Razorback pitcher Kacey Murphy and designated hitter Luke Bonfield talk with the media after the series-clinching 13-2 win over Auburn on Saturday night.
Play suspended at Aggie Invitational due to darkness Saturday
BRYAN, Texas — On a 36-hole day at the Aggie Invitational, Arkansas moved up three spots during the second round to sit T-8th before play was suspended due to darkness at Traditions Club.
Playing against five of the top 10 teams in the country, the Razorbacks opened play with a 24-over 312, but bounced back in the afternoon and are 8-over with one hole to play before action was halted.
No. 8 Alabama leads the field at 7-over, while Kent State (+15) is second and top-ranked Oklahoma State (+16) is third. Arkansas is T-8th overall and leads No. 10 Baylor by two shots and No. 6 Texas Tech by five strokes.
Alvaro Ortiz leads the way at 4-over for the tournament at T-15th overall, while William Buhl is T-30th at 8-over following a 1-over 73 in the afternoon.
Tyson Reeder carded the team’s low round of the day with an even-par 72 in the afternoon and is T-37th overall. Mason Overstreet is T-50th, Luis Garza is T-56th and Landon Ernst is T-47th playing as an individual.
The Razorbacks return to the course Sunday morning as Ortiz has one hole to play to complete the second round, before action continues into the third and final round.
Hogs place second at regional, advance to NCAA Championships
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Arkansas placed second at the NCAA Columbus Regional on Saturday with a score of 196.775, advancing to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.
It will mark the program’s seventh trip to the National Championships and first since 2013.
Columbus Regional Team Results
(3) UCLA- 197.650
(10) Arkansas- 196.775
Ohio State- 196.500
(15) Boise State- 196.225
Pittsburgh- 195.125
Kent State- 194.900
First Rotation: Arkansas Beam: 49.175
Sophomore Jessica Yamzon gave the Razorbacks a solid start on beam with a 9.825 to begin the rotation. After a fall in the second spot by sophomore Hailey Garner, the Razorbacks recovered with three scores over 9.800 including a pair of 9.900s from senior Amanda Wellick and sophomore Michaela Burton. The two 9.900s tied for the second-highest scores on beam at an NCAA Regional by a Razorback. Arkansas has now posted beam scores of 49.000 or higher in 12 of 13 meets this season.
Second Rotation: Arkansas Floor: 49.200
Following a bye before floor, the Razorbacks started the rotation with a 9.800 from senior Mia Bargiacchi. Wellick followed that up with a 9.850, her highest score on the event since Jan. 7, 2017. Yamzon and Burton each posted a 9.850 in the three and four spots before freshman Sarah Shaffer recorded a 9.900, her seventh score over 9.900 on floor this season. All six Razorbacks tallied a 9.800 or higher as the Razorbacks were able to post a 49.200 on the event, putting Arkansas in second place with a running score of 98.425.
Third Rotation: Arkansas Vault: 49.175
Yamzon led off the Razorbacks with a career high 9.850, while Wellick and Shaffer posted 9.850s of their own. Speed anchored the rotation with a 9.900, her fourth vault score of 9.900 or higher this season. Arkansas posted a 49.175 on the event, despite competing just five athletes, en route to its second-highest vault score of the season. Arkansas’ last scorer in Garner tallied a 9.725 in the second spot.
Speed’s 9.900 was good enough to take the Columbus Regional vault title, her second-consecutive regional vault title after taking first at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional a year ago. The title is Arkansas’ 15th individual event regional title and the fifth on vault.
Fourth Rotation: Arkansas Bars: 49.175
After a 9.775 from Yamzon in the lead-off spot, the Razorbacks posted five-straight scores over 9.800. The Razorbacks led by just 0.05 points at one point in the rotation and had little room for error. Four-straight scores of 9.825 from Wellick, Speed, Shaffer and freshman Sydney Laird gave way to Garner who anchored the rotation with a 9.875 to secure Arkansas’ second-place finish.
Wellick took the all-around title with a score of 39.425 while Yamzon posted a 39.300.
The Razorbacks will take a two-week break from action before the NCAA Championships are contested April 20-21 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo.
Storey on offense looking ‘okay,’ despite holding back
Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey said the offense didn’t do that badly, considering they were simply focusing on the basic things.
Morris recapping Saturday’s Red-White game in Little Rock
Arkansas coach Chad Morris talked about the fans that showed up in Little Rock for the Red-White game and quick impressions.
Harris, Hogs appreciate fans that showed up for spring game
Hogs linebacker Scoota Harris said the team wasn’t surprised by the bad weather Saturday morning and how the defense has progressed during spring drills.
Kelley on defense’s play making plays against Hogs’ offense
Quarterback Cole Kelley talked with the media and recapped the offense’s efforts, plus how the defense is improving after the Red-White game Saturday in Little Rock.
Ramsey on big day from new position in Red-White game
Arkansas defensive end Randy Ramsey talked after the Red-White game about his day where he record three tackles, including two sacks for minus-14 yards.
Pettway on QB battle between Kelley, Storey this spring
Arkansas wide receiver La’Michael Pettway had six catches for 91 yards in the Red-White game on Saturday and talked about the quarterback battle.
Whaley glad to be back playing games, even spring game
Arkansas running back Devwah Whaley had 62 yards on just eight carries in the Red-White game in Little Rock and said it felt good to play a game again.
Razorbacks drop road match at No. 7 Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Arkansas fell on the road Saturday to No. 7 Mississippi State in the final regular season road match.
State took a 1-0 lead, claiming the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. No. 88 duo Oscar Mesquida and Adam Sanjurjo led Mississippi State’s 46th-ranked duo 5-4 at the clinch.
In singles, the only bright spot was 38th-ranked Jose Salazar, who defeated No. 4 Nuno Borges in a third-set tiebreak 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-8). Salazar has won six of his last seven matches overall, defeating five ranked opponents, including two top-10 players in the country.
Mississippi State won the other five courts in two sets.
Next for the Razorbacks are the Auburn Tigers. Arkansas will head to Auburn on Sunday for its last regular season road match, as the Hogs and Tigers will begin at 1 p.m. CT.
No. 7 Mississippi State 6, Arkansas 1
Singles Results – Order of finish (4,3,2,6,5,1)
1. #38 Jose Salazar (AR) def. #4 Nuno Borges (MS) 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-8)
2. #23 Giovanni Oradini (MS) def. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-2, 6-2
3. #83 Strahinja Rakic (MS) def. Oscar Mesquida (AR) 6-0, 6-4
4. Niclas Braun (MS) def. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) 6-0, 6-2
5. Florian Broska (MS) def. Pedro Alonso (AR) 6-3, 7-5
6. Arvid Nordquist (MS) def. Jose Alonso (AR) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Results – Order of finish (2,3)
1. #46 Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MS) vs. #88 Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 4-5, unfinished
2. #42 Niclas Braun/Giovanni Oradini (MS) def. Pedro Alonso/Jose Salazar (AR) 6-2
3. Florian Broska/Trevor Foshey (MS) def. Josh Howard-Tripp/Alex Reco (AR) 6-1
