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Hogs head to Georgia with chance to nail down West title

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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ATHENS, Ga. — With a one-game lead in the SEC West and only three games remaining in the regular season, Arkansas has a chance to win its first division crown since 2011 when it faces Georgia for a three-game series starting on Thursday.

First pitch for game one is set for 6 p.m. and will be televised online on SEC Network+.

Game two will also start at 6 p.m., while the season finale will have a national television audience on the SEC Network and have a first pitch time of 11 a.m.

In its history since joining the SEC, Arkansas has won four Western Division crowns, three under current head coach Dave Van Horn (2004, 2007, 2011).

In each of those years, the Hogs won 40 or more games and 15 or more in SEC play.

The Razorbacks come in to Athens fresh off another series sweep, their fourth of the year, as it won all three against No. 20 Texas A&M last weekend by a combined score of 18-7.

It was the first time since the Aggies joined the league (2013) that the Hogs were able to secure the sweep and they were able to do it by getting strong outings from all three of their starters.

Blaine Knight, Kacey Murphy, and Isaiah Campbell all went five or more innings last week and struck out five or more.

For Knight, the junior tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts, his second outing of 10 or more this year, while Murphy worked a career-long 7.1 innings in game two, lowering his ERA to 2.30, the second lowest in the conference.

Offensively, the Hog lineup continues to be led by redshirt senior Carson Shaddy, who has been on a tear since returning from a hand injury that kept him out for seven games.

Shaddy returned on May 6 at LSU and hasn’t slowed down since. Over his last four games, the Fayetteville native has gone 6-for-14 (.429) with six RBIs and three extra-base hits.

Last week against Texas A&M, he hit a three-run home run that helped toward a 9-3 series-opening victory. The home run was his 10th of the year.

FOLLOW LIVE

Games one and two will be available on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com, while the season finale on Saturday will be on the SEC Network in front of a national audience.

Dave Neal (PxP) and Mike Rooney (Analyst) will be on the call for the final game.

As always, Arkansas’ Sportscaster of the Year Phil Elson will call all three games on the radio for the Razorback Sports Network from IMG. The radio broadcasts are also available on the Razorback Gameday app.

IMPORTANT LINKS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

Thu, May 17 – Arkansas vs. Georgia – 6 p.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH (SECN+)
Fri, May 18 – Arkansas vs. Georgia – 6 p.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH (SECN+)
Sat, May 19 – Arkansas vs. Georgia – 11 a.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH (SEC Network)

PROBABLE STARTERS

THU: ARK RHP Blaine Knight (8-0, 2.87 ERA, 77 SO, 17 BB) vs. UGA RHP Chase Adkins (5-0, 4.46 ERA, 57 SO, 23 BB)

FRI: ARK LHP Kacey Murphy (6-4, 2.30 ERA, 63 SO, 12 BB) vs. UGA RHP Emerson Hancock (6-4, 4.82 ERA, 71 SO, 31 BB)

SAT: ARK TBA vs. UGA LHP Kevin Smith (7-1, 3.25 ERA, 65 SO, 22 BB)

RAZORBACK PRIME 9

• Arkansas heads into the final weekend of the regular season with a chance to lock up its fifth SEC Western Division title in school history, fourth under Dave Van Horn when it takes on Georgia in Athens.

• The Razorbacks are still atop the SEC West at 17-10 in conference play and a series win over the Bulldogs will give the Hogs their best conference record since 2004 (19-11).

• Blaine Knight is currently the only SEC pitcher with an undefeated record and an ERA under 3.00 (7-0, 2.87). In 10 of his 13 starts, Knight has thrown six or more innings and struck out four or more.

• Knight tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts against then-No. 20 Texas A&M last week in what ended up being his longest outing of the season (7.0 innings).

• Jake Reindl has still yet to give up an extra-base hit in SEC play, making 10 appearances and 21.1 innings pitched. In his last 10.2 innings pitched, he has only allowed two unearned runs.

• Redshirt senior Carson Shaddy currently has top-three totals in the SEC in batting average (3rd – .364), slugging (3rd – .674), and on-base percentage (2nd – .459). All are career-bests for the Fayetteville native.

• Last week, Arkansas swept Texas A&M for its fourth series sweep of the SEC season and its most since 1999. The Hogs also did not lose a series inside Baum Stadium and need two more wins to tie the school record for most wins at Baum Stadium in a single season (31 in 2004).

• After throwing a career-high 7.1 scoreless innings last week against Texas A&M, junior lefty pitcher Kacey Murphy lowered his ERA to 2.30, the second-lowest ERA in the SEC to only Florida’s Brady Singer (2.25).

• As a team, Arkansas has hit at least one home run in eight of its last nine games and is 29-10 on the year when hitting a home run.

Incredible finish has Arkansas moving on to NCAA Championships

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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NORMAN, Okla. — Paced by a 5-under 67 from sophomore William Buhl, 15th-ranked Arkansas rallied and earned a trip to the 2018 NCAA Championship on Wednesday.

