Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said after the 7-4 win over the Crimson Tide on Saturday to clinch the series it was “a lot of little things” that made the difference.
Kenley, Murphy, Bonfield recapping Hogs’ win over Tide
Arkansas third baseman Jack Kenley, starting pitcher Kacey Murphy and designated hitter Luke Bonfield talked after the game about the biggest plays in the 7-4 win over Alabama.
Hogs down Rebels in front of largest home crowd in history
FAYETTEVILLE — Playing in front of the largest home crowd in program history, Arkansas tallied a 3-0 win Saturday afternoon over Ole Miss.
Hannah McEwen and Autumn Buczek each had three hits while Mary Haff registered her 10th complete-game shutout of the season. With the win, the Razorbacks improve to 35-11 overall and 10-9 in SEC play.
Saturday’s game was played in front of 3,448 fans at Bogle Park with an SEC Network television audience watching along.
The figure is nearly 700 higher than the previous mark of 2,756 established earlier this season against Missouri (March 24). Three of the Top 10 home crowds in program history have now been set this season.
Up Next
The Razorbacks return to the field Sunday afternoon for game two of their series against Ole Miss. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Before the game, the team will recognize its senior class of A.J. Belans, Autumn Buczek, Tori Cooper and Loren Krzysko. The pre-game senior ceremony begins at 3:45 p.m.
GAME 1: #16 Arkansas 3, Ole Miss 0 | Box Score
One of McEwen’s hits was a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning, her team-leading ninth big fly of the season.
The freshman took a 2-1 pitch from Ole Miss starter Kaitlin Lee and deposited it over the fence in left field. McEwen is now tied with Sandra Smith (2008) at 45 for the fifth-highest RBI total in a single season.
The home run was Arkansas’ 48th this year which ties the 2009 team for No. 8 in program history.
Haff’s complete-game performance doubled as her seventh one-hitter of the season. She allowed a one-out single to right in the first inning but didn’t allow another hit for the remainder of the game.
With six strikeouts against Ole Miss, Haff became just the fourth pitcher in program history to reach 200 strikeouts in a single season and the first to do so since 2007.
She is now 22-4 this season which ties Tammy Kincaid (1999) for the third-most wins by an Arkansas pitcher in program history.
The Razorbacks pushed their advantage to 2-0 with an RBI single by Buczek in the second inning. With the bases loaded, the senior infielder knocked a base hit into left field to score fellow senior Loren Krzysko from third.
An insurance run in the bottom of the sixth gave Haff some wiggle room when she went out of the seventh and the freshman pitcher responded with a 1-2-3 inning to secure the victory.
Saturday win snapped a six-game skid against Ole Miss (28-19, 5-14 SEC) and gave the Razorbacks their first shutout win in the series since 2010.
Broncos take Williams in seventh round of draft
ARLINGTON, Texas — Arkansas running back David Williams became the second Razorback taken in the 2018 NFL Draft when he was selected in the seventh round with the 226th overall pick by the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
A Philadelphia native, Williams is the 32nd player in program history selected as a running back in the NFL Draft and the first since Alex Collins (No. 171 overall) and Jonathan Williams (No. 156 overall) were both picked in the fifth round in 2016.
He is the first Razorback drafted by the Broncos since 2008 when the organization selected fullback Peyton Hillis in the seventh round (No. 227 overall).
Williams, who came to Arkansas from South Carolina as a graduate transfer in 2017, was the Razorbacks’ most productive running back last season.
Williams led the team in rushing yards (656), all-purpose yards (827), rushing touchdowns (8) and scoring touchdowns (10).
For his career, Williams played in 42 games with six starts. He totaled 1,467 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns to go along with 37 receptions and two receiving touchdowns.
Williams’ Quick Hits
• Found the end zone multiple times in three games in 2017, including two three-TD efforts.
• Rushed for a touchdown in five games in 2017.
• Recorded 75 or more rushing yards four times in 2017, all in SEC action.
• Led the Hogs in runs for a first down (31), of 10-plus yards (18) and 20-plus yards (6).
• Had a breakout performance in his final game at Arkansas against Missouri on Nov. 24, totaling 113 yards of offense and three touchdowns on 13 touches.
• Earned his undergraduate degree in retail management from South Carolina in May 2017.
Reeder, Overstreet get wins at SEC Championship match play
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Arkansas sophomores Tyson Reeder and Mason Overstreet picked up wins Saturday morning, but the 16th-ranked Razorbacks lost, 3 & 2, to Auburn in match play action at the 2018 SEC Championship at Sea Island Golf Club.
