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Fayetteville

Kjerstad’s hitting not enough as Florida drops Hogs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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VIDEO FROM ESPN SEC NETWORK
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For the first time all weekend, Arkansas and Florida traded leads throughout their rubber match on Sunday at McKethan Stadium, but it was the Gators that came out on top in the end, winning 5-4, to take the series.

Florida’s Nelson Maldonando hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning off Razorback reliever Matt Cronin to break a 3-3 tie.

Arkansas rallied in the top of the ninth getting a run back after leadoff doubles by Heston Kjerstad and Dominic Fletcher before a sacrifice fly by Jared Gates, but Florida closer Michael Byrne held off the charge to get three-consecutive outs to end the game, finishing with 3.2 innings pitched.

Arkansas (17-7, 4-2 SEC) drops its first conference series of the year in what is its fifth one-run game of the year.

The Hogs are now 2-3 this year in games decided by one run. Florida (21-5, 4-2 SEC) takes its second-straight SEC series as Byrne earns his first victory of the year out of the bullpen.

Kjerstad, Gates, and sophomore Evan Lee all finished with two hits each in Sunday’s game.

For Gates and Lee, both did not see action from an offensive standpoint last week against Kentucky, but came through clutch in the early going, hitting back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth to give the Hogs the 2-1 lead at the time.

It was Lee’s first homer of his collegiate career and Gates’ third of the season. Both long balls came from the left side of the plate giving the Razorbacks 19 of their conference-leading 46 home runs from left-handed hitters.

On the mound, junior lefty Kacey Murphy was solid again, going 6.1 innings, his longest outing of the year, and giving up just three earned runs for his third quality start of the season.

He was given the loss as he allowed what ended up being the go-ahead run on the Maldonado home run. It’s Murphy’s first loss of the year.

Murphy did strike out six batters in the game, which ties his season high, but scattered four hits with three going for extra bases.

Murphy allowed a Jonathan India triple in the second inning which led to Florida’s first run and then gave up the two-run home run to JJ Schwarz.

Back on the offensive side for Kjerstad, he finishes a stellar week of hitting after his two-hit game on Sunday.

Over the previous four games, the Amarillo, Texas native went 9-for-16 (.563) leading all Razorbacks with six extra-base hits, including three home runs. He slugged a staggering 1.313 and struck out just two times.

The freshman also scored seven times and turned in multi-hit performances in all four games, giving him a team-leading nine multi-hit games.

Fletcher also turned in a strong week at the plate, going 5-for-15 (.333) in four games with two runs scored, one home run, and two RBIs.

Up Next

The eight-game roadtrip continues next week as the Razorbacks will head to Memphis, Tennessee to take on the Memphis Tigers on Tuesday.

First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. from AutoZone Park, the home of the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

After the lone midweek game, Arkansas will continue on to Oxford, Mississippi for a three-game series with the Ole Miss Rebels starting on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Hogs explode in fifth for series-clinching 10-7 win

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Trailing by four runs in its series finale against Missouri, Arkansas put together a seven-run fifth inning on its way to clinching the series with a 10-7 win Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park.

Tori Cooper and Kayla Green had home runs while senior Autumn Buczek hit the game-winning double. With the win, Arkansas improves to 16-1 on its home field this season. Overall, the Razorbacks are 25-6 with a 2-4 mark in SEC play.

Sunday’s triumph doubled as the 100th-career win for head coach Courtney Deifel with 73 of those coming since she arrived in Fayetteville prior to the 2016 season.

Up Next

Arkansas closes out its 13-game home stand next weekend with a three-game series against Mississippi State. First pitch against the Bulldogs is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. (CT)

Final: Arkansas 10, Missouri 7 | Box Score

The two teams combined for 11 runs through the first 18 innings of the series before the offenses broke through to combine for 13 runs in the fifth frame.

The Razorbacks led 3-0 after a solo shot by Cooper and a pair of RBI by Hannan McEwen and Ashley Diaz in the third.

