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Van Horn, players recapping win over Texas Tech

© Video from NCAA

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn along with Dominic Fletcher, Jared Gates and Barrett Loseke talking about the Hogs’ 7-4 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday.

Hogs unleash bats, down Texas Tech, 7-4

OMAHA, Neb. — Sophomore Dominic Fletcher became the first player with four hits and four RBI in a College World Series game at TD Ameritrade Park to pace the Razorbacks to a 7-4 win over No. 9 Texas Tech.

Fletcher and Jared Gates each hit a home run in Wednesday’s game while junior Barrett Loseke picked up the win in another dominant effort against Texas Tech.

Arkansas, the No. 5 national seed, will next play Friday, June 22 at 7 p.m. (CT) against the winner of the elimination game between Florida and Texas Tech. With the win, the Razorbacks improve to 46-19 this season.

Box Score vs Texas Tech

The Big Inning

Out to a 3-0 lead, Arkansas added a pair of insurance runs in the fourth inning to extend its advantage to five.

Fletcher led off the frame with a no-doubt solo shot over the bullpen in right field. The home run was his ninth of the season and his first since the Razorbacks’ opening game of the SEC Tournament against South Carolina (May 23).

Arkansas tacked on another run with an RBI single off the bat of junior Jax Biggers which knocked Texas Tech starter Davis Martin out of the game.

The Hitting

With two home runs Wednesday, the Razorbacks pushed their program record to 97 this season. Arkansas has now hit 13 during the NCAA Tournament, leaving the yard in six of those eight games.

Overall, the Razorbacks pounded out 12 hits to reach double figures for the seventh time in eight NCAA Tournament games. From the top of the order, Eric Cole and Casey Martin joined Fletcher with multi-hit performances.

The Pitching

Junior Kacey Murphy got the start and responded with seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work, good for his 10th outing with five or more strikeouts this season.

After Texas Tech got on the board with a two-run double in the fifth, Murphy gave way to Loseke who came in to get the final out of the inning.

With five strikeouts in 3.0 innings Wednesday, Loseke has fanned 15 hitters in two appearances (7.2 innings) against Texas Tech this season.

Quick Start

For the 26th this season and for the fourth straight game, the Razorbacks scored in the first inning on the strength of three hits including a two-run double by Fletcher.

Arkansas is now 23-3 this season when scoring in the first inning and 31-8 overall when scoring first.

“Let the Boys Play”

Originally scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m., the 1-0 winner’s bracket game between Arkansas and Texas Tech was first postponed to Wednesday at 11 a.m. but due to a weather delay this morning, first pitch was ultimately pushed to 2:30 p.m.

Game Note

Wednesday’s game marked the 60th meeting in the all-time series between Arkansas and Texas Tech and the second this season. The teams had never met in the College World Series.

College World Series – Bracket 2 | CWS Bracket

Sunday, June 17
Game 3: No. 5 Arkansas 11, No. 13 Texas 5
Game 4: No. 9 Texas Tech 6, No. 1 Florida 3

Tuesday, June 19
Game 7: No. 1 Florida 6, No. 13 Texas 1

Wednesday, June 20
Game 8: No. 5 Arkansas vs No. 9 Texas Tech – 11 a.m.

Thursday, June 21
Game 10: No. 1 Florida vs No. 9 Texas Tech – 7 p.m. [ESPNU]

Friday, June 22
Game 12: No. 5 Arkansas vs Winner Game 11 – 7 p.m. [ESPN]

Bad weather delays Hogs-Red Raiders to Wednesday

Arkansas and Texas Tech will have to wait a few hours.

The bad weather in Omaha has caused the NCAA to move their game scheduled for Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.

The game is now scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2 as well as on ESPN Arkansas stations at 95.3 FM in the River Valley, 96.3 FM in Hot Springs and 104.3 FM in Harrison-Mountain Home.

The pregame will start at 10:30 a.m. with Phil Elson and Bubba Carpenter setting the scene from the College World Series.

Burnside joining Razorbacks’ softball after two years at Mizzou

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel has announced the addition of Braxton Burnside to the Razorbacks’ softball roster.

The Paragould native spent the first two season of her collegiate career at Missouri and joins the Hogs as a junior.

