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Brooks, Arkansas coaches pick up regional awards

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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NEW ORLEANS — All-American Taliyah Brooks was named the 2018 NCAA South Central Region Field-Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCCA for her performances this season in the long jump and pentathlon.

Brooks was joined in regional recognition by Arkansas coach Lance Harter and associate coach Chris Johnson who swept the NCAA South Central Region Coach and Assistant Coach top awards.

The trio last dominated the South Central Region honors together during the 2017 NCAA outdoor season.

No. 2 x Two
A two-time NCAA runner-up in the pentathlon and 2017 finalist in the NCAA indoor long jump, Brooks heads into her final NCAA Indoor Championships positioned to attain gold in both.

The Wichita Falls, Texas, native currently sits at No. 2 in the NCAA standings in both the pentathlon and the long jump off a season best in the former (4,422 points) at the SEC Indoor Championships and a PR and program record in the latter (6.57m/21-6¾) at the Tyson Invitational.

Razorback Leadership
Excepting Brooks and senior leader Nikki Hiltz, Harter, Johnson and assistant coach Bryan Compton managed to maintain Arkansas’ potency following the loss of exceptional performers, primarily through the strength of juniors and underclassmen.

The trio guided Arkansas to its 12th-consecutive Southeastern Conference title, not only winning the championships, but doing so decisively by a 23.5 point margin.

Harter coached Hiltz to an SEC gold medal in the mile while Johnson did the same for Brooks in the pentathlon.

Arkansas will open up competition at the indoor national meet with the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles on Friday, March 9 at 12:15 p.m.

Razorbacks maintain 10th spot after highest RQS in history

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas maintained its No. 10 ranking following its record 197.275 performance against Arizona last Friday, giving the program its highest Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) in team history of 196.660.

The Razorbacks have now scored multiple scores of 197 or higher twice in one season for just the second time in program history, joining the 2012 season.

Arkansas posted a 197.175 against Georgia earlier this season. It’s the first time in program history that Arkansas has posted multiple 197’s during the regular season.

Arkansas began the year as the preseason 19th-best team and has not held a ranking below No. 11 since week one’s rankings were released Jan. 8.

The Razorbacks remain in fifth place in the Southeastern Conference, now less than a tenth of a point behind Kentucky.

The top four teams in the league make the second session of the SEC Championships on March 24, as the Razorbacks are looking to make their first appearance in the evening session in program history.

Event Rankings
After posting its highest score on bars in team history of 49.575 against Arizona, the Razorbacks moved up to No. 7 in the nation as its highest ranked event.

Arkansas places three in the top-50, led by Senior Amanda Wellick who is ranked No. 25. Freshman Sarah Shaffer is just behind Wellick, ranked No. 36, while fellow senior Braie Speed comes in at No. 41.

Speed tied the program record on bars against Arizona with a 9.950.

Remaining one of the top beam squads in the country, the Razorbacks rank No. 9 on the event with an RQS of 49.250.

Freshman Sophia Carter is the Razorbacks top-ranked athlete on the event, coming in at No. 13 with an RQS of 9.900. Carter has the two highest scores in program history on the event, scoring a 9.975 twice.

Sophomore Michaela Burton ranks No. 27 with an RQS of 9.885.

Arkansas ranks 13th on the floor and 21st on vault. Speed is the Razorbacks’ top vaulter, ranked No. 25 with an RQS of 9.875, while Shaffer leads the way on the floor coming in at No. 18.

Shaffer has recorded a 9.900 or higher in five of the last six meets on the floor.

The Razorbacks return to action this Friday in Norman, Oklahoma, for the OU Quad. Arkansas will be paired up with the top-ranked Sooners, as well as No. 12 Arizona State and No. 15 Denver.

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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Arkansas falls to A&M; splits opening weekend matches

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas fell, 7-0, to No. 7 Texas A&M to split its weekend SEC matches to open the conference schedule.

Arkansas opened the day outside for the first time this season, splitting its first weekend conference series, after falling 7-0 to No. 7 Texas A&M.

The Aggies were too much for Arkansas, as the Razorbacks were only able to win one set by junior Oscar Mesquida in the first set on court four.

On Friday, the Razorbacks defeated the LSU Tigers 6-1, giving Arkansas a 1-1 mark in conference action through the first weekend of SEC play.

Following the Texas A&M match, the Razorbacks played a doubleheader with UMKC, where the Razorbacks took both matches by a score of 5-1.

The matches were moved inside due to a weather delay. Arkansas would win five straight singles matches to get the 5-1 win in the first match.