Missouri (19-17, 2-7 SEC) got a solo home run in the top of the fourth and the home team led 3-1 before the slugfest began.

The visitors scored six runs thanks to five-consecutive, two-out hits in the top of the fifth inning.

After freshman starter Mary Haff re-entered to get the third out and end the outburst, the Arkansas bats went to work.

With runners on first and second after a walk to McEwen and single by Diaz, junior Katie Warrick singled up the middle to push across Arkansas’ fourth run.

Green stepped to the dish with pinch runners Keely Edwards and Carley Haizlip on second and third, respectively, and took the first offering from Lauren Rice deep to left center for the game-tying home run.

It was her fifth big fly of the season, and her first since March 2. The rally continued with a walk to senior A.J. Belans and a fielding error that gave Arkansas an extra out to play with.

Buczek came to the plate with two outs and runners on first and second. The Razorback infielder responded with a double to left center that allowed pinch runner Jada Dotson to score from second and give Arkansas the 8-7 lead.

McEwen earned her second walk of the inning to load the bases for Diaz who capped the big inning with a two-run single to right field.

Seven runs, five hits and one Mizzou error later, the Razorbacks were back on top, 10-7.

With the help of her fourth and fifth strikeouts of the game, Haff worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning to keep the momentum on the Razorbacks’ side.

A two-out single in the seventh kept Missouri alive but a ground ball to Belans was gobbled up and flipped to Bugarin at second for the force out and the win.

Haff picked up her 15th win of the season and second of the weekend.

Gators too strong for Razorbacks in 6-1 win Sunday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Arkansas concluded its three-match road trip Sunday with a 6-1 road loss to No. 9 Florida.

Arkansas showed fight in the doubles, despite falling on court two to give the Gators the early advantage.

Arkansas’ duo of Oscar Mesquida and Adam Sanjurjo defeated the top doubles team in the country in Florida’s Alfredo Perez and Johannes Ingildsen 6-3 to even things up in doubles.

On court three, brothers Pedro and Jose Alonso led the No. 8 tandem in the country Chase Perez-Blanco and Oliver Crawford 5-3, before the Gator duo ran off four straight games to win 7-5 and clinch the doubles point for Florida.

Mesquida fell fast to No. 52 Crawford 6-1, 6-0 to give Florida the early 2-0 lead, right before Reco lost to Perez-Blanco 6-3, 6-2 to stretch its lead to 3-0.

Florida recorded three straight two-set wins to open singles and clinch the match, as Andy Andrade defeated Pedro Alonso on court five 6-3, 6-2 to give the Gators the win.

The lone point for Arkansas came on court one, as No. 65 Salazar defeated No. 8 Perez 6-4, 6-4 to give Salazar his sixth ranked win of the season.

Jose Alonso fell to Kessler in two sets 7-5, 6-4 on court six. Court two was the only court to go three sets, as Sanjurjo fell to No. 11 Ingildsen 6-4, 3-6, 10-6, as the court went to a 10-point third-set tiebreaker following the clinch.

Arkansas will return to action next Sunday, as the Razorbacks host a triple header on Easter day.

Arkansas will start the evening with an SEC match against Alabama at 1 p.m., followed by a doubleheader with Nebraska-Omaha.

No. 9 Florida 6, Arkansas 1

Singles Results – Order of finish (3,4,5,1,6,2)
1. No. 65 Salazar (AR) def. No. 8 Perez (UF) 6-4, 6-4
2. No. 11 Ingildsen (UF) def. Sanjurjo (AR) 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
3. No. 51 Crawford (UF) def. Mesquida (AR) 6-1, 6-0
4. Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Reco (AR) 6-3, 6-2
5. Andrade (UF) def. P. Alonso (AR) 6-3, 6-2
6. Kessler (UF) def. J. Alonso (AR) 7-5, 6-4

Doubles Results – Order of finish (2,1,3)
1. Mesquida/Sanjurjo (AR) def. No. 1 Perez/Ingildsen (UF) 6-3
2. No. 32 Kessler/Vale (UF) def. Salazar/Reco (AR) 6-3
3. No. 8 Perez/Blanco (UF) def. P. Alonso/J. Alonso (AR) 7-5

Field events, sprints dominate Hogs’ outdoor opener

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas opened its 2018 outdoor season with four event titles and six runner-up finishes at the Arkansas Spring Invitational at John McDonnell Field on Saturday.

