes a personal best of 15.53m (50-11.50) in the shot put.

Gabe Moore Razorback Invitational Heptathlon
Event Mark Points
60-meter 6.97 893
Long Jump 23-9 871
Shot Put 50-11.50 822
High Jump 6-7 813
60-meter hurdles — —
Pole Vault — —
1,000-meters — —
Point Total 3,399

 

Jacobus is currently in third-place with his day one total of 3,105 points that includes a PR of 7.02 in the 60-meters.

Derek Jacobus Razorback Invitational Heptathlon
Event Mark Points
60-meter 7.02 875
Long Jump 23-7.25 859
Shot Put 42-7 666
High Jump 6-2.25 705
60-meter hurdles — —
Pole Vault — —
1,000-meters — —
Point Total 3,105

 

Razorback senior Roy Ejiakuekw led the men’s squad in the 200-meters turning in a fourth-place performance running 21.14 in the one-lap race.

The men’s Distance Medley Relay of Ethan Moehn, Nick Hilson, Chase Pareti, and Matt Young combined to run 9:46.50 on the night finishing second. Arkansas’ time would’ve been led the nation entering this weekend.

Laquan Narin battled it out on the runway in the men’s long jump, finishing eighth with a best of 7.50m (24-7.25).

After day one of competition, Arkansas is currently tied for fourth place with 24 points through six events scored.

The Razorbacks return to Randal Tyson tomorrow morning as day two of the Razorback Invitational gets underway at 11:25 a.m with the men’s heptathlon.

Chadwick, Herman lead Hogs on first day of Razorback Invitational

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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PHOTO BY RAZORBACK SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS

FAYETTEVILLE — Kelsey Herman captured the pentathlon title and Payton Chadwick turned in the No. 2 time in program history in the 200-meters on the opening day of the Razorback Invitational at Randal Tyson Indoor Track Friday night.

Herman, a two-time All-American in the event, capped her opening pentathlon of the season with the title scoring over 4,100 points while clocking a near PR in the opening event of the competition (60-meter hurdles) falling short of the mark by one one-hundredth of a second (0.01).

Kelsey Herman Razorback Invitational Pentathlon
Event Mark Points
60-meter hurdles 8.34 1,052
High Jump 5-8.75 916
Shot Put 38-9.75 650
Long Jump 19-6.25 834
800-meters 2:29.78 696
Point Total 4,189

 

Freshman J’Alyiea Smith completed her first collegiate pentathlon finishing eight-overall in the competition while setting personal-best in every event minus the 60-meter hurdles.

J’Alyiea Smith Razorback Invitational Pentathlon
Event Mark Points
60-meter hurdles 8.90 931
High Jump 5-8.75 916
Shot Put 22-10.50 333
Long Jump 17-6 651
800-meters 2:29.53 699
Point Total 3,530

 

On the track for Arkansas, Payton Chadwick turned in the No. 2 fastest 200-meter sprint in program history breaking her tie with former Razorback great Talyor Ellis-Watson (22.99).

Chadwick finished second in her heat trailing Kentucky’s Abby Steiner who turned in an identical 22.97. The final result came down to a difference of four one-thousandths of a second as Steiner took the event in 22.965 over Chadwick’s 22.969.

Freshman Kethlin Campbell (23.42) and Tiana Wilson (23.67) set PR’s in the event while Kiara Parker (23.41), Jada Baylark (23.58), Janeek Brown (23.67), Tamara Kuykendall (24.40), and Morgan Burks-Magee (24.71) finished fourth, eighth, 10th, 19th, and 27th, respectively.

Senior All-American Lexi Jacobus captured her third-straight meet victory of 2019 clearing 4.51m (14-9.50) for the win. Tori Hoggard cleared an identical bar for a second-place finish while Desiree Freier (4.41m/14-5.50), Bailee McCorkle (4.01m/13-1.75), Rylee Robinson (3.91m/12-10), Morgan Hartsell (3.81m/12-6), Genna Potter (3.61m/11-10), Olivia Groeber (3.41m/11-2.25), and Parrish Kitto (3.41m/11-2.25) finished fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, 12th, and tied for 13th, respectively.

After day one of competition, Arkansas leads the meet with 59.5 points through seven events scored.

The Razorbacks return to Randal Tyson tomorrow morning as day two of the Razorback Invitational gets underway at 11:25 a.m with the men’s heptathlon.

Hogs’ women down Louisiana-Monroe for second straight sweep

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ women’s tennis earned its second sweep in a row with a defeat of Lousiana-Monroe on Friday afternoon.

The Hogs split the first two sets in doubles play, with Martina Zerulo and Tatum Rice earning a 6-0 win at the No. 1 position. Lauren Alter and Laura Rijkers fell 6-2 to the Warhawks before Jackie Carr and Miruna Tudor clinched the point at the No. 3 position.

Singles play got off to a fast start, as Rice defeated Tiffany Phaysouphan 6-1, 6-1. Zerulo put the Razorbacks up 3-0 at the No. 1 position, earning a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Tudor clinched the match, giving Arkansas its fourth win of the season with a 6-0, 7-5 win.

The team played through the clinch, with Rijkers earning a third-set victory at the No. 4 position. Carr defeated Angeles Cuerto 6-1, 6-4 before Alter put the match away with a 7-5, 7-5 victory.

The Razorbacks will return to the court Sunday for a doubleheader against Pine Bluff. First serve is set for 11 a.m.

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