In the second match, Arkansas won four straight singles matches to go up 5-0, before the Kangaroos stole the final court of the evening.

Arkansas returns to action next Friday, as the Razorbacks travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to play Kentucky, before traveling to Nashville to play the Vanderbilt Commodores on Sunday.

No. 7 Texas A&M 7, Arkansas 0
Singles Results – Order of finish (3,5,6,1,2,4)
1. #46 Patrick Kypson (TAMU) def. #78 Jose Salazar (AR) 6-3, 6-4
2. #21 Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) def. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-4, 6-3
3. #51 Jordi Arconada (TAMU) def. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) 6-1, 6-3
4. #17 Valentin Vacherot (TAMU) def. Oscar Mesquida (AR) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Juan Carlos Aguilar (TAMU) def. Pedro Alonso (AR) 6-1, 6-2
6. Barnaby Smith (TAMU) def. Alex Reco (AR) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles Results – Order of finish (1,3)
1. #42 Arthur Rinderknech/Patrick Kypson (TAMU) def. Jose Salazar/Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) 6-3
2. Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) vs. #29 Jordi Arconada/Juan Carlos Aguilar (TAMU) 4-4, unfinished
3. Valentin Vacherot/AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) def. Alex Reco/Pedro Alonso (AR) 6-3

 Arkansas 5, UMKC 1
Singles Results – Order of finish (1,4,5,6,2)
1. #78 Jose Salazar (AR) def. Airam Castellano (UMKC) 6-2, 6-32
2. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Alex Pozo (UMKC) 4-6, 7-6, 6-3
3. Jose Alonso (AR) vs. Tom Kruse (UMKC) unfinished
4. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) def. Hunter Clark (UMKC) 6-4, 6-1
5. Branch Terrell (AR) def. Anil Patel (UMKC) 6-2, 7-5
6. Josh Bortnick (AR) def. Daniel Izadifar (UMKC) 6-4, 6-7, 7-5

Doubles Results – Order of finish ()
1. Airam Castellano/Alex Pozo (UMKC) def. Jose Salazar/Adam Sanjurjo (AR), by walkover
2. Tom Kruse/Diego Giraldo (UMKC) def. Jose Alonso/Pedro Alonso (AR), by walkover
3. Hunter Clark/Anil Patel (UMKC) def. Alex Reco/Branch Terrell (AR), by walkover

Arkansas 5, UMKC 1
Singles Results – Order of finish (6,4,5,2)
1. #78 Jose Salazar (AR) vs. Airam Castellano (UMKC) unfinished
2. Alex Pozo (UMKC) def. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 2-6, 7-6, 10-7
3. Jose Alonso (AR) def. Tom Kruse (UMKC) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
4. Oscar Mesquida (AR) def. Anil Patel (UMKC) 6-3, 6-3
5. Pedro Alonso (AR) def. Diego Giraldo (UMKC) 3-6, 7-5, 7-5
6. Alex Reco (AR) def. Hunter Clark (UMKC) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles Results – Order of finish ()
1. Jose Salazar/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Airam Castellano/Alex Pozo (UMKC), by walkover
2. Jose Alonso/Pedro Alonso (AR) def. Tom Kruse/Diego Giraldo (UMKC), by walkover
3. Alex Reco/Branch Terrell (AR) def. Hunter Clark/Anil Patel (UMKC), by walkover

Fletcher on breaking slump with game-winner

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Dominic Fletcher on being mobbed by teammates after walk-off hit to give Hogs 7-6 win Sunday.

Arkansas opens play at Querencia Cabo Collegiate

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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LOS CABOS, Mexico — No. 19 Arkansas opened play in the 2018 Querencia Cabo Collegiate on Sunday and posted a 12-over 292 to sit tied for 11th at Querencia Golf Club.

In a loaded field that features 11 of the top 30 teams in the country, the Razorbacks are tied with No. 2 Vanderbilt and lead No. 5 Baylor and No. 14 Wake Forest. Top-ranked Oklahoma State has a five-shot lead on the field at 8-under, while No. 13 California is the only other team in red figures at 3-under.

In the field of 80 players, senior Alvaro Ortiz is tied for the most birdies with seven and leads Arkansas after a 1-over 72 in the opening round. He rolled in three straight birdies on the back nine and had a stretch of four birdies in a five-hole span.

Sophomore Mason Overstreet had a stellar back nine with a 4-under 31, including three straight birdies, but back-to-back double bogeys on the front side left him at 2-over for the tournament and T-26th overall.