In two seasons with Missouri, Burnside registered 99 hits with 48 runs scored, 15 home runs, 80 RBI and 20 doubles. After a standout 2017 season, she earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team and was named a top-25 finalist for the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year.

Burnside also collected NFCA and USA Softball National Player of the Week (March 18, 2017) honors following a week with three home runs including two grand slams in one game.

Additionally, Burnside was part of two NCAA appearances with Missouri and, for her work in the classroom, was part of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Burnside is no stranger to the Natural State as a standout for Paragould High School. She hit 44 home runs during her prep career which ranks first all-time in Arkansas high school softball history.

She amassed 185 RBI with the Rams and carried a .551 batting average during her junior season. Burnside was also a three-time All-State performer.

The Razorbacks are coming off a season in which they posted a 42-17 record and advanced the program’s first-ever NCAA Super Regional.

Individually, Arkansas had a program-high four NFCA All-Region selections with Hannah McEwen, Mary Haff, Autumn Buczek and Katie Warrick. Haff was also a top-three finalist for National Freshman of the Year.

Everything you need to know for Hogs-Red Raiders

WHEN: Tuesday, 6 p.m.

WHERE: TD Ameritrade Park (24,000), Omaha, Neb.

RECORDS: Arkansas 45-19; Texas Tech 45-18.

COACHES: Arkansas: Dave Van Horn, 640-362 in 16th season at Arkansas and 960-521 in 24th season overall in Division I; Texas Tech: Tim Tadlock, 239-130 in sixth season at Texas Tech and overall in Division I.

SERIES: Arkansas leads 45-14.

LAST MEETING: Arkansas defeated Texas Tech 5-1 on April 24 in Fayetteville.

RADIO: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 FM in the River Valley, 96.3 FM in Hot Springs and western Arkansas and 104.3 FM in Harrison-Mountain Home.

TELEVISION: The game will be televised by ESPN and streamed on the ESPN app and ESPN3.com.

ANNOUNCERS: Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Kyle Peterson (commentary), Eduardo Perez (commentary) and Laura Rutledge (field).

LIKELY PITCHING MATCHUP: Arkansas, LHP Kacey Murphy (8-5, 3.12 ERA); Texas Tech, RHP Caleb Killian (9-2, 3.04 ERA).

WEATHER: According to the National Weather Service, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday in Omaha.

TEAM COMPARISON

ERA: Arkansas 3.57; Texas Tech 4.38.

Earned Runs Per Game: Arkansas 7.10; Texas Tech 7.83.

Batting Average: Arkansas .302; Texas Tech .311.

Opponent Batting Average: Arkansas .237; Texas Tech .243.

Fielding Percentage: Arkansas .972; Texas Tech .972.

NOTABLE:

• Neither team will be eliminated with a loss. The winner will play Friday night, needing one win to advance to the national championship series. The loser will play either Texas or Florida in an elimination game Thursday

• Texas Tech is 3-6 and Arkansas is 9-2 this season against common opponents – Texas, Florida, Dallas Baptist and Kentucky

• The Red Raiders and Razorbacks both enter Tuesday’s game with a 6-1 record in the NCAA postseason. Both teams swept their home regionals, then won two of three games in home super regionals. Texas Tech defeated Duke 6-2 last Monday to advance to the College World Series for the third time in five seasons

• Texas Tech ranks top 10 nationally in team batting average (.311), doubles (139), triples (24), walks (347), home runs (82), on-base percentage (.420), runs per game (8.2) and slugging percentage (.510)

• Texas Tech’s Gabe Holt enters Tuesday’s game on a 15-game hit streak. Holt was a Freshman All-America selection at second base, along with Arkansas third baseman Casey Martin and Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad.

Kim advances to weekend play at Walmart NWA Championship

ROGERS — Arkansas senior-to-be Dylan Kim fired a bogey-free 6-under 65 to advance through the Monday qualifier and into the weekend field at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.

Kim’s 65 tied one other player, an LPGA Tour professional, for the top spot with both players moving on to play on Friday and Saturday.

She joins fellow senior-to-be Maria Fassi who earned a sponsor’s exemption and #ProHogs Stacy Lewis and Gabriela Lopez who are LPGA Tour members.

From Dylan Kim

I played well today. I hit a lot of greens and putted well and that always makes for a good round. This is one of the better rounds that I have had in a while and it feels great to do it at home. This is a really cool experience for me. I get to stay in my own apartment and I hope that one of my teammates will caddy for me this week.