Overstreet jumped out to the lead quickly, winning the first hole. The match was squared twice before Overstreet took the lead for good on the fifth hole of the round. He went on to a 3 & 2 win over Ryan Knop getting Arkansas on the board.
Reeder had a back-and-forth battle with Jovan Rebula before winning in 19 holes. Reeder won the first hole, but the match would be square through the turn.
Reeder reclaimed the lead on the 11th hole of the round and held the advantage as the duo moved to No. 9 — their 18th hole of the round.
Rebula knocked it close and won the hole forcing extra golf. Reeder won the 19th hole for Arkansas.
Tied at 2-all, the match was decided by Wells Padgett’s three-hole win over William Buhl. Padgett took the lead three holes into the match and would never surrender the advantage securing the Tiger victory.
2018 SEC Championship Quarterfinals – Match Play
(4) Auburn 3, (5) Arkansas 2
Tyson Reeder (ARK) def. Jovan Rebula (AU), 1-up (19)
Trace Crowe (AU) def. Luis Garza (ARK), 1-up
Brandon Mancheno (AU) def. Alvaro Ortiz (ARK), 2 & 1
Mason Overstreet (ARK) def. Ryan Knop (AU), 3 & 2
Wells Padgett (AU) def. William Buhl (ARK), 3 & 2
The Razorbacks return to Fayetteville and await word of their NCAA Regional Selection. The NCAA Selection Show airs live on the Golf Channel on Wednesday, May 2, at 4:30 p.m.
Long ball propels Hogs past Crimson Tide in opener
Arkansas (30-13, 11-8 SEC) and Alabama (23-21, 5-14 SEC) matched each other run for run in the first two innings before the Hog offense flexed its muscles in the middle innings.
Fletcher’s home run in the third was part of a two-run inning that broke a 2-2 tie. It was his fifth of the year and one of three hits he had in the game as he went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a double.
With the win, the Razorbacks reach the 30-win plateau, making them one of only five teams in the SEC with 30 wins or more at this point in the season.
It’s also the 24th win at Baum Stadium this year and fifth-straight at home.
The Hitting
Four different Razorbacks recorded multi-hit performances in Friday night’s game, while the team, combined, had 11 hits.
It was the 26th game this year that the Razorback offense has recorded 10 or more hits in a game and the Hogs are 20-6 in those games.
The Hogs jumped on Alabama starting pitcher Sam Finnerty early in the first inning, scoring two runs before the first out.
Martin provided the first RBI of the game with an infield single to the shortstop, followed by Alabama fielding error that led to the second run.
Martin went on to go 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, his 15 multi-hit game of the year.
He homered to lead off the fifth inning, a straight-away rocket to the centerfield portion of the Hog Pen, and build Arkansas’ lead to 5-3. It was his ninth long ball of the year and second in conference play.
Arkansas went on to hit three home runs on the night, driving in four of their seven runs from the big swings.
Fletcher continued his hot streak with a home run of his own in the third inning, his fifth of the season. Fletcher extended his hitting streak to six games with his three hits on Friday and is hitting .478 during that stretch.
Eric Cole, who took over as the lead-off batter Friday, went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs, his ninth multi-RBI game of the year.
His team-leading 10th home run of the year came in the sixth inning to push the Hogs ahead 7-3.
Two innings later, he nearly homered again, this time from the other side of the plate, but fell just a couple of feet short of the wall.
The Pitching
Junior Blaine Knight gutted out a strong performance on the mound, going six innings strong with only three runs on three hits allowed to stay undefeated at 7-0.
He also struck out six, giving him six appearances with six or more strikeouts this year.
Knight hit a milestone in the first inning when he struck out Cobie Vance to start the game for his 200th strikeout of his Razorback career.
Knight joins just 12 other Razorback pitchers that have thrown 200 or more strikeouts in their careers. Overall this season, Knight has racked up 63 strikeouts. He struck out 96 a year ago and 46 as a freshman.
Tonight’s outing was Knight’s ninth of five innings or more. He has only gone short of five innings twice this year and has yet to give up more than three runs in each of his last three starts.
After Knight completed a nine-pitch sixth inning, he gave way to junior Jake Reindl, who finished the game with a three-inning save, his third save of the year.
Reindl struck out four and scattered three hits over his scoreless outing. He’s only allowed two runs over his last 16.2 innings and has also only allowed nine hits over that same span.
With his third save under his belt, he joins Matt Cronin as the only Razorback pitchers with multiple saves on the year and tonight’s was Reindl’s first coming in conference play.
