Southern Mississippi coach Scott Berry along with players Cole Donaldson and Nick Sandlin recapped their 9-0 win over Dallas Baptist on Friday night at the NCAA Regional.
Dallas Baptist coaches, players after loss to Southern Miss
Dallas Baptist coach Dan Heefner along with players Trevor Conn and Devlin Granberg talk to the media after losing to Southern Mississippi, 9-0 on Friday night in the NCAA Regional.
Razorbacks run away from ORU to win regional opener
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas opened up the 2018 NCAA Fayetteville Regional with a runaway 10-2 victory over Oral Roberts on Friday afternoon at Baum Stadium.
Freshman outfielder Heston Kjerstad hit two of the Hogs’ four homers, while right-hander Blaine Knight tied a career-high with eight innings pitched and only two runs allowed.
Kjerstad, who had just one hit in last week’s SEC Tournament, showed why he was picked as the SEC Freshman of the Year when he went the opposite way with home runs in the third and eighth innings, accounting for four of Arkansas’ 10 runs.
He also singled in the fifth to finish 3-for-5 with two runs scored and tied a career-high with four RBIs.
On the mound, Knight had one of his best outings of the season, working an efficient eight innings on 104 pitches, while only allowing three hits, two being solo home runs, and just one walk.
The victory moves Knight to 11-0 on the year, keeping him as one of only two pitchers in the SEC with 11 wins.
The win for the Hogs (40-18) is their 40th of the year, marking the 22nd season that Arkansas totaled 40 or more wins and 10th time under Dave Van Horn.
It was also their fourth-straight regional opening victory, putting them into the winner’s bracket to face the winner of two-seed Southern Miss and three-seed Dallas Baptist on Saturday.
The Hitting
Of the 10 Arkansas players that made a plate appearance on Friday, all recorded at least one hit in the game with Kjerstad leading all players with three hits.
As a team, Arkansas finished with 14 hits in the game, its most in an NCAA Tournament game since knocking 18 against Missouri State in the 2015 Super Regional.
Kjerstad’s multi-home run game was second of the year and gives him 13 for the season, tying him with fellow freshman Casey Martin for the team lead.
He also joins Martin in good company as he has tied the Arkansas freshman record for home runs in a season last set by Zack Cox in 2009.
Along with Kjerstad’s big day, sophomore Dominic Fletcher finished 2-for-4 with two singles, his 19th multi-hit game of the year.
Jax Biggers also had a two-hit day, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to finish off a four-run inning for the Hogs and up their lead over ORU to 6-1.
Since returning from his finger injury in last week’s SEC Tournament, Biggers is 5-for-10 (.500) over three games with two multi-hit games and two RBIs. The home run was his fourth of the year.
Arkansas’ other homer came at the start of the sixth inning when redshirt senior Carson Shaddy hit his 11th of the year with a solo shot into the Hog Pen. It was Shaddy’s first home run since May 11 and 10th coming at Baum Stadium.
Friday’s game against Oral Roberts was the sixth game this year that Arkansas has hit four or more home runs.
As a team, the Hogs are now up to 88 for the season, which still leads the SEC and is the second most in a season in program history. Arkansas needs just four more home runs to tie the school record of 92 set in the 2010 season.
The Pitching
All of the Razorback pitching leaned on Knight, who saved the bullpen with his eight-inning outing.
It was Knight’s longest outing since March 31, 2017 at Alabama and his sixth-straight start this year of six or more innings.
Knight’s only mistakes came in the fifth and seventh innings when he gave up two solo home runs to Riley Keizor, but the three hits allowed was his lowest in five appearances.
Redshirt sophomore Cody Scroggins came in to finish off the ninth inning for the Razorbacks, striking out one in his 13th appearance of the year.
Up Next
Arkansas moves on to the winner’s bracket of the Fayetteville Regional and will play the winner of Southern Miss and Dallas Baptist on Saturday at 7 p.m.