Senior Kenzo Cotton was part of three of Arkansas’ victories with wins as the anchor leg of the 4x100m and 4x400m relays and sailing to the 100m title in the season opener.

The field events and sprints dominated the day with Arkansas getting wins in the long jump, 4x100m relay and the 100m.

They added second-place showings in the discus, high jump, 200m, 400m, 110m hurdles, the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay events as well.

As the day closed, the Razorbacks counted 17 top-5 finishes.

Arkansas 4x100m relay team posted a meet record running a 39.31 in route to the first win of the day.

Kristoffer Hari, Kemar Mowatt and Obi Igbokwe had the Razorbacks in the lead, but anchor Kenzo Cotton slammed the door shut pulling away from the field in the final leg.

The Razorbacks picked up a runner-up finish in the 4x100m with solid performances from Sam Schillinger, Harrison Schrage, Kevin Harris and John Winn who ran 39.87.

Cotton returned to the track picking up the win in the 100m running a 10.12, the fastest time in the NCAA this season. His time is the fifth-best mark in program history.

In the field events, the Razorbacks picked up a win in the long jump from sophomore Harrison Schrage.

Schrage jumped 7.69m (25-2.75) winning by one inch. Schrage posted his winning jump in his second effort in his flight.

Senior Kemar Mowatt ran a 14.30 in the 110m hurdles and Winn notched a personal best and his second runner-up finish of the day running a 47.41 in the 400m.

Hari added a runner-up finish to his day running 21.16 in the 200m.

Senior Rubin Owens added a fourth runner-up finish for the Razorbacks with a personal best 2.11m (6-11) effort in the high jump.

Up Next
The Razorbacks split the squad taking part in the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays March 29-31, and the Stanford Invitational, March 30-31.

Arkansas returns home hosting the John McDonnell Invitational April 13-14.

Event Winners
4x100M Relay | Kristoffer Hari, Kemar Mowatt, Obi Igbokwe, Kenzo Cotton – 39.31 (meet record)
100M | Kenzo Cotton – 10.12 (fastest time in NCAA this year)
Long Jump | Harrison Schrage – 7.69m (25-2.75)
4x400M Relay | Chambers/Mowatt/Winn/Cotton – 3:10.30

Arkansas Spring Invitational
March 23-24, 2018
Randal Tyson Track Center (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Hammer (Friday)
3. Erich Sullins – 58.49m (191-10)

Javelin
4. Alex Springer – 59.23m (194-4)

Long Jump
1. Harrison Schrage – 7.69m (25-2.75) (PR)
14. Trae Carey – 6.42m (21.0.75)

Shot Put
4. Sam Kempka – 16.78m (55-0.75)
15. Gabe Moore – 13.59m (44-7)

Discus
2. Erich Sullins – 48.51m (159-2)
9. Gabe Moore – 44.13 (144-9)

High Jump
2. Rubin Owens – 2.11m (6-11)
4. Brendon Rivera – 2.01m (6-7)

4x100M Relay
1. Hari/Mowatt/Igbokwe/Cotton – 39.31 (meet rec)
2. Schillinger/Schrage/Harris/Winn – 39.87
6. Chambers/ Stephen, Donald, Woodhall – 41.29

1500M
7. Kieran Taylor -4:02.64
8. Reese Walters – 4:03.36

110M Hurdles
2. Kemar Mowatt – 14.30
5. Travius Chambers -14.81

100M
1. Kenzo Cotton – 10.12 (fastest time in NCAA this year)

