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Cheek, Evans complete 2018 volleyball recruiting class for Hogs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — The incoming class for Arkansas has grown to five with the addition of Abby Cheek (Seguin, Texas) and Lauren Evans (Grapevine, Texas) as announced Wednesday morning by head coach Jason Watson.

“The addition of Abby and Lauren provides us with additional depth and competition in our gym,” Watson said. “I’m excited to coach both of them. They are remarkable student-athletes and great people.”

Abby Cheek
6-1 | OH | Seguin, Texas (Seguin HS)

About Cheek…
A four-year starter and three-time district selection for Seguin High School, Cheek was named the District 26-5A Offensive MVP after a senior season in which she registered 569 kills, 341 digs and 33 service aces. She totaled 1,455 kills, 725 digs and 133 aces during her prep career. Cheek was a three-time member of the All-District First Team and helped Seguin to a pair of area titles and three trips to the 5A state playoffs.

Cheek played club volleyball with Austin Juniors and has past international experience as a member of the United States team that played in the 2016 European Global Challenge in Croatia. In the classroom, she was a four-time Academic All-District performer.

Abby is the daughter of Louis and Suzanne Cheek, and has three siblings—Emily, Joseph and Henry. Her father played in the NFL for six seasons and her brother is a current offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, while her sister played volleyball (2008-11) at Loyola Marymount. Cheek is planning to enroll in the Walton College of Business at Arkansas.

Lauren Evans
5-11 | OH | Grapevine, Texas (Colleyville Heritage HS)

About Evans…
Evans capped her standout prep career with All-State and District 8-5A MVP honors after leading Colleyville Heritage High School to the regional final round of the 5A state playoffs. During her senior season, she tallied 658 kills while hitting .375 to go along with 350 digs and 88 aces. Overall, Evans amassed 1,788 kills, 1,038 digs and 199 services aces in her career at Colleyville Heritage.

As a four-time all-district performer, Evans began her career as the District 7-6A Newcomer of the Year and was named the District 8-5A Utility Player of the Year following her junior campaign. She played club volleyball with Skyline Juniors and was an academic all-district selection in each of her four years in high school

Lauren is the daughter of Lane and Jennifer Evans and has an older sister, Morgan. She plans to major in marketing during her career at Arkansas.

Razorbacks Add Three During Early Signing Period

Cheek and Evans will join Ellease Crumpton, Maylin Garrett and Gracie Ryan as part of the Razorbacks’ freshman class in 2018. The Razorbacks first announced Crumpton, Garrett and Ryan during the early signing period. This marks the second recruiting class for Watson and his staff—Jon Newman-Gonchar and Megan Wargo-Kearney—at Arkansas.

Central’s Barnum signs as second player in Neighbors’ 2018 class

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors and his staff welcomed the addition of Erynn Barnum to the 2018-19 roster on Wednesday.

Barnum singed her national letter of intent joining the Razorbacks from Little Rock Central  under the direction of coach Michael Green.

Barnum is the second signee for the 2018 class joining Rokia Doumbia of IMG Academy who signed in November. Transfers Chelsea Dungee and A’Tyanna Gaulden will also be eligible to play for the Razorbacks next season.

Barnum, a 6-2 forward, led the Tigers to a 19-10 record. She averaged 19.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.8 assists per game as a senior.

She played her club ball for Ed Durham and the Arkansas Mavs Joe Johnson Elite team. Some of her honors include a pair of all-state selections in 2017 and 2018, all-conference selections in 2016 and 2017, all-tournament team at the Fayetteville Lady Bulldog Classic, M.V.P. honors at the Camden Fairview Holiday Classic, Channel 7 Full Court Nominee, The Downtown Tip Off Club Outstanding Player of The Month, participation in the Metro Classic Game, and selection to the Mike Conley Jr. All-Star Game.

From Coach Neighbors

“Erynn’s signing is another great step in our progress with our women’s basketball program. Attracting the state’s top prospects is something our staff is focused on doing year in and year out. Her play throughout her career, but especially in her senior campaign, gave all who watched her plenty of evidence that she can compete in the Southeastern Conference. Her commitment helps us to continue building our roster with student-athletes that other league teams were also recruiting. Her versatility is a perfect match to our style of play and her unique size/skill ratio will be valuable against the taller teams currently ahead of us in the conference standings. We can’t wait for Erynn to join Rokia, Chelsea, and A’Tyanna to the court for next season.”

Barnum is the daughter of Brian Lockhart. She has an older sister, Brea, and five younger siblings, Kourtney, Kabian, Brylon, Calvin and Tyler.

Connor Noland Interview

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

Hogs pull out nailbiter win in NLR against Grambling State

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas pulled out another nailbiting win at Dickey-Stephens Park on Tuesday night with an eighth-inning rally for a 7-6 win over Grambling.

After the Tigers had a four-run eighth inning, the Razorbacks answered.

Eric Cole’s two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning gave Arkansas the lead for good. It came after an RBI single by Jordan McFarland and sacrifice fly by Jax Biggers.