Razorback Quotables
“Well, he looked like he wasn’t hurt. He legged out a hit that got the inning going a little bit more. Hit a ball in there between the shortstop and third basemen and beat it out, showed how quick he was. Obviously, defensively, he turned a super double play, showed some really good arm strength, quickness. That play in the hole to his left was really nice. Oh yeah, he hit a ball about 400 feet. I would say he had a pretty good game.” — Coach Dave Van Horn on Casey Martin’s return
“The diving play, it’s almost like he makes one every series, or every other day. He’s a very good defender. That ball was hit extremely hard by a left-handed hitter and the ball started backing up and coming back to him. He got inside that ball and hammered it, it started slicing and Dom made a great break on it.” — Van Horn on Dominic Fletcher
“Defense has definitely gotten better. Yeah, we got off to a slow start with it, but every team gets off to a slow start in some form or fashion of the game. We’re picking it up, and like I said before Dom (Fletcher) is the best centerfielder in the country. I really didn’t think he was going to get to that ball. I thought it was in for a hit, I started backing up a base and he came up with it which was huge. Big thanks to him, and he’s going to keep doing it.” — Blaine Knight on improved defense
“Usually, off the bat, I’ll know if I can catch it or not, that one I didn’t think I had a chance at it just kind of stayed up just long enough for me to get my glove underneath there.” — Dominic Fletcher on his diving catch
“A lot people say defense wins championships, and I felt like tonight we were really good defensively overall. Outfield, infield, pitching, hitting, it was all good.” — Casey Martin on Razorback defense
Up Next
Arkansas and Alabama return to the field for game two of the three-game series tomorrow at Baum Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will be televised online on SEC Network+.
Brown, Brooks shine in 100 meters to open National Relay Championships
FAYETTEVILLE — No. 5 Arkansas showed up and showed out at the inaugural National Relay Championships Friday afternoon at John McDonnell Field.
The Razorbacks posted nine personal-bests as well as four season-best marks.
“The only lowlight in today’s meet was finishing runner-up in the 4-x-1,500-meters to Oklahoma State,” said coach Lance Harter.
“The anchor for Oklahoma State had another gear and we were unable to respond, but I thought the relay as a whole ran really well. Our sprint crew ran really solid, the two hurdles [Brown and Brooks] ran absolutely fabulous. Janeek [Brown] she is a super competitor, and anytime you can handle a person like Taliyah Brooks you have to be doing something right. Taliyah [Brooks] at 12.82, that’s the fastest that shes ever run. That was a great start for us. Janeek came back and ran a PR in the 100-meters which shows that her speed endurance continues to improve. My hats off to [Assistant Coach] Chris Johnson, he does a fantastic job of bringing those kids around. Tomorrow, center stage for us will be to run a good 4-x-100-meters and a good 4-x-400-meters.”
Janeek Brown and Taliyah Brooks bolted down the track in the 100-meter hurdles finishing second and fourth, respectively.
Brown finished in 12.73 (+2.6) followed by teammate Brooks in 12.82 (+2.6). Both times were lifetime bests under all-conditions.
The 400-meters featured three Razorbacks on the track. Morgan Burks Magee finished 14th in 54.03 while Sydney Davis (55.04) and Sydney Hammit (55.35) took 24th and 25th. Hammit’s mark was a season-best.
Brown returned for the 100-meter open, finishing in 11.34. Jada Baylark (11.36) and Kiara Parker (11.47) finished fifth and ninth, respectively.
Rounding out competition in the event for Arkansas was Tamara Kuykendall (11.83) in 21-place.
The lone competitor in the 800-meters for the Razorbacks, Emily Jeacock recorded a season-best of 2:15.56.
In the 1,500-meters, seven of the nine who stepped on the track in the Cardinal and White, seven finished with either a personal-best or a season-best time:
16th Micah Huckabee – 4:33.66 (personal-best)
21st Rachel Nichwitz – 4:37.49
24th Alex Ritchey – 4:41.79 (personal-best)
28th Sydney Brown – 4:46.78 (season-best)
29th Greta Taylor – 4:47.35 (personal-best)
30th Grace Taylor – 4:49.44 (personal-best)
36th Kristen Larkan – 4:55.09 (personal-best)
37th Payton Brown – 4:56.58 (season-best)
39th Tess Iler – 4:59.73
Baylark and Parker returned to the oval once again, this time in the 200-meters. Baylark finished fourth running 23.12, and Parker took 14th with a time of 23.81.