400M
2. John Winn – 47.41 (PR)
10. Chase Pareti – 49.17
11. Hunter Woodhall – 49.26

200M
2. Kristoffer Hari – 21.16
3. Kevin Harris – 21.20

800M Invitational
4. Ethan Moehn – 1:51.95

1500M Invitational
5. Carter Persyn – 3:51.91
7. Andrew Ronoh – 3:52.94
8. Kyle Hosting – 3:53.11
11. Kyle Levermore – 4:03.27

4x400M Relay
1. Chambers/Mowatt/Winn/Cotton – 3:10.30
10. Pareti/Woodhall/Taylor/Walters – 3:19.81

School records, five wins highlight Hogs’ outdoor opener

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Senior Taliyah Brooks and sophomore Jada Baylark posted school-record performances Saturday during the Arkansas Spring Invitational, the team’s first meet of the outdoor season.

Brooks bested her own record in the long jump while Baylark tied the program mark at 100 meters originally set by all-time great Veronica Campbell Brown.

The preseason No. 1 Razorbacks finished their outdoor opener with five combined wins.

In her first outing since capturing the NCAA pentathlon title at the national indoor meet, Brooks led the long jump from start to finish.

The Razorback senior began her series with a wind-aided mark of 6.44m/21-1.5 which stood as the top jump until her final attempt of the day.

With the wind cooperating (+1.2), Brooks soared out to a 6.78m/22-3 measure which improved upon the previous record (21-4) by nearly one foot; she owned that mark, too.

After running the third leg of Arkansas’ victorious 4×100-meter relay, Baylark burst out of the blocks on her way to an early NCAA-leading time of 11.10 which matched the time set in 2004 by Campbell Brown.

Teammate and race runner-up Kiara Parker crossed the line in 11.26 which tied the No. 3 performance in program history.

The duo also finished first and second, respectively, at 200 meters. Baylark’s winning time of 23.17 makes her the third-fastest performer in program history.

Baylark and Parker teammed with Janeek Brown and Morgan Burks Magee in the 4×100-meter relay to get the baton around the track in a winning time of 43.40, just .06 off the school record established last season.

Brown was back on the track for an individual victory in the 100-meter hurdles in a slightly wind-aided 13.10 while Burks Magee was the top collegiate runner and third overall (53.94) at 400 meters.

Arkansas also picked up top-three showings from Abby Gray at 1,500 meters and Rylee Robinson in the pole vault.

Running in the invitational section of her event, Gray posted a time of 4:31.30 to open her outdoor campaign.

Robison established a personal best to finish third with a final 4.05m/13-3.5 clearance.

Arkansas Spring Invitational
100 Meters
1. Jada Baylark – 11.10 (=school record; previous: 11.10, Veronica Campbell Brown, 2004)
2. Kiara Parker – 11.26
5. Morgan Burks Magee – 11.55w (+2.8)
7. Tamara Kuykendall – 11.58w (+2.8)
26. Kayla Carter – 12.43w (+2.2)

200 Meters
1. Jada Baylark – 23.17
2. Kiara Parker – 23.41
5. Tamara Kuykendall – 23.82
6. Taliyah Brooks – 23.84
14. Sydney Davis – 24.76
23. Kayla Carter – 25.98

400 Meters
3. Morgan Burks Magee – 53.94
4. Sydney Hammit – 55.30
5. Sydney Davis – 56.25

800 Meters Invitational
5. Ruth Wiggins – 2:14.00
7. Kailee Sawyer – 2:14.98

1,500 Meters Invitational
3. Abby Gray – 4:31.30
4. Regan Hime – 4:31.76
5. Rachel Nichwitz – 4:32.16
12. Micah Huckabee – 4:42.43
14. Greta Taylor – 4:53.88

1,500 Meters
8. Tess Iler – 4:47.29

3,000 Meters
7. Alex Ritchey – 10:08.54
33. Kristen Larkan – 11:23.51
37. Grace Taylor – 11:32.64