Sophomore Luis Garza signed for a 3-over 74 after recording three birdies and six bogeys. He played the final seven holes at 1-under and enters the second T-41st overall.

William Buhl is T-61st overall at 6-over, while Tyson Reeder and Landon Ernst are T-69th at 8-over for the championship.

Arkansas returns to the course Monday morning, teeing off at 10 a.m. CT at Querencia Golf Club. Live stats will be available at Golfstat.com or via the Golfstat Live app.

For more information on Arkansas men’s golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.

Razorback Lineup Day 1 Results

Querencia Cabo Collegiate Day 1 Team Results

Hogs come from behind for walk-off win over USC

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — After not being penciled into the starting lineup Sunday at Baum Stadium, sophomore Dominic Fletcher was still ready for his late-inning pinch-hit appearance.

He drilled a walk-off bases-loaded RBI up the middle to give fifth-ranked Arkansas a 7-6 victory and series win over USC in eight innings.


Due to travel restrictions for the Trojans, both coaches agreed on not starting an inning after 4 p.m., which resulted in Sunday’s game ending in the eighth inning.

The win is Arkansas’ (9-3) first walk-off win of the year and seventh victory at home in eight games. The Hogs trailed 5-1 going into the sixth inning, but put up a four-spot in the bottom half of the sixth, benefitting from two hits and two walks, all with two outs.

The Hitting
Three different Razorbacks recorded multi-hit games on Sunday with junior Eric Cole leading the way with a 4-for-5 day, tying a career-high for hits in a game. Cole drove in two runs, both coming in key situations in the sixth and the eighth.

Casey Martin and Grant Koch both came away with two hits apiece. For Koch, it was his second multi-hit game of the series and extended his hitting streak to five games. Martin has hit safely in five-straight games also and is currently hitting .414 on the year, good for best on the team of any players with 25 or more at-bats.

The Pitching
On the mound, junior lefty Kacey Murphy was making his second start of the year, but was not as sharp as he was against Arizona last week. He was able to go four innings on Sunday, scattering five hits, but only gave up one earned run and struck out two on 66 pitches.

Freshman Jackson Rutledge picked up the victory, his first, after throwing a scoreless top of the eighth, allowing just one walk on 17 pitches.

Moments That Mattered
USC doctored up a big four-run fifth inning that pushed it ahead of Arkansas 5-1. The Trojans got three runs from a double by Dillon Paulson and then a single from Matthew Acosta. The fourth run came after a throwing error from Jax Biggers extended the inning and gave USC another run.

The Razorbacks got all four back in the sixth as their two-out approach at the plate paid off, scoring three of the four runs on two-out walks or two-out singles. Cole and Heston Kjerstad each had the RBI hits, while it was Jax Biggers and Luke Bonfield that got the walks to keep the inning alive. Cole scored the tying run on a wild pitch during Bonfield’s at-bat.

Arkansas trailed by one heading into the top of the eighth inning, but got a quick inning out of the bullpen from Rutledge to set up a decisive bottom half of the inning. The eighth inning had started about nine minutes before 4 p.m., so the Razorbacks were down to their last at-bat.

USC had gone to the bullpen themselves to bring in right-hander Connor Lunn to pitch the eighth inning. Lunn had picked up the one-inning save the day before and was looking to do the same today.

Biggers led off the inning with a single, and then Cole drove him in with a triple to left-center to tie the game at 6-6 as Matthew Acosta’s dive attempt came up empty. With the winning run on third and nobody out, Arkansas was able to breathe a little easier with the heart of its order coming up.

The next two batters, Kjerstad and Bonfield, were both intentionally walked to bring up the pinch-hitting Fletcher for his first at-bat of the game. The sophomore smoked a 1-1 pitch back up the middle to easily score Cole and give the Hogs their first walk-off win of the season.

Razorback Quotables
“It was a little bit of a sloppy game, at least on our side, it just felt like that from the get go. Jax (Biggers), for some reason, rushed that play and threw the ball into the ground. We were just thinking, ‘Wow, this not our day.’ We spot them a four-run lead, but the dugout was positive. My message to the players was we got four or five innings left. We don’t have to score four runs in one inning. We just need to chip away a little bit. We punched in a couple of runs in the sixth. Next thing you know, we just keep fighting and then we’re down a run, then they wild pitch us in and it’s tied up. It happened pretty quick.” – Head coach Dave Van Horn on the way his team came back from four runs down