The Razorbacks opened the final day of the 2018 NCAA Norman Regional in 10th place but moved up six spots after carding the second-best round of the day with an 8-under 280.

They vaulted up the leaderboard and edged No. 22 Florida State tying for fourth place to move on to the NCAA Championship in Stillwater, Oklahoma, next week.

Arkansas wrapped up the three-day event shooting 288-293-280=861.

Alvaro Ortiz posted a 2-under 69 moving up 13 spots in the final round. He finished as the low man for Arkansas tying for 12th place overall shooting 74-71-69=214 (-2).

Buhl made the biggest jump climbing 25 points into a tie for 18th overall. The sophomore carded rounds of 69-79-67=215 (-1).

Tyson Reeder had his best round of the tournament moving up 11 spots into a tie for 32nd. Reeder finished 3-over shooting 76-72-71=219.

Mason Overstreet and Luis Garza rounded out the Razorback scoring. Overstreet finished tied for 38th with a five-over 72-76-73=221. Garza tied for 49th overall shooting 73-74-77=224.

Arkansas made the turn at 1-under after starting their day on the ninth hole. Ortiz picked up an eagle on No. 3 and went birdie-birdie on the 16th and 17th holes of his round.

Overstreet also carded back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8. Buhl was solid all day playing the first nine 4-under.

He picked up two more birdies on the front side of the course helping Arkansas move up.

The Razorbacks move on to the NCAA Championships making its 21st appearance as a team.

The program’s best finish is a second-place showing in 2009 and Overstreet advanced to the NCAA Championship as an individual last season playing to a runner-up finish.

Host No. 3 Oklahoma won the event edging No. 29 BYU and No. 27 North Florida by a stroke.

The Sooners finished with an 850 followed by an 851 from the Cougars and the Ospreys. Arkansas tied Auburn and the Tigers also move on.

Team and individual medalist titles will be decided May 25-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The 2018 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships will be broadcast for the fifth consecutive year by Golf Channel with more than 100 news and tournament hours planned again for the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships

Arkansas will host the 2019 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships next spring at The Blessings.

The Lineup

PLACE PLAYER SCORES TO PAR
T12 Alvaro Ortiz 74–71–69—214 -2
T18 William Buhl 69–79–67—215 -1
T33 Tyson Reeder 76–72–71—219 +3
T39 Mason Overstreet 72–76–73—221 +5
T49 Luis Garza 73–74–77—224 +8


The Field

PLACE TEAM SCORES TO PAR
1 No. 3 Oklahoma 283-284-283=850 -14
T2. No. 39 BYU 295-278-278=851 -10
No. 27 North Florida 288-283-280=851 -13
T4 No. 15 Arkansas 288-293-280=861 -3
No. 10 Auburn 288-285-288=861 -3
6. No. 22 Florida State 293-284-285=862 -2
7 No. 46 Virginia 297-281-285=863 -1
8 No. 33 Pepperdine 295-274-295=864 E
9 Nevada 294-285-288=867 +3
10 San Diego State 290-290-290=870 +6
11 UMKC 293-297-291=881 +17
12 Sam Houston State 310-289-298=888 +24
13 Navy 323-302-296=921 +57
14 Prairie View A&M 315-316-312=943 +79

Tusk V next in long line of Razorbacks’ live mascots

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Tusk V next in long line of Razorbacks’ live mascots

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas, home to one of the nation’s longest tenured and most recognizable live mascot programs, is celebrating the recent birth of Tusk V, the next in the line of Arkansas Razorback mascots.

Born Saturday, April 19 at the Stokes Family Farm in Dardanelle, Arkansas, Tusk V is the son of the current Arkansas Razorbacks’ live mascot, Tusk IV, a Russian Boar which closely resembles the type of “wild band of razorback hogs,” first described by then Arkansas head football coach Hugo Bezdek in 1909.

The following year, in 1910, University of Arkansas students voted to officially adopt the new nickname changing the mascot from the Cardinals to the Razorbacks.

Tusk V will take over official mascot duties in time for the 2019 Razorback Football season, after his father, Tusk IV, is scheduled to retire.

“It is hard to imagine another collegiate live mascot program that is more ingrained in the fabric of its university and its state than Tusk is at this university and within Arkansas,” athletics director Hunter Yurachek said. “The Razorbacks proudly represent Arkansans throughout the state and the Tusk program is an integral part of carrying on that storied tradition.

“We are grateful to Keith and Julie Stokes and their entire family for their longtime care of our live mascots and for the countless hours they spend in supporting our teams, coaches and student-athletes

“We look forward to Tusk IV’s final year and to 2019, when Tusk V will carry on this legacy for generations of Razorback fans to come.”

Tusk IV and V live on the Stokes Family Farm near Dardanelle, Arkansas.

The work of caring for Tusk IV and V is shared between Keith and his wife Julie, their daughter Abbey, their son Chip and his wife Lori, and their four-year-old son (Keith and Julie’s grandson), Colt.