In the field, Riley Hoogerwerf competed in the discus with a best throw of 38.21m (125’-4”) – a personal-best – to take 15th-place.
Carmen Sitz tied her personal-best in the high jump clearing 1.70m (5’-7”) for fourth-place, while in the long jump, Taliyah Brooks finished fourth with a best jump of 6.28m (20’-7.25”).
The final event of the day for Arkansas saw the Razorbacks finish runner-up in the 4-x-1,500-meter relay at 17:46.87.
National Relay Championships
Friday Results
Women’s 100-meter hurdles
2. Janeek Brown – 12.73 (+2.6)
4. Taliyah Brooks – 12.82 (+2.6)
Women’s 100-meter
4. Janeek Brown – 11.34
5. Jada Baylark – 11.36
9. Kiara Parker – 11.47
21. Tamara Kuykendall – 11.83
Women’s 200-meter
4. Jada Baylark – 23.12
14. Kiara Parker – 23.81
Women’s 400-meter
14. Morgan Burks Magee – 54.03
24. Sydney Davis – 55.04
25. Sydney Hammit – 55.35
Women’s 800-meter
19. Emily Jeacock – 2:15.56
Women’s 1500-meter
16. M. Huckabee – 4:33.66
21. R. Nichwitz – 4:37.49
24. A. Ritchey – 4:41.79
28. S. Brown – 4:46.78
29. Greta Taylor – 4:47.35
30. Grace Taylor – 4:49.44
36. K. Larkan – 4:55.09
37. P. Brown – 4:56.58
39. T. Iler – 4:59.73
Women’s 4-x-1500-meter relay
2. Arkansas – 17:46.87
Women’s Discus
15. Riley Hoogerwerf – 38.21m (125′-4″)
Women’s High Jump Invitational
4. Carmen Sitz – 1.70m (5′-7″)
Women’s Long Jump Invitational
5. Taliyah Brooks – 6.28m (20′-7.25″)
Mowatt runs third best NCAA 400 time at ‘National Relay’
FAYETTEVILLE — No. 11 Arkansas kicked off the inaugural National Relay Championships at John McDonnell Field as the Razorbacks took first in the opening relay of the event.
“We had some good performances today,” said coach Chris Bucknam.
“I was very pleased, we had unbelievable weather, great competition. It’s great to have all these schools from around the country here. I think the athletes from the other schools got a lot accomplished as well. We had a good day, Obviously Kenzo [Cotton] in the 100-meters and Kemar [Mowatt] in the 400-meter hurdles. That was a stellar field that [Kemar] beat. I know coach Case has him being really aggressive in the front half of the race so I feel that will pay off at the end of the year. Kemar really took it out the first seven or eight hurdles and he looked strong, that was outstanding. The 4-x-1500-meters was a very competitive race. We got good legs from all four athletes, and obviously Cameron [Griffith] beat a pretty good Kentucky kid, Kentucky showed up today and did a great job, that was a tough win but I’m glad we got it. All-in-all it was a good day, we got a lot accomplished. We got some [First-Round] qualifiers in Laquan [Narin] and Trae [Carey] in the long jump, I’m looking forward to a good day two.”
Reminiscent of the DMR win at the 2018 SEC Indoor Championship, Arkansas trailed Kentucky the first three legs of the 4-x-1500 meter relay as Cameron Griffith began the final leg.
As Griffith made the final turn, he overtook the big Wildcat lead as the Razorbacks took the first relay victory at the National Relay Championships. The time was the No. 19 time in collegiate history.
Obi Igbokwe ran his season-opener in the 400-meters that saw him cross the finish line in 45.91 seconds taking fourth-place.
Kenzo Cotton gave all in attendance a show in the men’s 100-meters.
The senior shot out of the blocks like a bullet in a first-place finish, covering the distance in 10.19 seconds – his second-fastest wind-legal time of the season.
In the 400-meter hurdles, Kemar Mowatt attacked the backstretch with authority breaking the stagger on the field after only two hurdles and never looking back.
Mowatt finished with a time of 49.80 that is a season-best and currently the third-fastest time in the NCAA.
In the men’s 1,500-meters, Gilbert Boit (3:47.67) and Kyle Levermore (3:47.76) finished second and third, respectively, each posting personal-bests in the race.
Day two of the National Relays field events begin at 10:45 a.m. with the hammer throw. Running events begin at 7 p.m. The relays will be televised live on the SEC Network beginning at 7 p.m.