“It was huge. His teammates were really pulling for him to come through. I told him when we came off the field to start the bottom of the eighth I said, ‘If we get to the five hole, you’re hitting, be ready to roll.’ He kept his head in the game the whole game and did a great job with it. He had a really good batting practice inside today. He didn’t try to overswing, he tried to stay through the middle, go the other way, and I just said, ‘Just take that swing that you took in BP today to the game and you’ll be fine.’ He just tried to make contact and didn’t try to hit a home run. He squared it up about as good as you can square it up through middle and I don’t know what it was when it went back through the middle, but it was a lot harder than it came in. The team was really excited for the win, but just as excited for Dominic to get that big hit.” – Head coach Dave Van Horn on Dominic Fletcher’s winning hit

“I knew I would probably have a chance later in the game to get an at-bat if it was the right opportunity, so I just kind of stayed relaxed and cheered for my teammates.” – Dominic Fletcher on not starting, but pinch-hitting at the end of the game

“He (Lunn) was a high spin rate guy, so the ball kind of looked like it was rising on me. First pitch I missed it pretty bad. I kind of told myself I needed to get kind of get on top of the ball. Then, Coach Van Horn gave me bunt. I didn’t get that down, so I kind of really quick had to tell myself ‘So what. Next pitch, I have to get it done this way with the bat.’ He left me a pitch and I was able to put a good swing on it. Thankfully, the outfielder didn’t catch it, so it worked out for us.” – Eric Cole on his RBI triple in the eighth

Up Next
The Razorbacks won’t play again until next weekend when they take on the Kent State Golden Flashes for a three-game series starting on Friday at 3 p.m. Game two will be on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. All games will be televised on SEC Network+.

Hogs complete undefeated homestand in tourney

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas registered a pair of one-run wins Sunday to close out the Razorback Invitational at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks swept through its week-long, seven-game home stand to improve to 16-1 through the first month of the 2018 season.

Freshman pitcher Mary Haff continued her strong week in the circle with a win and a save Sunday while juniors Haydi Bugarin and Ashley Diaz each homered in the game-two victory over Central Connecticut State.

“Overall, I’m happy we were able to grind out two wins today,” coach Courtney Deifel said. “I think our offense pressed a little bit but credit to Northern Colorado and Central Connecticut for keeping us off balance.

“We have some things to work on but any time you can still get those wins and learn more about your team, it’s a valuable experience.”

Up Next
The Razorbacks play their next five games on the road beginning with a Tuesday doubleheader at Wichita State.

The team’s SEC schedule begins next weekend at No. 14 Georgia. The three-game series begins Saturday at 12 p.m. on the SEC Network.

Arkansas returns to Bogle Park on March 16-18 to host the Wooo Pig Classic.

Game 1: Arkansas 1, Northern Colorado 0 | Box Score

Haff pitched a complete-game shutout in the Razorbacks’ first win of the day. She finished the game with six strikeouts and allowed just two hits.

Haff gave up an infield single to the first hitter of the game and then retired 17 of the next 18 Northern Colorado hitters before giving up a two-out single in the sixth.

The Razorbacks took advantage of two errors by the visitors to score the game’s only run in the third.

Senior Loren Krzysko led off the frame with a walk and the bases were loaded with one out after the fielding miscues. Freshman Hannah McEwen lifted a sacrifice fly to left field which allowed Krzysko to score from third and put Arkansas up, 1-0.

Haff made the lead stand up for her ninth win of the season.

Game 2: Arkansas 6, Central Connecticut State 5 | Box Score

CCSU took the early lead in the weekend finale, plating an unearned run in the first inning but the Razorbacks pulled even with a solo shot by Bugarin in the third inning.

The home run was her fourth of the season, surpassing the combined three she hit during her freshman and sophomore seasons.

However, the tie was short lived with the Blue Devils moving ahead 2-1 with a solo home run of their own in the top of the fourth.

Arkansas responded with two runs in the home half of the inning. Pinch runners Keely Edwards and Carley Haizlip crossed the plate thanks to a dropped ball at first and sacrifice fly by Tori Cooper, respectively.

The lead was 3-2 but again, Central Connecticut answered, this time with a two-run homer in the fifth.

After a walk, sophomore Caroline Hedgcock entered the game in relief of starter Autumn Storms. Two ground balls later, the Razorbacks were out of the inning but trailed, 4-3.

Senior Autumn Buczek led off the bottom of the sixth with her second triple of the season and cruised home on an RBI base hit by McEwen.

The freshman outfielder drove in 16 runs during the week-long home stand and leads the team with 29 RBI.

Krzysko laid down a sacrifice bunt to move McEwen into scoring position and on the first pitch from Peyton Silverman, Diaz deposited a two-run blast over the outer gate at Bogle Park for the 6-4 lead.