Tusk IV makes a two-hour trek up to Northwest Arkansas for every Razorback football game as well as select other Razorback athletics events throughout the year.

Beloved by Razorback and opposing team fans of all ages, Tusk is always the center of attention when he makes an appearance at games or other special events.

Through the years, he has traveled the state and throughout the region to appear at various locations including at bowl games, Razorback Clubs and even the Arkansas State Capitol.

Arkansas’ first live mascot, Tusk I was selected in 1997 and served as the Razorback mascot for eight years.

After spending four football seasons at the Little Rock Zoo, Tusk I was moved to the Tyson Foods Farm in Springdale in 2001.

In 2002, Tusk I became the father to Tusk II. Tusk I passed away in 2004 and his son, Tusk II, was moved from the Tyson Farm to the Stokes Family Farm and served as the live mascot from 2005 until 2010.

Tusk III was the brother of Tusk II and both were second-generation Russian boars. Tusk III served for only one football season in 2010.

Tusk IV is the son of Tusk II and took over as the official live mascot during the 2011 football season. He recently completed his seventh season.

In 2008, Razorback Athletics created the Tusk Fund to help provide financial assistance for the maintenance and upkeep of the live mascot program.

Donations to the fund provide Tusk with improvements to his facilities and most of all, create a legacy program for guaranteeing the longevity of the Razorback live mascot program.

Fans interested in supporting the Tusk Fund, can do so by clicking here.

The tradition of a live mascot predates the Tusk lineage, dating back to the 1960s with a series of hogs that have proudly represented Arkansas.

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

Razorbacks challenged by weather conditions at Norman regional

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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NORMAN, Okla. — Challenging conditions including a lightening delay pushed Arkansas down the leaderboard in round two of the 2018 NCAA Norman Regional Championship at Jimmie Austin Golf Course on Tuesday.

Players battled winds gusting from 13 miles per hour up to 32 miles per hour throughout the day and were delayed more than an hour near the end of the round after lightening occurred in the area.

The Razorbacks slipped from a tie for second place on Monday into 10th place in second-round action. The top five teams from each of six regional sites move on to the NCAA Championship later this month.

Arkansas is just eight shots back of the cutline with one round remaining.

Senior Alvaro Ortiz shaved three shots off his round one total moving up two spots on the leaderboard. He finished the day 1-under shooting a 71 with three birdies and two bogeys. Ortiz is tied for 26th overall with a 1-over 145 (74-71).

Tyson Reeder also bettered his first-round score shooting an even-par 72. Reeder counted two birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday moving up eight spots to a tie for 43rd overall with one round to play.

Luis Garza, Mason Overstreet and William Buhl combined for seven birdies on the day. Garza is tied for 37th with 147. Overstreet and Buhl are tied with Reeder in 43rd place with a two-round 148.

Host No. 3 Oklahoma remains at the top of the leaderboard and is in the clubhouse with a 9-under 567. The top five teams include No. 33 Pepperdine who led the field with a 14-under round.

The Waves are second with a 569. No. 27 North Florida is third shooting 571. SEC member No. 10 Auburn and No. 39 BYU are tied for fourth with 573.

Van Horn previews finale regular-season series

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn met with the media Tuesday to preview the upcoming Georgia series in a wide-ranging session that covers a variety of topics.

Murphy on settling into role as second-day starter for Hogs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks pitcher Kacey Murphy talked with the media about the upcoming weekend series at Georgia and how he’s adapted to the role of the Day 2 starter.

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday

Cronin on recovering from bout with mono recently

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs’ reliever Matt Cronin had his first outing in a few weeks Sunday against Texas A&M and he talked Tuesday about the recovering process and facing Georgia.

Hogs’ Kjerstad previews upcoming series with ’Dogs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas freshman outfielder Heston Kjerstad talked about the upcoming final regular-season series on the road against Georgia coming up this weekend.

Benton, Fassi, Kim qualify for U.S. Women’s Open

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas had three student-athletes earn spots in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open on Monday.

Juniors Kaylee Benton and Dylan Kim tied for first place in Irving, Texas, while junior Maria Fassi finished second in Houston, Texas.

Kim and Benton Win In Dallas

Teammates stick together and that was certainly the case at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas, on Monday. The duo finished shooting 4-under 138’s with Kim going 70-68 and Benton carding 68-70.

Benton and Kim combined for 16 birdies with three coming on hole 18 of the course.

Fassi Finishes Second At Houston

ANNIKA Award finalist Maria Fassi played to a 1-under 143 with rounds of 69-74 to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. Playing at The Deerwood Country Club, in Houston, Texas, the Razorback junior finished second to make the cut.

Fassi had five birdies and two eagles in 36 holes of play.

This year’s U.S. Women’s Open takes place at Shoal Creek Club, in Shoal Creek, Alabama, May 31-June 3, 2018.

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