100m Hurdles
1. Janeek Brown – 13.10w (+2.6)

4x100m Relay
1. Brown/Parker/Baylark/Burks Magee – 43.40

High Jump
5. Carmen Sitz – 1.65m/5-5

Pole Vault
3. Rylee Robinson – 4.05m/13-3.5
5. Morgan Hartsell – 3.95m/12-11.5
9. Elizabeth Ramos Mata – 3.50m/11-5.75
12. Genna Parker – 3.50m/11-5.75
17. Madeline Telford – 3.30m/10-10

Long Jump
1. Taliyah Brooks – 6.78m/22-3 (school record; previous: 21-4, Brooks, 2017)

Discus
13. Riley Hoogerwerf – 36.45m/119-7

Hogs score 196 at SEC Championship for just third time

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Arkansas placed first in the first session, scoring a 196.425, and finished fifth overall at the SEC Championship inside Chaifetz Arena on Saturday.

It marks just the third time in school history the Razorbacks have posted a 196 or higher at the event. The Finish is Arkansas’ highest since finishing fourth in 2011.

The Razorbacks, competing in Olympic order for the first time at the Championship, finished with the second highest score in program history at the meet.

The score allowed Arkansas to drop a lower road score and propelled its RQS (Regional Qualifying Score) to another program record 196.820.

First Rotation: Arkansas Vault: 48.975
After a couple of low scores to start the rotation, the Razorbacks three anchors all recorded scores of 9.800 or higher, inlcuding 9.850’s from seniors Amanda Wellick and Braie Speed.

Speed, who has not scored below a 9.850 on vault all season, continues to be stellar on the event, as she has posted scores of 9.800 or higher in 34-of-38 vault appearances.

Arkansas would trail in the first session for the only time after the first rotation.

Second Rotation: Arkansas Bars: 49.150
The Razorbacks posted a 49 on bars at the Championship for just the fourth time in program history and tied their best score on bars at the event with a 49.150.

Arkansas’ final three competitors on the event all posted scores of 9.850, the highest scores given out at the meet during the first session.

Wellick and Speed posted each tallied a 9.850 as did sophomore Hailey Garner in the anchor position.

Third Rotation: Arkansas Beam: 49.225
Led by a 9.925 from Garner, the Razorbacks scored the highest beam score by an Arkansas team at the SEC Championship.

Garner joined Razorback great Katherine Grable as the only Arkansas gymnasts to post a 9.925 at the Championship, as Grable recorded a 9.925 on floor in 2013.

In total, the Razorbacks posted five scores over 9.800 on the event, as sophomore Jessica Yamzon and freshman Sophia Carter recorded 9.850’s while Wellick and sophomore Michaela Burton tallied 9.800’s to round out Arkansas’ scoring.

“Our main theme this year has been to have each other’s back,” said Garner. “I think we brought a lot today, but I know that as a whole we can bring so much more. We’re really excited to go to regionals and show everyone what we have worked so hard for this season. This team is capable of so much more and we’re not done yet.”

Fourth Rotation: Arkansas Floor: 49.075
Arkansas began the final rotation with scores of 9.725 and 9.750 from senior Mia Bargiacchi and Wellick, and needed a strong finish from its final four competitors to finish ahead of Georgia in the first session.

They got just that with four scores over 9.800 led by Carter who anchored the rotation and posted a 9.875, the highest score on floor in the rotation.

All-SEC Razorbacks
Vault: Braie Speed, Amanda Wellick- 9.850
Bars: Amanda Wellick, Braie Speed, Hailey Garner- 9.850, Sydney Laird- 9.825
Beam: Hailey Garner- 9.925
Floor: Sophia Carter- 9.875, Sarah Shaffer- 9.850
All Around: Amanda Wellick- 39.250

All Freshman Team
All-Around: Sarah Shaffer
Floor and Bars: Sophia Carter
Bars: Sydney Laird

Up Next
The Razorbacks await their NCAA Regional selection. The NCAA Selection Show will air on NCAA.com Monday at 3 p.m. CT.

