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Schultz claims Arkansas’ third national diving title

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — With a school and personal-record 399.45 in the three-meter finals of the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, freshman Brooke Schultz claimed Arkansas’ third diving individual national title in school history on Friday.

The two-time SEC Champion can add a national championship trophy to the collection, as the Fayetteville native climbed back to win Arkansas’ second three-meter title and first since 1985, after trailing by 27.15 points with two dives to go.

She scored her two best dives of the finals, scoring a 67.50 on a back two and half somersault pike, followed by a 72.00 on the inward two and a half somersault pike to edge out Nevada’s Sharae Zheng, who scored a 394.95.

Schultz advanced to the finals, pacing the field in prelims with a score of 384.60.

Also competing in the three-meter was fellow freshman Maha Amer. Amer scored a 318.90 in prelims to finish 13th and advance to the consolation round, where she scored a 280.05 to finish eighth in the event, 16th overall.

The final day for action for Arkansas begins at 11:15 CT with the platform prelims.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, March 15
500 Freestyle – Palsha (37th, 4:43.19)
One-Meter Trials – Schultz (9th – 295.20)
One-Meter Consolation – Schultz (1st – 311.80)

Friday, March 16
Three-Meter Trials – Schultz (1st – 384.60), Amer (13th – 318.90)
Three-Meter Consolation – Amer (8th – 280.05)
Three-Meter Final – Schultz (1st – 399.45)

Saturday, March 17
Platform Trials – 11:15 a.m. CT
1650 Free Early Heats – 2:45 p.m. CT
1650 Free – 5 p.m. CT
Finals – 5 p.m. CT

Hogs one-and-done in NCAA, losing to Butler

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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DETROIT — In the first round of the NCAA, No. 8-seed Arkansas fell to No. 10-seed Butler, 79-62, to wrap up the season at 23-12 overall after advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons.

From the tip, the Bulldogs were on fire.

Butler hit eight of its first 11 shots to build a 19 points lead with less than seven minutes into the game. Arkansas would settle in though, creating offense through its defense.

The Razorbacks forced Butler to miss 13 of its next 15 shots, going on a 27-6 run to eventually climb all the way back and take a lead before the first half ended. In that run, Arkansas had separate runs of 10-0 and 13-0.

After the early drought, the Razorbacks got big minutes from their bench, as the guys off the pine posted 12 first half points, as C.J. Jones, Darious Hall and Arlando Cook each posted four. Butler would take a 36-31 lead into the break.

After Arkansas was able to get the Butler lead to four, the Bulldogs ran off a 13-4 run to stretch the game back out to 13. Like in the first half, the Razorbacks would claw right back getting the game to six, before Butler would call a timeout with 10 minutes remaining.

From that point, Butler outscored Arkansas 26-15 to stretch its lead back out and take the win the 17-point victory.

Senior guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon were the only to Razorbacks to finish in double figures in scoring, leading Arkansas with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Butler outrebounded the Razorbacks 45-25 and outscored the Hogs in the paint by a mark of 34 to 22.

Third-ranked Hogs face SEC-heavy field at Evans-Derby

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Third-ranked Arkansas faces a SEC-heavy field at the Evans-Derby Experience hosted by Auburn, March 18-20.

The Evans-Derby Experience was previously known as the Auburn Tiger-Derby Invitational and was last played during the 2008-09 season.

The tournament is named in honor of former Auburn women’s golf head coaches Kim Evans (1994-2015) and Virginia Derby Grimes (1991-94).

It is another talented field that includes three of the top-5 teams and four top-10 teams along with seven SEC programs at the Auburn University Club course.

Inside the Ropes
Date: March 18-20
Location: Auburn University Club, Auburn, Alabama
Course: Par 72 | 6,280 Yards
Live Scoring: Golfstat.com
History: This is Arkansas’ first appearance at the event

The Razorbacks are one of the premier teams in the field.

Ranked third in the Golfweek.com standings, Arkansas sends three players who were selected to the Palmer Cup teams and who are on the ANNIKA Award watch list for the top player in women’s collegiate golf.

Junior Maria Fassi headlines that trio of talent and leads the team with a 69.67 stroke average. She is No. 2 on the ANNIKA Award watch list and ranks No. 2 in the SEC, No. 3 in Golfstat.com and No. 4 in the Golfweek.com standings.

