Tells media after 3-1 loss to USC, some of older players need to start hitting the ball better.
Fassi moves up four spots; Hogs in third at ‘Darius Rucker’
HILTON HEAD, S.C. — Maria Fassi moved up four spots while helping No. 3 Arkansas remain in third place with one round to play at the 2018 Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on Saturday.
Fassi got out to a tough start with a triple on the first hole of her round. Playing catch up, she birdied the third and sixth holes dropping two strokes and moving to 1-over.
Fassi was 3-over after back-to-back bogeys before she turned. She settled in posting five consecutive pars and finished with three birdies in her final five holes.
Fassi is in the clubhouse 1-under through two rounds shooting 70–71—141. She is two shots back of the leader and is in a good position to record her fourth top-5 finish in six events.
Teammates Dylan Kim and Alana Uriell both climbed up the leaderboard on Saturday into a tie for eighth place. Kim moved to 3-over shooting 71–74—145 while Uriell posted scores of 73–72—145. The duo had five birdies between them and moved up a combined 17 spots in the field.
Kaylee Benton is tied for 67th overall shooting 76–79—155 and Jordy LaBarbera rounds out the Arkansas scoring at 76–80—156.
Arkansas Lineup
| PLACE | PLAYER | SCORE | TO PAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| T3 | Maria Fassi (1) | 70–71—141 | -1 |
| T8 | Dylan Kim (2) | 71–74—145 | +3 |
| T8 | Alana Uriell (3) | 73–72—145 | +3 |
| T67 | Kaylee Benton (4) | 76–79—155 | +13 |
| T75 | Jordy LaBarbera (5) | 76–80—156 | +14 |
There was no movement among the top teams on the leaderboard as second-ranked Alabama remained in first with a 9-over 577 (286-291).
No. 13 Northwestern is second with a 15-over 583 (287-296) followed by No. 3 Arkansas with 586 (290-296). No. 9 Furman is fourth with 589 (292-297) and No. 28 Wake Forest is in fifth place with 590 (296-294).
Play concludes with a final round teeing off at 8:40 a.m. for the Razorbacks. Arkansas is paired with the Crimson Tide and Northwestern as play wraps up in the second spring event.
The Field
| PLACE | TEAM | SCORE | TO PAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | 286–291—577 | +9 |
| 2 | Northwestern | 287–296—583 | +15 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 290–296—586 | +18 |
| 4 | Furman | 292–297—589 | +21 |
| 5 | Wake Forest | 296–294—590 | +22 |
| 6 | Duke | 295–296—591 | +23 |
| 7 | LSU | 291–302—593 | +25 |
| 8 | Vanderbilt | 295–300—595 | +27 |
| 9 | Georgia, U. of | 294–303—597 | +29 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 298–300—598 | +30 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 293–308—601 | +33 |
| 12 | Arizona State | 293–309—602 | +34 |
| 13 | Mississippi St. U. | 292–311—603 | +35 |
| T14 | Tennessee | 300–305—605 | +37 |
| T14 | Baylor | 299–306—605 | +37 |
| 16 | Oklahoma State | 304–302—606 | +38 |
| 17 | Auburn | 304–303—607 | +39 |
| 18 | Virginia | 301–315—616 | +48 |
From Shauna Taylor
It was a pretty tough day on a championship golf course. We obviously struggled a bit, but we also fought back hard at the end. I’m proud of the way we fought all day. Maria (Fassi) had a tough start to her day and came back to post a good number. Alana (Uriell) came back and birdied her final hole. Tomorrow we will see some of the same conditions which is advantageous for us. We need to make up some shots and eliminate some of the big numbers. We have a chance to accomplish our goals. We have to play solid tomorrow but I’m excited about how we finished, and I think we can build on that.
Hogs stuggle at plate, fall to Trojans to even series
FAYETTEVILLE — Fifth-ranked Arkansas couldn’t put together the big inning against USC on Saturday, leaving nine runners on base as it fell, 3-1, at Baum Stadium.
The two teams will play a rubber match tomorrow with first pitch set for 12:30 p.m.
A record 13,472 tickets were sold to the game, making it the largest paid attendance in Baum Stadium history, topping the previous record of 12,589 set against Mississippi State on April 25, 2015. The actual attendance was 10,732.
Junior Eric Cole got the Hogs within one in the eighth inning when he hit his third home run of the year into the Razorback bullpen, but Arkansas was only able to put one more runner on base in the eighth and ninth innings.
Cole finished the game 1-for-4 with his one RBI as the home run.
Junior catcher Grant Koch nearly made it a two-home run inning in the eighth as he hooked one just foul in left field that would have made it 3-2. Koch finished the game 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to four games.
USC scored once in the sixth and seventh innings, then added a run in the ninth off sophomore Matt Cronin, who walked two batters to lead off the frame.
Cole’s homer was the only bright spot for the Hogs as USC starter Quentin Longrie worked out of multiple jams to keep the Hog hitters at bay.
Arkansas put together nine hits in the game, eight off Longrie, however, it left multiple runners on base in the first, fourth, and eighth innings which proved to be the difference. Longie ended up going 7.1 innings with just the one earned run allowed, as well as three walks and four strikeouts to pick up his second win of the year.
Luke Bonfield came away with a perfect 3-for-3 game with one double, while Jax Biggers turned in his fourth multi-hit game of the year, going 2-for-5.
All three of Bonfield’s hits came at a timely part in the game in the third, fifth, and seventh innings that helped put runners in scoring position or gave Arkansas a baserunner with less than two outs.
However, the bottom of the Hogs’ order went just 2-for-17 (.118) on the day as it struggled to get anything going against the USC pitching staff.
On the mound, Razorback starter Isaiah Campbell looked good through 5.1 innings, giving up just three hits with one run in the sixth.
That run was the first of the game for either team as the score was deadlocked at zero in what was beginning to look like a pitcher’s duel.
Campbell’s outing continued a trend of strong starting pitching by the Razorbacks. In all three of his starts this year, Campbell has yet to give up more than one earned run and has given up five or less hits.
Sophomore Matt Cronin came out of the bullpen in the sixth and had a little trouble with command as he walked two, gave up two hits and two earned runs in 2.2 innings.
Up Next
The Razorbacks finish the series with USC on Sunday for the rubber match. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Baum Stadium. The game will be televised on SEC Network+.
Morris on second day of practice, ‘just finishing’
Arkansas coach Chad Morris covered a lot of ground with the media after the second practice of the spring practice Saturday.
Cornelius on how Morris, style key to return this year
Arkansas wide receiver Jared Cornelius talked with the media after Arkansas’ second practice of the spring about how new coach Chad Morris’ style and reputation was key to his coming back.
Froholdt on changes with offense under new staff
Arkansas guard Hjalte Froholdt talked with the media Saturday about the difference with the offense so far in spring.
Agim on new style of play, dropping weight after practice
Hogs defensive end Sosa Agim talked with the media after Saturday’s practice about the changes on defense with new alignment, style.
Defensive back Pulley on new style for team with changes
Hogs’ defensive back Ryan Pulley talked with the media Saturday about the changes on the defense and the team overall.
Nance excited about Hogs’ new offense after second day
Wide receiver Jonathan Nance on the new offense and how it should be an exciting one.
Harris on Hogs’ new defense after second spring practice
Talking with media Saturday about how things are different with defensive coordinator and linebackers coach John Chavis and the new coaching staff.
Photos from second spring practice for Razorbacks
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Photos by Andy Hodges | HitThatLine.com