From Arkansas coach Shauna Taylor

Dylan is just a tremendous player. She’s so prepared and works her tail off and is deserving of a good outcome today. It was fantastic to see her play well. Our players have the dream of playing on the next level and what a tremendous opportunity to come out here and do that on one of our home golf courses.

Kim opened her day on the back nine and turned 4-under after a great start. She picked up her first birdie on No. 12 after hitting a long tee shoot on the par 4, 394-yard hole. She hit her second shot close to the pin and drained the putt for the birdie.

She picked up her second and third birdies on consecutive holes on Nos. 15 and 16 and birdied No. 18 before making the turn. It was another good tee shot for Kim followed by a strong second shot to the uphill green in front of the grandstands.

Kim added birdies on Nos. 2 and 7 shooting 2-under on the front nine to advance to the weekend tournament.

Former Razorback Summar Roachell and recently graduated Razorback Alana Uriell tied for seventh overall with 2-under 69s. #ProHog Emily Tubert was tied for 12th with an even-par 71, followed by Razorback senior-to-be Kaylee Benton who carded a 74 to tie for 21st. Benton had fellow Razorback Mason Overstreet on the bag for her on Monday.

NOTES

• Dylan Kim’s 6-under 65 is the second-best score posted by a Razorback (current or former) during this event. It is second to Alana Uriell’s 64 in 2016.
• Dylan Kim is the seventh Razorback player to advance out of the Monday qualifier.
• Four current and/or former Razorbacks in the tournament field is the second-most in a single year. Arkansas had five players compete on the weekend in 2016 and 2017.

ESPN says Hogs have sixth toughest three-game stretch

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With the start of the college football season a little over two months away, Arkansas has made one Top 10 list.

ESPN’s Chris Low put together teams with the 10 toughest three-game stretches in all of college football for 2018 and the Razorbacks made the list … at No. 6.

Sept. 22 at Auburn, Sept. 29 vs. Texas A&M, Oct. 6 vs. Alabama
Any stretch that includes both Alabama and Auburn in a span of three weeks is never for the faint of heart. Both the Crimson Tide and Tigers will again be loaded on defense this season, and with first-year coach Chad Morris taking on a major rebuilding job at Arkansas, finding a way to even get to 20 points against Alabama and Auburn will be a chore for the Hogs, who were 1-7 in the SEC last season. Sandwiched between the Auburn and Alabama games is a home date against No. 23 Texas A&M, which has won six in a row over Arkansas, with three of the past four being overtime games.

The good news for Hog fans is that’s the roughest three-game stretch in the entire season. It comes after opening with three non-conference opponents. Eastern Illinois, Colorado State and North Texas aren’t SEC teams, although the Mean Green was finally respectable last season.

Some think the game in the second week against the Rams is a trap game, but the reality is they lost their best offensive players and have as many question marks as anyone.

The Hogs’ final three-game stretch against LSU, Mississippi State and Missouri features all-new offensive coordinators. LSU could easily by 4-5 by then, a week after playing Alabama. Who knows about the Bulldogs and Missouri’s new offensive coordinator is learning the offense from the quarterback.

Ah, yes, the joys of summer college football talk.

Four Razorbacks set to compete in USA Championships

FAYETTEVILLE —With the NCAA season completed and behind them, four members of the Arkansas men’s track & field team will pursue success on the national stage at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships June 21-24 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Date/Time: Thursday, June 21 | Friday, June 22 | Saturday, June 23 | Sunday, June 24
Venue: Drake University (Drake Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results | Start Lists
Broadcast Schedule: NBC Sports Gold

Hosted by Drake University, the four-day event will see the top athletes from around the country vying for a USATF Championship. With the next IAAF World Championships slated to be held in Doha, Qatar Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2019, there are no Team USA spots up for grabs and there will be no advancement past the USATF Championship meet.

Current Razorbacks traveling to Iowa includes Kenzo Cotton (100-meters, 200-meters), Obi Igbokwe (200-meters, 400-meters), Derek Jacobus (Decathlon), and Larry Donald (110-meter hurdles). The four current Hogs will be joined by six #ProHogs including Tyson Gay (100-meters), Andrew Irwin (Pole Vault), Stanley Kebenei (Steeplechase), Frankline Tonui (Steeplechase), Jarrion Lawson (100-meters, 200-meters), Marqueze Washington (100-meters, 200-meters, 400-meters).