A win on Saturday will put the Hogs into the regional final.
All games tomorrow will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Van Horn, Kjerstad, Knight after win over ORU
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn along with players Heston Kjerstad and Blaine Knight recap the Hogs’ 10-2 win over Oral Roberts in the first round the NCAA Regional.
ORU’s Folmar, Keizor, McGregor after loss to Hogs
Oral Roberts coach Ryan Folmar along with players Riley Keizor and Justin McGregor recap the 10-2 loss to Arkansas on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Regional.
Bucknam on how Hogs will deal with what they have
Arkansas has had some injuries with the men’s track team, but coach Chris Bucknam is ready to deal with what they have going to Eugene for the NCAA Championships.
Everything you need to know about Hogs’ regional
FAYETTEVILLE — Fourth-ranked Arkansas is set for its 30th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history this weekend, facing fourth-seed Oral Roberts in its first game of the Fayetteville Regional at 2 p.m. on ESPN3.
Matchup: No. 1 Arkansas vs. No. 4 Oral Roberts
TV: ESPN3 • WatchESPNApp
Talent: Doug Sherman (PXP), John Gregory (Analyst)
Radio: Razorback Sports Network from IMG
Probable Starters: (ARK) RHP Blaine Knight (10-0) vs. (ORU) RHP Justin McGregor (6-1)
Along with Summit League champion Oral Roberts, two-seed and C-USA champion Southern Miss as well as three-seed Dallas Baptist make up the regional field with the Razorbacks.
This is the second-straight year that Arkansas and Oral Roberts are in the same regional and third time in the last four years. Arkansas hasn’t faced Southern Miss since 1995 and Dallas Baptist since 2005.
Last year, Oral Roberts and Arkansas faced off twice in the 2017 Fayetteville Regional with the Razorbacks winning both the opening and elimination games, 3-0 and 4-3, respectively.
The last three meetings between Arkansas and Oral Roberts have come in NCAA Regionals.
Super Regional Matchup
The winner of the Fayetteville Regional will advance to the Super Regional against the winner of the Greenville Regional that features No. 1 East Carolina, No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 UNC-Wilmington.
Friday’s Probable Starter – RHP Blaine Knight
Junior right-hander Blaine Knight will get the ball for Arkansas’ opening game of the 2018 NCAA Regional. Knight has been the Hogs’ Friday night starter all year and has racked up a 10-0 record with a 2.78 ERA.
Last week, the Bryant native beat No. 1 Florida for the second time this year when he sent Arkansas to the SEC Tournament semifinals with a six-inning outing and only one run allowed.
He’s currently the only pitcher in the NCAA with a perfect 10-0 record and has thrown less than six innings in his last five starts.
Player to Watch – INF Casey Martin
Razorback third baseman Casey Martin comes into the NCAA Fayetteville Regional as one of the hottest players in the nation.
The freshman smacked three homers in last week’s SEC Tournament, leading all players in the field and has now taken over the team lead with 13 home runs this year. His 13 long balls are currently tied for the most by an Arkansas freshman in a single season, tying Zack Cox, who set the record in 2009.
Martin has at least one hit in five of his last six games, including three multi-hit games. His .343 batting average currently leads the team and is seventh-highest in the SEC, highest among all freshmen.
2018 NCAA Fayetteville Regional Schedule
Friday, June 1
Game 1 – No. 4 Oral Roberts vs. No. 1 Arkansas, 2 p.m. (ESPN3) | LIVE STATS | WATCH LIVE
Game 2 – No. 3 Dallas Baptist vs. No. 2 Southern Miss, 7 p.m. (ESPN3) | LIVE STATS | WATCH LIVE
Saturday, June 2
Game 3 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Game 4 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Sunday, June 3
Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Game 6 – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Monday, June 4
Game 7 – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 6:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
RAZORBACK PRIME 9
• Arkansas is making its 29th appearance over in the NCAA Tournament this weekend and 15th in the last 16 years. This is the seventh time Fayetteville has been selected to host a regional and first in back-to-back years since 2006-2007.