“I hit a fastball in,” Cole said in a postgame radio interview. “I was little bit out front, but luckily still caught a barrel and got it through the hole.”

The rally was necessitated by Kole Ramage’s meltdown in the top of the eighth. He gave up four earned runs on three hits and a hit by pitch and got only two outs in the inning after retiring six of the first seven batters he faced.

Jackson Rutledge actually allowed Drexler Macaay’s go-ahead two-run double with two outs, but the runs were charged to Ramage because he put them on base.

Arkansas had to bring in ace closer Matt Cronin to close it out and earn his seventh save.

Making his third career start, Caleb Bolden, allowed two earned runs and struck out six in five innings.

Despite a team ERA of 7.12, Grambling kept Arkansas’ potent offense quiet thanks to a steady rotation on the mound.

The Tigers used eight of the 11 pitchers that have made an appearance this season, with only starter Elijah Saunders pitching more than one inning.

“There’s always going to be a little period of adjustment,” Cole said. “Every pitcher is different, every release point is different. We had to change our approach a little bit.”

The Razorbacks couldn’t get into a groove until Grambling inserted Raul Baduel, a usual weekend starter, in the eighth. He didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced and they all eventually scored.

Such a close game is nothing new for Arkansas at Dickey-Stephens Park.

In nine trips to the home of the Arkansas Travelers, the Razorbacks have played five one-run games despite playing teams with an average RPI of 179.

Included in that is a 2-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State in 2013, when the Delta Devils finished dead last in the RPI.

The Razorbacks typically come out on top, though. Their lone loss was to Memphis in 2015, when they eventually made it to the College World Series.

Arkansas returns to Baum Stadium later this week for a three-game series against South Carolina beginning Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and it will be televised on the SEC Network.

Morris in Fort Smith talking at Razorback Club banquet

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Chad Morris visited with the Morning Rush’s John Nabors before signing autographs and speaking to the Fort Smith Razorback Club on Tuesday night at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

Allen gets Chism Reed Award at Razorback Club banquet

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Austin Allen was in Fort Smith on Tuesday night for the Fort Smith Razorback Club banquet at the Convention Center. Allen was named the recipient of the Chism Reed Award, given every year to a graduating senior that “exemplifies the Razorback Spirit in athletics, academics and citizenship.”

Pitching leads way to doubleheader sweep at SLU

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Playing under a new No. 19 national ranking, Arkansas swept its Tuesday doubleheader at Saint Louis behind a pair of complete-game shutouts from Mary Haff and Autumn Storms.

Collectively, the duo registered 21 strikeouts and allowed just five hits between the two games. Arkansas improves to 31-8 this year, equaling last year’s win total.

Up Next

The Razorbacks host No. 15 Alabama this weekend at Bogle Park to begin the second half of conference play.

First pitch of Friday’s opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. Admission is free with gates opening one hour prior to start time.

Game 1: #19/20 Arkansas 7, Saint Louis 0 | Box Score

For a second-consecutive start, Haff carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a single to the lead-off hitter in the frame.

With her 13-strikeout performance, the freshman pitcher established a new season high, improving upon three previous outings with 12 strikeouts.

Haff becomes just the sixth pitcher in program history to record at least 13 strikeouts in a game and the first to do so since the 2013 campaign.

Senior Tori Cooper paced the offense with her sixth multi-hit game of the season, including a two-run double in the first and a two-run big fly in the fifth frame. The home run was her third of the year.

In the fourth frame, the Razorbacks scored twice with the help of an Aly Manzo RBI and sacrifice fly off the bat of Hannah McEwen. Arkansas led 5-0 before Cooper’s home run in the fifth.

Game 2: #19/20 Arkansas 5, Saint Louis 0 | Box Score

Storms was as impressive in game two of Tuesday’s doubleheader, retiring 15 hitters in row at one point. She finished the game with eight strikeouts — just one shy of her career high — and no walks.

Storms gave up an infield single in the second and didn’t allow another base runner until Saint Louis (21-18) strung together three hits in the seventh.

On the final play of the game, the home team attempted to score from second on a single to left but Sydney Parr threw a strike to the plate that freshman catcher Kayla Green gloved and applied the tag for the 21st out of the game.

With Tuesday’s wins, the Razorbacks improve to 8-0 in their all-time series against Saint Louis.

Arkansas’ offense generated 10 hits including a three-hit effort by McEwen, the 12th multi-hit showing of her freshman year.

Two of her hits left the ball park which puts her in the team lead with eight home runs. With four RBI, McEwen has driven in 41 runs this season to become the eighth player in program history with at least 40 RBI in a single season. Her three-run shot in the sixth pushed the score to its final 5-0 score.

Junior Haydi Bugarin was 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the second to plate the first run of the game.

Frat house incident under investigation by UA police

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Frat house incident under investigation by UA police

FAYETTEVILLE — As of now, the only thing known about an altercation at a fraternity party Saturday night is that some Razorback football players were there.