Razorbacks set new attendance mark, but fall short

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ bats went quiet Saturday as the Razorbacks (24-6, 1-4 SEC) were held scoreless in a four-hit effort to Missouri, falling at home for the first time this season, 3-0.

After recording the sixth-largest home attendance in program history Friday, Razorback fans showed up in full force Saturday afternoon, as Arkansas recorded a program and stadium record attendance of 2,756.

Up Next

Game three of this weekend’s series against Missouri is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Arkansas is in the midst of a 13-game home stand that will conclude next weekend when the team hosts Mississippi State at Bogle Park.

Final: Missouri 3, Arkansas 0 | Box Score

Missouri (19-16, 2-6 SEC) got on the board first with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to right on what was a close play at the plate that could have got Arkansas out of the jam unscathed.

The Tigers’ score put Arkansas behind for the first time in nine games.

Missouri stretched its lead to 2-0, after recording four straight singles to open the fourth inning.

Arkansas was able to limit the damage, as Sydney Parr threw out a runner at the plate, holding the Tigers to just one run. Mizzou grabbed another run in the fourth, as Regan Nash got a lead-off walk, steal second, then scored on a one-out single.

Arkansas threatened in the fourth, as the Razorbacks loaded the bases with a pair of walks, while another reached on a fielding error.

After a ground-out to the pitcher to give make it two outs, Arkansas’ A.J. Belans roped one down the left field line that was ruled foul. Belans grounded out to short to end the inning for Arkansas.

The Razorbacks threatened again in the sixth as Katie Warrick would get a lead-off double to right center, but Arkansas lined into three-straight outs to end the threat.

Gators explode early on Razorbacks, even series

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida evened up the series with Arkansas on Saturday, scoring 12 runs in the first three innings and then five more in the sixth, to take a 17-2 victory at McKethan Stadium.

Razorback starting pitcher Isaiah Campbell struggled from the onset allowing a career-high five earned runs in one-plus innings.

It all started with two leadoff walks to start the game, followed by a Wil Dalton single to load up the bases. Two batters later, Jonathan India hit a grand slam to make it 4-0, sending the Gators off and running.

The one inning pitched by Campbell was the shortest start of his career, giving up four hits to 11 batters faced. He struck out two marking his sixth-straight start with two or more strikeouts.

He was saddled with the loss to fall to 2-3 on the year.

At the plate, Arkansas managed eight hits in the game, three coming in the fourth inning, which was when the Hogs scored their only runs.

Freshman Heston Kjerstad turned in a 2-for-4 game, his eighth multi-hit game of the year, tying for the team lead.

Junior catcher Grant Koch hit his fifth home run of the season in the fourth inning to avoid the shutout, a two-run shot for his only hit of the game and sixth multi-RBI game.

Kjerstad has had a heck of a week going back to Wednesday’s midweek game at Charlotte. In his last three games, the Amarillo, Texas, native is 7-for-11 (.636) at the plate with five RBIs, three home runs, and only one strikeout.

Arkansas utilized three more pitchers in relief of Campbell on Saturday as freshman Caleb Bolden gave up three runs in one inning, followed by sophomore Jacob Kostyshock, who played the long game, went 3.2 innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out two.

Freshman Zebulon Vermillion, who had only given up one earned run in his last 2.2 innings, pitched the final 2.1 innings of the game, allowing just one earned run and striking out a season-high four batters.

Florida starting pitcher Jackson Kowar earned his fourth victory of the year after throwing six innings and striking out six, while only allowing the two Arkansas runs.

Up Next

The rubber match between the fourth-ranked Razorbacks and second-ranked Gators is set for Sunday morning in Gainesville.

Left-hander Kacey Murphy will take the mound for the Razorbacks and he’ll go up against Florida right-hander Tyler Dyson. First pitch will be at 11 a.m. and will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.