National Relay Championships
Friday Results
Men’s 1500-meter
2. Gilbert Boit – 3:47.67 PR
3. Kyle Levermore – 3:47.76 PR
12. Colin O’Mara – 3:57.83
Men’s 400-meter hurdles
1. Kemar Mowatt – 49.80
7. Travius Chambers – 51.67
Men’s 100-meter
1. Kenzo Cotton – 10.19
10. Roy Ejiakuekwu – 10.48
Men’s 110-meter hurdles
4. Larry Donald – 13.98
19. Travius Chambers -14.85 (+2.4) PR
Men’s 400 meters
4. Obi Igbokwe- 45.91
Men’s 4-x-1,500-meter relay
1. Hosting, Bruce, Dalquist, Griffith – 15:14.18
Men’s High Jump Invitational
5. Brendon Rivera – 2.03m (6′-8″)
Men’s Long Jump
5. Trae Carey – 7.45m (24′-5.50″) +2.1
Men’s Discus
14. Erich Sullins – 49.12m (161′-2″)
20. Gabe Moore – 43.32m (142′-1″)
Men’s Sprint Medley
3. Arkansas – 3:20.81
Men’s Javelin
7. Alex Springer – 60.25m (197′-8″)
11. Andrew Henn – 54.43m (178′-7″)
Men’s Long Jump Invitational
8. Rubin Owens – 7.57m (24′-10″)
9. Laquan Nairn – 7.55m (24′-9.25″)
10. Harrison Schrage – 7.52m (24′-8.25″) +2.8
Van Horn on win over Bama, Cronin out for series
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn talked about the opening win over Alabama and told the media that ace reliever Matt Cronin was not active for the weekend and they are hoping he doesn’t have mono.
Knight, Fletcher, Martin on win over Tide
Arkansas players Blaine Knight, who started on the mound, along with centerfielder Dominic Fletcher and second baseman Casey Martin talked with the media after the Hogs’ win to start the series.
No. 16 Razorbacks hosting Ole Miss on senior weekend
FAYETTEVILLE — No. 16 Arkansas is back at Bogle Park this weekend for its last SEC home series of the season.
The Razorbacks will play host to Ole Miss beginning Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for 3 p.m. Admission is free with gates opening one hour prior to start time.
Prior to Sunday’s game, Arkansas’ four-player senior class of A.J. Belans, Autumn Buczek, Tori Cooper and Loren Krzysko will be honored with an on-field recognition. The ceremony will begin at 3:45 p.m.
No. 16 Arkansas (34-11/9-9 SEC) vs Ole Miss (28-18, 5-13 SEC) | Game Notes
Bogle Park (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Game 1: Saturday, April 28 at 3 p.m. – SEC Network | Live Stats
Game 2: Sunday, April 29 at 4 p.m. – ESPNU | Live Stats
Game 3: Monday, April 30 at 6 p.m. – SEC Network | Live Stats
All-Time Series vs Ole Miss
Saturday’s series opener will be the 60th meeting between Arkansas and Ole Miss. In addition to an overall lead in the series, the Razorbacks own a 16-12 advantage in games played in Fayetteville. Arkansas is looking for its first series win against Ole Miss since the 2010 season.
Last Time Out
The Razorbacks split a doubleheader at No. 11 Auburn with a 4-2, 10-inning win in the opener and a 4-2 setback in the finale. A.J. Belans’ two-run home run in the 10th lifted the team to its eighth win over a ranked team this season. It was Arkansas’ first road victory in the series since 2012.
Rankings Watch
Arkansas maintains its No. 16 ranking in the NFCA and USA Softball polls. The team is also 18th in this week’s release of the NCAA RPI, down just one spot from a week ago. The Razorbacks are one of 12 SEC teams inside the RPI top 25.
A Look at the Stat Sheet
The Razorbacks carry top-50 national marks in strikeout to walk ratio (sixth/5.19), home runs (T22/47), team ERA (28/2.10) and slugging percentage (38/.464). Arkansas is also just outside the top 50 with 5.24 runs per game.
It’s Getting Late
Arkansas’ 4-2, 10-inning win at No. 11 Auburn (April 22) was the program’s longest game since an 11-inning win at No. 8 Missouri during the 2013 season. The Razorbacks are 1-1 in extra-inning games this year.
An Eye on 200
Freshman Mary Haff enters the series with Ole Miss ranked No. 7 on Arkansas’ single-season list with 194 strikeouts. With six more strikeouts, she would become just the fourth pitcher in program history with 200 Ks in a season and the third freshman to do so.