Events to Watch
Arkansas’ speed will be on full display this week with four entries in the 100-meters, four entries in the 200-meters, and a Razorback duo in the 400-meters. Cotton was a finalist at 200-meters during last year’s USATF meet, while Razorback alums Stanley Kebenei (3K Steeple) and Andrew Irwin (Pole Vault) each finished second in their respective events to earn spots on Team USA and competed at the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

Current | Pro Match-Ups

  • 100-meters: Kenzo Cotton | Tyson Gay | Jarrion Lawson | Marqueze Washington. Strongest PR – Gay, 9.69 (2009)
  • 200-meters: Kenzo Cotton | Marqueze Washington | Obi Igbokwe | Jarrion Lawson. Strongest PR – Gay, 20.17 (2016)
  • 400-meters: Obi Igbokwe | Marqueze Washington. Strongest PR – Igbokwe, 44.94 (2018)
  • 3,000-meter steeplechase: Stanley Kebenei | Frankline Tonui. Strongest PR – Kebenei, 8:08.30 (2017)

Arkansas’ USATF Event Schedule
Thursday, June 21

Running Events:
3:05 PM – Men’s 400-meters hurdles First-Round (L. Donald)
5:05 PM – Men’s 400-meters First-Round (O. Igbokwe, M. Washington)
6:10 PM – Men’s 100-meters First-Round (K. Cotton, J. Lawson, M. Washington, T. Gay)
Decathlon:
1:00 PM – Decathlon 100-meters (D. Jacobus)
1:55 PM – Decathlon Long Jump (D. Jacobus)
2:55 PM – Decathlon Shot Put (D. Jacobus)
4:10 PM – Decathlon High Jump (D. Jacobus)
6:40 PM – Decathlon 400-meters (D. Jacobus)

Friday, June 22
Running Events:
5:10 PM – Men’s 400-meter hurdles Semifinal
5:50 PM – Men’s 100-meters Semifinal
6:20 PM – Men’s 400-meters Semifinal
7:30 PM – Men’s 100-meters Final
Decathlon:
11:30 AM – Decathlon 110-meter hurdles (D. Jacobus)
12:30 PM – Decathlon Discus Throw (D. Jacobus)
3:00 PM – Decathlon Pole Vault (D. Jacobus)
4:30 PM – Decathlon Javelin Throw (D. Jacobus)
6:35 PM – Decathlon 1,500-meters (D. Jacobus)

Saturday, June 23
Running Events:
1:10 PM – Men’s 200-meters First-Round (K. Cotton, O. Igbokwe, J. Lawson, M. Washington)
2:35 PM – Men’s 110-meter hurdles First-Round (L. Donald)
3:36 PM – Men’s 400-meter hurdles Final
4:30 PM – Men’s 400-meters Final
Field Events:
1:30 PM – Men’s Pole Vault (A. Irwin)

Sunday, June 24
Running Events:
2:00 PM – Men’s 200-meters Semifinal
2:30 PM – Men’s 110-meter hurdles Semifinal
3:55 PM – Men’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase (S. Kebenei, F. Tonui)
4:10 PM – Men’s 200-meters Final
4:52 PM – Men’s 110-meter hurdles Final

Also competing this weekend will be Kemar Mowatt who will run at the Jamaican Trials in the 400-meter hurdles, and Clive Pullen who will compete in the triple jump at the same meet.

Date/Time: Thursday, June 21 | Friday, June 22
Venue: Kingston, Jamacia | Independence Park (National Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results

Mowatt enters the meet with a season-best time of 48.83 seconds set at Hayward Field during the final of the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships a few weeks ago in Eugene, Ore. Mowatt set the program record with his time of 48.49 during last year’s NCAA Championships and went on to finish fourth at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, England following a silver medal performance at the Jamaican championships last year. Pullen enters the meet boasting a season-best of 16.25m (53′-3.75″) set during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games held at Carrara Stadium in  Queensland, Australia.

Thursday, June 21
5:32 p.m. – Triple Jump (C. Pullen)
6:20 p.m. – 400-meter hurdles Prelims (K. Mowatt)

Friday, June 22
7:52 p.m. – 400-meter hurdles Final

Italicized events require qualification.