Fassi was the top international woman selected to the Palmer Cup team and has four collegiate wins this season.

Team USA Palmer Cup selections Dylan Kim and Alana Uriell rank second and third for the Razorbacks, respectively, and have been a key part of four team titles in six events this season. Kim checks in with a 71.17 stroke average followed by Uriell at 71.22 through 18 rounds this year.

Kaylee Benton, Cara Gorlei and Maria Hoyos will also travel for Arkansas this weekend. Benton has also played in all six events while Gorlei was a steady member of the fall lineup. Freshman Hoyos has taken part in two events for Arkansas.

The Lineup
Maria Fassi Jr. 69.67
Dylan Kim Jr. 71.17
Alana Uriell Sr. 71.22
Kaylee Benton Jr. 74.44
Cara Gorlei Jr. 72.92
Maria Hoyos Fr. 74.67

The Field
No. 2 Alabama
No. 3 Arkansas
No. 27 Auburn
No. 5 Duke
No. 12 Florida
No. 31 Florida State
No. 26 Louisville
No. 76 Michigan
No. 41 Ole Miss
No. 66 Mississippi State
No. 9 South Carolina
No. 22 Wake Forest

Bud Light Podcast: Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Podcast: Friday

Morning Rush Hour 3

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 2

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 1

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs open play in NCAA on Friday afternoon

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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DETROIT, Mich. —  Making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in a four-year span for the first time in 10 years, No. 7-seed Arkansas tips off with No. 10-seed Butler on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Detroit at 2:10 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.

The Rundown
Opponent: (10) Butler Bulldogs (20-13)
Date: Friday, March 16
Site: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, Mich.)
Tip-off: 2:10 p.m. CT
TV: truTV | Watch Live
Live Stats: Click Here
Sirius/XM Radio: 138/202

The #Fastest40 Facts
• With a 5-2 mark this season, Arkansas has won five-plus neutral site games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 10 years.

• Arkansas faced 11 teams in this year’s NCAA Tournament and posted an 8-8 record against those programs. Five of the 8 wins came against top 8 seeds.

• The Razorbacks have five wins over ranked opponents this year, the most such wins since knocking off eight AP Top 25 teams during the 1994-95 National Runner-up season.

• Arkansas’ 122 dunks are the most in the Mike Anderson era, and Daniel Gafford’s 74 slams are 27 more dunks than Butler has all season as a team.

• At 40.1 percent from behind the arc, the Razorbacks are on pace to record the second-highest three-point percentage by any SEC team in the last 25 years. Florida shot 40.9 percent in 2007.

• Arkansas has won 40 consecutive games when leading at halftime. During the Mike Anderson era, the Razorbacks are 125-7 (.946) when leading at the break.

• Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon are the only two players in the SEC to rank in the top 10 in points per game, 3-point FG percentage and FG percentage.

• Barford (.436) and Macon (.429) rank first and second in the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage. No other high-major league in the country has its top 3-point shooters from the same team.

Let’s Dance
• The Razorbacks hold a 42-31 all-time record in 31 NCAA Tournament appearances.

• Holding a 20-11 overall record in NCAA openers, Arkansas has three straight opening-round victories.

• Arkansas has won its first two NCAA Tournament games nine times (1996 – Last time).

Boss Hog In March
• Mike Anderson is one of five head coaches in this year’s NCAA Tournament field to lead three different programs to three NCAA Tournaments.

• The Boss Hog is one of four current Division I coaches with 15 years of head coaching experience and zero losing seasons.

• Anderson is making his ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach. He is 9-8 all-time in the Big Dance, including one Sweet 16 and one Elite Eight.

• He is 6-2 in his first game of the NCAA Tournament, including two consecutive wins.

Hogs, Kentucky a Top 5 matchup at Baum

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Fifth-ranked Arkansas opens its 27th season of SEC play with a big matchup on Friday as fourth-ranked Kentucky visits Baum Stadium for a three-game series.

First pitch on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be televised on SEC Network+.

This weekend’s series will mark the first top-five matchup between the two programs since Dave Van Horn became head coach and is the first top-five series Arkansas has had with any team since 2009, when top-ranked Arizona State visited Arkansas for a two-game midweek series.