Diaz’s home run was her third of the season and the 18th of her career which moves her into a tie for 10th on the program’s all-time list.

Arkansas hit 10 home runs in its first week playing at Bogle Park and has now left the yard 25 times this season.

The Blue Devils cut their deficit to one with another unearned run in the sixth. After a strikeout, Hedgcock gave way to Haff who entered the game with two outs in the sixth.

She recorded the final out of the inning and struck out three hitters in the seventh — working around a one-out single — to end the game and pick up her second save of the year.

2018 Razorback Invitational (Sunday Results)
Dartmouth 7, Central Connecticut State 2
Arkansas 1, Northern Colorado 0
Arkansas 6, Central Connecticut State 5

Fassi takes individual honors at Darius Rucker Intercollegiate

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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HILTON HEAD, S. C. — Arkansas junior Maria Fassi finished 3-under par winning her fourth tournament of the season while leading the No. 3 Razorbacks to their best finish at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate on Sunday.

Fassi was one of two players in the field to finish under par shooting 210 (70–71–69).

Her final day 69 was one of two rounds in the 60s on the Long Cove Club course and the victory is her second consecutive win this spring.

Fassi is just the second Razorback in program history to win four or more events in a season joining former Razorback Stacy Lewis with that honor.

The Razorbacks put together a final round 288 for a 22-over 874. They finished just behind second-ranked Alabama who won with an 866.

Fassi’s final round included two bogeys and four birdies. The Hidalgo, Mexico, native led the field with 14 birdies and in par-5 scoring, playing the long holes 6-under over three rounds.

Junior Dylan Kim and senior Alana Uriell both finished tied for 11th overall. The duo shot 291 for three rounds with Kim posting scores of 71–74–74 and Uriell counting 73–72–74.

Junior Kaylee Benton saved her best score for the final round shooting an even-par 71 on Sunday. Benton tied for 40th overall shooting 226 (76–79–71).

Senior Jordy LaBarbera rounds out the Arkansas scores with a 233 (76–80–77).

Notes
• This is Arkansas’ seventh appearance in the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.
• Arkansas’ second-place finish is the best finish for the Razorbacks at this event. It is the second top-5 place (2013, T-5) for Arkansas at the DRI.
• Maria Fassi posted a final round 69 and was one of just two rounds in the 60s on Sunday.
• Maria Fassi has won four college tournaments this year (Mason Rudolph, ANNIKA Intercollegiate, Lady Puerto Classic, Darius Rucker Intercollegiate). She is just the third Razorback to win three or more tournaments and the second (Stacy Lewis) to win four or more events in a single season.
• Arkansas has had only four top-10 finishes for individual players including Maria Fassi’s win at the DRI.
• Arkansas’ 874 is their best score at this event in seven appearances.

Arkansas’ runner up finish comes against a talented field that included three of the top-5 and six of the top-10 teams in the country. In addition, the Razorbacks also finished second among nine Southeastern Conference programs who took part in the event.

The Lineup

PLACE PLAYER SCORE TO PAR
1 Maria Fassi (1) 70–71–69—210 -3
T11 Dylan Kim (2) 71–74–74—219 +6
T11 Alana Uriell (3) 73–72–74—219 +6
T40 Kaylee Benton (4) 76–79–71—226 +13
T73 Jordy LaBarbera (5) 76–80–77—233 +20

The Field

PLACE TEAM SCORE TO PAR
1 Alabama 286–291–289—866 +14
2 Arkansas 290–296–288—874 +22
3 Wake Forest 296–294–288—878 +26
4 Duke 295–296–288—879 +27
5 Northwestern 287–296–303—886 +34
6 Furman 292–297–302—891 +39
T7 Auburn 304–303–291—898 +46
T7 North Carolina 293–308–297—898 +46
9 South Carolina 298–300–301—899 +47
10 LSU 291–302–307—900 +48
T11 Georgia, U. of 294–303–304—901 +49
T11 Vanderbilt 295–300–306—901 +49
13 Baylor 299–306–299—904 +52
14 Arizona State 293–309–303—905 +53
15 Oklahoma State 304–302–300—906 +54
T16 Tennessee 300–305–302—907 +55
T16 Mississippi St. U. 292–311–304—907 +55
18 Virginia 301–315–293—909 +57


Up Next
Arkansas returns to the course for a new event on the schedule, the Evans-Derby Experience, March 18-20, at Auburn, Alabama.

The Razorbacks follow up with the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic April 13-15, before beginning postseason play at the SEC Championship April 18-22.

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