Hogs handle Gators to take first game of series

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Freshman Heston Kjerstad continued to swing the hot bat and Arkansas got their series with Florida off on the right foot Friday night, winning 6-3, at McKethan Stadium, their fourth conference win in a row.

It’s the second-straight year that Arkansas (17-5, 4-0 SEC) has begun conference play with four consecutive victories.

In the four wins this year, it’s been the offense that has carried the squad as the Hogs have hit at least two home runs and totaled 10 or more hits in each game.

Tonight, it was Kjerstad and Sophomore Dominic Fletcher who launched long balls, giving Arkansas 43 homers for the year, which continues to lead the SEC.

Kjerstad fell just a triple shy of the cycle Friday night and hit his sixth home run of the year in the sixth inning, his third in his last seven at-bats.

Kjerstad had a single, a double, and a home run all before the seventh inning and walked in his fourth plate appearance in the eighth to keep his perfect day intact.

Kjerstad’s 3-for-3 day at the plate easily extends his hit streak to six games dating back to the March 14th game against Texas.

During that span, the freshman has amassed 10 hits and 11 RBIs with four home runs, the best among all Razorbacks.

The Hogs also got a great outing from right-hander Blaine Knight, who locked up his fourth win of the year.

The junior outdueled Florida starter Brady Singer by throwing a quality 6.2 innings with three earned runs allowed and 10 strikeouts, just one shy of his career high.

It’s his first start this year with 10 or more strikeouts and fifth quality outing out of six starts.

Sophomore Matt Cronin got the six-out save by coming out of the bullpen in the middle of the eighth and retiring six of seven batters with three strikeouts.

It’s Cronin’s fourth save of the year and third in as many appearances.

The Razorbacks got major production from its 5-9 hitters against the Gator pitching staff to open the series. The combo of Fletcher, Jordan McFarland, Kjerstad, Grant Koch, and Carson Shaddy went 8-for-17 (.471) on Friday, six of those hits coming off Singer.

Arkansas hitters have dominated Singer going back to last year’s SEC Tournament semifinals.

In those two starts, the Hogs have totaled 17 hits and 15 earned on the former second-round pick and compiled a .395 batting average.

Coming into Friday night’s game, Singer held hitters to a .207 average and given up just seven earned runs in 2018.

Tonight, Arkansas strung together three hits in the second to jump on the Gators early, scoring the first three runs of the game, two off a single from Shaddy that ricocheted off Singer’s leg and bounced into right field, scoring Kjerstad and McFarland.

Arkansas now has scored 80 runs in the first three innings this season, which still accounts for 41 percent of the Hogs overall runs.

Sophomore Dominic Fletcher provided his third home run of the year in the fourth inning, going to straightaway centerfield. He finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and extended his hitting streak to seven games.

Over his last four games, the California native has seven hits, two for extra bases, and has totaled three multi-hit games.

Up Next

Arkansas will hope to win the series on Saturday as it will play game two against the Gators at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.

Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Campbell, coming off an eight-inning performance against Kentucky last week, will take the mound against Florida’s Jackson Kowar.

Razorbacks beat Missouri in SEC home opener

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas scored all three of their runs in the second and freshman Mary Haff registered her ninth complete-game performance of the season in Friday’s 3-1 win over Missouri.

Senior Autumn Buczek delivered the big blow with a two-out, two-run triple.

With the win, Arkansas picked up its first conference win of the season and improves to 24-5 overall.

The team’s SEC home opener was played in front of 1,248 fans at Bogle Park, marking the sixth-largest home attendance in program history.

The Razorbacks are now 15-0 on their home field this season.

Up Next

Game two of this weekend’s series against Missouri is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.

Arkansas is in the midst of a 13-game home stand that will conclude next weekend when the team hosts Mississippi State at Bogle Park.

Missouri (18-16, 1-6 SEC) stranded three runners on base in its first two trips to the plate but were kept off the scoreboard.