The Razorbacks, at the time, were also ranked No. 1 in a different poll and took both games from the Sun Devils, 7-3 and 8-7.

The Wildcats come to town this week as one of the hottest teams in the conference, winning 10 of their last 12 games, including a series win over then-third-ranked Texas Tech.

Kentucky brings in the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year in Sean Hjelle as their Friday night starter. His four victories are good for tops in the league and his 1.35 ERA is a top-10 total.

Opposing him for the Hogs will be junior Blaine Knight, who has been nothing but stellar for Arkansas on Friday nights.

In his four starts, he’s notched three quality outings and only given up two earned runs over 23 innings.

His 0.78 ERA is third lowest in the SEC, second among starters, and his 21 strikeouts are good for most on the Arkansas staff.

Arkansas will try to bring a potent lineup to face Hjelle tomorrow, led by freshman Casey Martin, who’s been hitting at a near unconscious pace.

Over his last five games, the Lonoke, Arkansas native is hitting .421 with eight RBIs and three home runs.

Overall, he’s leading the team with a .417 average with six home runs and 20 RBIs. His batting average is currently third-highest among all SEC players and best among freshmen.

Follow Live

All three games will be available on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app with Brett Dolan (PXP) and Troy Eklund (Analyst) calling the action.

Phil Elson (PXP) and former Razorback Bubba Carpenter (Analyst) will have the radio call on the IMG Sports Network, including ESPN Arkansas at 95.3 FM in the River Valley, 96.3 FM in Hot Springs and Southwest Arkansas and 104.3 FM in North Arkansas, including Harrison, Mountain Home and Conway.

Friday night’s game will also be part of the SEC Network’s Bases Loaded coverage. All Friday night, the SEC Network will whip around to all seven live games as they happen. All games will be shown without interruption on WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.

Important Links
Fri, March 16 – Arkansas vs. Kentucky (Game 1) – 6:30 p.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH
Sat, March 17 – Arkansas vs. Kentucky (Game 2) – 2 p.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH
Sun, March 18 – Arkansas vs. Kentucky (Game 3) – 1 p.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH

Probable Starters
Game 1: ARK RHP Blaine Knight (0.78 ERA, 3-0, 15 K, 4 BB) vs. UK RHP Sean Hjelle (1.35 ERA, 4-0, 24 K, 4 BB)

Game 2: ARK RHP Isaiah Campbell (2.00 ERA, 1-2, 19 K, 8 BB) vs. UK TBA

Game 3: ARK TBA vs. UK RHP Justin Lewis (4.07 ERA, 3-1, 37 K, 5 BB)

Top-Five Matchup At Baum — Kentucky is in the midst of a 14-3 season under second-year head coach Nick Mingione and has won 10 of its last 12 games, including a series win over No. 3 Texas Tech.

This weekend’s series between the Hogs and ‘Cats is the first top-five matchup at Baum Stadium since No. 1 Arizona State visited Arkansas for a two-game midweek series in 2009.

This weekend will also mark the first top-15 matchup between the two programs since 2012.

Coming Up Big In a Pinch — When senior infielder Jared Gates went down with an injury midway through Arkansas’ series finale with Kent State, sophomore Jordan McFarland came up clutch with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate and five RBIs, including two home runs, which equaled his entire total from a year ago.

His second home run of the game was a grand slam, becoming the first Razorback to hit a grand slam since Chad Spanberger did it in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals last year.

McFarland started both games of the Texas series and since then has hit an even .600 with 10 RBIs and five runs scored, the most of any Razorback over that span.

Crushed It — Freshman infielder Casey Martin was named the SEC Freshman of the Week after his huge weekend at the plate against Dayton and USC.

The Lonoke native led all Razorback hitters with a .444 average over the five-game span and slugged .474.

The freshman has kept it going, starting each of the last 12 games and is leading the team with a .417 average and six home runs.

He has hit a home run in each of the last three games and has the third-highest home run total in the conference.

Last Time We Met (Arkansas at Kentucky – 2016) — Arkansas won a huge series when it visited No. 12 Kentucky in 2016.

Junior right-hander Dominic Taccolini threw one of the best games of his career in game one, going 10 complete innings and striking out 10 batters without giving up a walk.