• The Razorbacks won a share of the SEC Western Division title this year by finishing with an 18-12 conference record. It’s Arkansas’ first division title since 2011 and fourth under Dave Van Horn.
• Seven different Razorbacks were named to the various All-SEC teams last week, led by freshman Heston Kjerstad, who was named the SEC Freshman of the Year, the first such recipient in school history.
• Infielder Carson Shaddy was named to the All-SEC First Team, while Eric Cole, Blaine Knight, Casey Martin, and Heston Kjerstad were named to the Second Team. Grant Koch and Dominic Fletcher made up the SEC All-Defensive Team.
• Martin earned SEC All-Tournament honors after going 4-for-12 (.333) at the plate, including three homers to lead all tournament players.
• Kjerstad is the third Razorback in school history to win a major conference award (Andrew Benintendi – 2015; Nick Schmidt – 2006).
• Martin now has 13 home runs on the year, which leads the team and is tied for the most by an Arkansas freshman in a single season (Zack Cox, 2009).
• With wins over South Carolina and top-seed Florida, the Razorbacks reached the SEC Tournament semifinal for the fourth time in the last six years.
• Right-hander Blaine Knight has four quality starts in his last five outings and has not gone less than six innings in his last five starts.
Harter on going to NCAA Finals a little shorthanded
Arkansas women’s track coach Lance Harter met with the media Thursday and talked about the women going to Eugene for the finals with a smaller squad due to injuries.
Van Horn on starting Knight, respect for ORU
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn after the Hogs’ final practice before opening NCAA Regional play Thursday on decision to start Blaine Knight, respect for Oral Roberts and more.
Five golfers with Arkansas roots tee off in US Women’s Open
SHOAL CREEK, Ala. — Five current and former Arkansas women’s golfers teed it up on Thursday in round one of the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open in Shoal Creek, Alabama.
Kaylee Benton came off the course with a 2-over 74. The Buckeye, Arizona, native had a colorful scorecard that included four birdies, four bogeys and one double.
#ProHog Stacy Lewis finished with a 3-over 75 in the first round. Lewis began her day on the back nine and opened quickly with birdies on Nos. 10 and 13 to get to 2-under.
The Woodlands, Texas, native doubled No. 14 and added three bogeys throughout the remainder of her round.
Razorback junior Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Maria Fassi counted a 4-over 76 in her round. Her day included just one birdie and she had 13 par holes.
#ProHog Gabriela Lopez struggled on the back nine shooting 4-over on holes 10-18. She picked up two more bogeys on the front side and tallied her only birdie of the round on No 2.
Junior Dylan Kim was the last Razorback off the course playing in the afternoon session. Kim shot a 2-over 74 and is tied with Benton and several other players.
Kim opened her round with a birdie starting on No. 1. She picked up four bogeys but finished strong with a birdie on No. 14 followed by four consecutive par holes.
There is a three-way tie for the lead with players shooting a 5-under 67. Several players are still on the course and positions are not final.
Round 2 Tee Times
8:41 a.m. No. 10 Dylan Kim
12:42 p.m. No. 10 Gabriela Lopez
12:53 p.m. No. 10 Maria Fassi
1:15 p.m. No. 1 Stacy Lewis
2:32 p.m. No. 1 Kaylee Benton
Fassi also earned a sponsor’s exemption to the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
Benton, Kim and recently graduated senior Alana Uriell will all take part in the Monday qualifier on June 18, with weekend action beginning Friday, June 22.
Fassi, Kim and Uriell’s summer continues as members of the inaugural Palmer Cup teams. It is the first year for women to be included at the event which takes place at the Evian Resort Golf Club in France, July 6-8.
The leading United States college players will compete against the leading college players from the rest of the world in continental Europe.
The teams are made up of 12 men and 12 women and are selected according to nationality.