The Razorbacks took advantage of a lead-off walk to Aly Manzo to start the bottom of the second inning and had runners on first and second after a base hit by Loren Krzysko.

Haydi Bugarin opened the scoring with an RBI single through the left side that allowed pinch runner Keely Edwards to score from second base.

A Missouri error extended the inning and Buczek came through with her eighth-career triple that plated a pair of unearned runs for the Razorbacks.

With the three-base hit, Buczek moves into a tie for fifth with Chloe Oprzedek (2011-14) on the program’s all-time list.

The visitors got one of those runs back in the top of the third with a two-out RBI single to left just over the glove of Buczek at shortstop.

From that point, however, Haff retired 12 of the last 13 hitters she faced. The lone Missouri base runner in that stretch was a walk to lead off the sixth but was erased on a ‘strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out’ double play.

From her catcher’s position, freshman Kayla Green has now thrown out an SEC-leading 10 base runners attempting to steal.

Still working with the two-run lead, Haff worked a perfect seventh inning to secure her 14th win of the season and give the Razorbacks their third-consecutive win over Missouri. Friday’s game marked Haff’s 10th outing with at least seven strikeouts.

Razorbacks fall on the road in match at South Carolina

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Arkansas dropped its second match of the week on Friday, opening the conference weekend with a 5-2 loss to South Carolina.

For the sixth-straight match, the Razorbacks (9-10, 2-5 SEC) set themselves back, dropping the doubles point to give the Gamecocks the early 1-0 lead.

Arkansas held the early advantage as Oscar Mesquida and Adam Sanjurjo led Gabriel Friedrich and Thomas Mayronne 3-2 on court one, while brothers Pedro and Jose Alonso led Paul Jubb and Wood Benton 3-2 on court three.

Mesquida and Sanjurjo would go on to claim the top doubles spot 6-3, but not before South Carolina grabbed the second court, as Yancy Dennis and Harrison O’Keefe defeated Jose Salazar and Alex Reco 6-3.

It would come down to court three, where the Alonso’s would fall 7-6 (7-0) to give the doubles point to USC.

In singles, the Gamecocks would take three straight courts in two sets to go up 4-0 and claim the win.

Mesquida fell first to Jubb 6-1, 6-3, while Reco dropped second to O’Keefe 6-1, 6-2.

USC would clinch the match on court three, as Arkansas freshman Josh Howard-Tripp lost Dennis 6-0, 6-4.

After the clinch, Arkansas would take two of the final three courts, as Pedro Alonso defeated Thomas Mayronne 6-1, 6-3 and No. 65 Salazar defeated No. 46 Friedrich 4-6, 7-6, 10-5 to give Salazar his team-high fifth ranked win of the season.

Between the two wins, Jose Alonso would fall to Benton at the No. 6 spot 6-4, 6-1.

The Razorbacks close out the road trip with a match in Gainesville, Florida, on Sunday, as Arkansas takes on the No. 9 Florida Gators at 11 a.m. CT.

South Carolina 5, Arkansas 2

Singles Results – Order of finish (2,4,3,5,6,1)
1. #65 Jose Salazar (AR) def. #46 Gabriel Friedrich (SC) 4-6, 7-6, 10-5
2. Paul Jubb (SC) def. Oscar Mesquida (AR) 6-1, 6-3
3. Yancy Dennis (SC) def. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) 6-0, 6-4
4. Harrison O’Keefe (SC) def. Alex Reco (AR) 6-1, 6-2
5. Pedro Alonso (AR) def. Thomas Mayronne (SC) 6-1, 6-3
6. Wood Benton (SC) def. Jose Alonso (AR) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles Results – Order of finish (2,1,3)
1. Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Gabriel Friedrich/Thomas Mayronne (SC) 6-3
2. Yancy Dennis/Harrison O’Keefe (SC) def. Jose Salazar/Alex Reco (AR) 6-3
3.Paul Jubb/Wood Benton (SC) def. Pedro Alonso/Jose Alonso (AR) 7-6 (7-0)

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