Chad Spanberger provided the lone home run in the 10th inning to break the scoreless tie and give Arkansas the 1-0 victory. With the series limited to just two days due to weather, the final two games were only seven innings long.

The Razorbacks got, yet, another good pitching performance in game two, this time from Zach Jackson, who threw a complete seven innings, striking out a career-high eight in the 2-0 win.

Hogs lose early lead, fall on road at LSU

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Arkansas, 4-2, on Thursday night at the LSU Tennis Complex.

The Razorbacks (5-8, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) won the doubles point and got the first victory in singles, but the Tigers (11-4, 2-3 SEC) rallied to win the next four matches.

In doubles, junior Agne Cepelyte and sophomore Natsuho Arakawa earned a 6-0 sweep over LSU’s Luba Vasilyuk and Ashton Rabalais at the No. 3 spot.

Sophomore Giulia Pairone and senior Mia Jurasic clinched the opening point with a 6-3 win at No. 2. At the clinch, No. 30 junior Ana Oparenovic and freshman Tatum Rice led 5-4 at the top spot.

Cepelyte continued her winning ways in singles, besting Rabalais 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6.

LSU then flipped the script, picking up consecutive wins at the top four spots for the overall team victory. Play at No. 5, where Arakawa was tied 4-4 in the third set, was stopped after the clinch.

Up Next
Arkansas will return to action Sunday when it takes on Texas A&M at noon CT in College Station.

Hogs start three-week homestand with ‘Woo Pig’

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — With an early SEC-free weekend on its schedule, Arkansas returns to Bogle Park this weekend to host the Wooo Pig Classic.

The Razorbacks are set to host Iowa State, Omaha, Saint Francis and Tulsa. Including Arkansas, three of the five teams played in last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Admission to Bogle Park is free with gates opening one hour prior to first pitch of each day’s schedule.

Wooo Pig Classic | Game Notes
March 16-18, 2018
Bogle Park

Friday, March 16
9:30 a.m. – Tulsa vs Omaha – Live Stats
12 p.m. – Tulsa vs Iowa State – Live Stats
2:30 p.m. – Saint Francis (Pa.) vs Omaha – Live Stats
5 p.m. – Arkansas vs Iowa State – Live Stats
7:30 p.m. – Arkansas vs Saint Francis (Pa.) – Live Stats

Saturday, March 17
9:30 a.m. – Tulsa vs Iowa State – Live Stats
12 p.m. – Omaha vs Iowa State – Live Stats
2:30 p.m. – Tulsa vs Saint Francis (Pa.) – Live Stats
5 p.m. – Arkansas vs Omaha – SECN+ | Live Stats
7:30 p.m. – Arkansas vs Saint Francis (Pa.) – SECN+ | Live Stats

Sunday, March 18
10 a.m. – Saint Francis (Pa.) vs Iowa State – Live Stats
12:30 p.m. – Arkansas vs Omaha – SECN+ | Live Stats

Against the Field

The Razorbacks’ 13-game home stand opens this weekend with the Wooo Pig Classic. The three-day, five-team event begins Friday; Arkansas will not play Tulsa.

The Razorbacks have only played Iowa State previously with the series tied at one win each; the teams last met in 2010.

Saint Francis, Friday and Saturday night’s opponent, advanced to last year’s NCAA Tournament as part of the Tucson Regional.

Last Time Out

Autumn Buczek and Hannah McEwen had two hits each and Katie Warrick hit a two-run shot but the Razorbacks lost a 5-4 game at No. 11 Georgia in the series finale.

Four of the team’s five losses this season have come by one run.

Battle Tested, SEC Approved

In the first SEC start of her career and facing the top hitting and scoring team in the nation, freshman Mary Haff limited No. 11 Georgia to five hits and an unearned run in eight-plus innings. She also registered nine strikeouts.

Among the Nation’s Best

Entering the weekend, Arkansas is third in the SEC and tied for 15th in the NCAA with 26 home runs.

Additionally, the Razorbacks carry top-50 national marks in slugging percentage (.505), scoring (5.86 runs/game), ERA (1.91) and batting average (.305).

Individually, Haff’s 0.51 ERA ranks eighth among the nation’s pitchers.

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