Championships in USA, Jamaica goal for some Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE —With the collegiate season completed and behind them, six members of the Arkansas women’s track and field team will pursue success on the national stage at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships June 21-24 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Date/Time: Thursday, June 21 | Friday, June 22 | Saturday, June 23 | Sunday, June 24
Venue: Drake University (Drake Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results | Start Lists
Broadcast Schedule: NBC Sports Gold

Hosted by Drake University, the four-day event will see the top athletes from around the country vying for a USATF Championship.

With the next IAAF World Championships slated to be held in Doha, Qatar Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2019, there are no Team USA spots up for grabs and there will be no advancement past the USATF Championship meet.

Current Razorbacks traveling to Iowa include Taliyah Brooks (Long Jump, 100-meter hurdles), Jada Baylark (100-meters), Kiara Parker (100-meters), Nikki Hiltz (1,500-meters), Tori Hoggard (Pole Vault), and Lexi Jacobus (Pole Vault). They will be joined in competition by six ProHogs.

The veteran Razorback group will be headlined by Olympic veterans Sandi Morris (Pole Vault), and Chrishuna Williams (800-meters), as well as #ProHogs Jessica Kamilos (3,000-meter Steeplechase), Alex Gochenour (Heptathlon), Stephanie Brown (1,500-meters), and Daina Harper (400-meters).

Top-Ranked Razorbacks

A 2016 silver medalist at the Rio Olympic Games, Morris heads into the pole vault competition as the top entry with her 2018 best clearance of 4.95m (16′-2.75″) from the IAAF World Indoor meet this past March in Birmingham, Great Britain. Morris also carries an outdoor season-best into the meet from Drake Relays where she won her third-consecutive Drake Relays pole vault title with a meet record-setting clearance of 4.88m/16′-0″.

Morris became the first athlete in Drake Relays history to clear 16-feet in the women’s vault.

Current | Pro Matchups

  • 100-meters: Jada Baylark | Kiara Parker – Strongest PR – Baylark, 11.04 (2018)
  • 1,500-meters: Nikki Hiltz | Stephanie Brown. Strongest PR – Brown, 4:06.71 (2018)
  • Pole Vault: Lexi Jacobus | Tori Hoggard | Sandi Morris. Strongest PR – Morris, 5.00m/16′-4.75″ (2016)

Arkansas’ USATF Event Schedule
Thursday, June 21
1:50 p.m. – 3,000-meter steeplechase First-Round (J. Kamilos)
2:20 p.m. – 800-meters First-Round (C. Williams)
3:35 p.m. – 1,500-meters First-Round (N. Hiltz, S. Brown)
4:40 p.m. – 400-meters First-Round (D. Harper)
5:45 p.m. – 100-meters First-Round (J. Baylark, K. Parker)

Friday, June 22
3:50 p.m. – 100-meter hurdles First-Round (T. Brooks)
5:30 p.m. – 100-meters Semifinal
6:05 p.m. – 400-meters Semifinal
6:50 p.m. – 800-meters Semifinal
7:22 p.m. – 100-meters Final

Saturday, June 23
2:15 p.m. – Long Jump (T. Brooks)
2:20 p.m. – 100-meter hurdles Semifinal
3:20 p.m. – 3,000-meter steeplechase Final
3:46 p.m. – 1,500-meters Final

4:08 p.m. – 400-meters Final 
4:52 p.m. – 100-meter hurdles Final

Sunday, June 24
1:55 p.m. – Pole Vault Finals (S. Morris, L. Jacobus, T. Hoggard)
3:04 p.m. – 800-meters Final

Italicized events require qualification.

Also competing this weekend will be Janeek Brown who will run at the Jamaican Trials in the 100-meter hurdles.

Date/Time: Saturday, June 23
Venue: Kingston, Jamacia | Independence Park (National Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results

Brown enters the meet with a season-best and personal best time of 12.80 seconds set at Hayward Field during the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships a few weeks ago in Eugene, Ore. Brown set the program record with her time and went on to earn All-American honors in the event finishing fifth to wrap up her freshman campaign for the Razorbacks.

Saturday, June 23
10:25 a.m. – 100-meter hurdles Prelims (J. Brown)
6:30 p.m. – 100-meter hurdles Final

Italicized events require qualification.

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