Exactly who and whether they were involved is not known.

There has been a complaint of third-degree battery filed, which is a Class A misdemeanor, the most serious of misdemeanors.

The incident occurred at the Kappa Alpha fraternity house, according to the police log. A call reporting the incident came in at 1:38 a.m. on Sunday, prompting an investigation.

“It’s all under investigation,” UA Police Capt. Gary Crain told WholeHogSports.com. “Nobody has been arrested, and we don’t know the circumstances. We have a complaint of battery in the third degree, and we’re investigating.”

UA spokesman Kevin Trainor issued a statement Tuesday confirming the athletic department’s knowledge of the issue:

“The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has been made aware of an incident occurring this past weekend at an event. The event was attended by University of Arkansas students, including members of the football team. The incident is currently being reviewed by UAPD and the Office of Student Standards and Conduct. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will have no further comment until the completion of the review.”

Coach Chad Morris, who is addressing the Fort Smith Razorback Club on Tuesday night, met with reporters at the event prior to the release of the UA statement, so it was not addressed.

News of the incident reached the media in attendance after Morris had concluded his comments to the media and was interacting with fans.

No players have been arrested since Morris got the job Dec. 7.

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday

Annual game in NLR next up for streaking Razorbacks

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Riding a five-game winning streak, including a sweep of Auburn, third-ranked Arkansas will look to stay hot as they take on Grambling State for a single midweek game in North Little Rock at Dickey-Stephens Park on Tuesday night.

First pitch with the Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m.

This is the ninth-consecutive year that the Hogs have played a game in North Little Rock at the home of the Double-A affiliate Arkansas Travelers.

Arkansas has won two straight at Dickey-Stephens Park going back to 2015.

Caleb Bolden will be taking the mound Tuesday night, for his third mid-week start of the year. In his previous two starts, Bolden has thrown at least six innings without giving up a run and has struck out 11 combined.

Last week against ULM, Bolden earned his third win of the year after throwing seven scoreless innings, a career-long outing, and didn’t walk a batter for the second time in six appearances.

Offensively, the Hogs continue to mash as they have a combined .311 average through 33 games with 263 runs scored and 56 home runs.

The runs are the second most in the SEC, while the home run total is best in the league and second in the nation.

Junior Eric Cole is coming off a strong week where he hit .348 with a team-leading eight hits over five games, including two doubles, and four RBIs.

Cole has started all 33 games in the outfield this year and is hitting .348 out of the two hole with seven home runs and 24 RBIs.

His .348 average is 11th-highest in the SEC and his RBI total is just one less than Cole had all last year.

FOLLOW LIVE

Tuesday’s game will not have a video stream of any kind, but Phil Elson and Bubba Carpenter will be bringing you the gave via radio on the Razorback Sports Network from IMG.

You can hear the game in Arkansas at ESPN Arkansas on 95.3 FM in the River Valley, 96.3 FM in Hot Springs and 104.3 FM in Harrison.

The radio stream can also be found on the Razorback Gameday app.

IMPORTANT LINKS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
Tue, April 9 – Arkansas vs. Grambling State – 6:30 p.m. – LIVE STATS

PROBABLE STARTERS
TUE: ARK RHP Caleb Bolden (2.61 ERA, 3-0, 15 K, 8 BB) vs. GRAM RHP Elijah Saunders (8.41 ERA, 0-3, 11 K, 16 BB)

RAZORBACK PRIME 9
• Freshman Caleb Bolden will be making his second start in as many weeks on Tuesday against Grambling. Last week, he threw seven scoreless innings, striking out five and not allowing a walk.

• Kjerstad’s second-inning home run Wednesday against ULM was a tape-measure shot, traveling 430 feet well over the right-centerfield scoreboard at Baum Stadium. He leads the team with eight homers.

• Arkansas still leads the SEC and ranks second in the nation with 56 home runs, 16 ahead of its SEC-leading pace last year.

• The Razorbacks have played eleven one-run games this season, winning six of them. Most recently, Arkansas won in the bottom of the ninth against No. 13 Auburn thanks to a walk-off single from Heston Kjerstad. It’s the third walk-off win for the Razorbacks this year.

• Blaine Knight won his third-consecutive start last week against No. 13 Auburn, moving to 6-0. In six of his eight starts, Knight has thrown six or more innings and struck out four or more.

• In 19 games this year, Arkansas has totaled 10 or more hits. In those games, the Hogs are 16-3 with 14 of those wins coming at Baum Stadium.

• Heston Kjerstad leads SEC freshmen in hits (46), home runs (8), runs batted in (32), slugging percentage (.642) and total bases (79).

• Sophmore Matt Cronin picked up his sixth save of the season against Auburn on Friday, moving him to a tie for second in the SEC. Cronin also leads all SEC pitchers with a .160 opponents’ batting average in league play.

• Arkansas will be playing in North Little Rock at Dickey-Stephens Park for the ninth-consecutive season. The Hogs are 7-1 in games played at DSP, including winning two-straight.

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