No. 3 Razorbacks travel to Liz Murphey Intercollegiate tournament

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Third-ranked Arkansas tees it up for the final regular season event traveling to the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic in Athens, Georgia, on, April 13-14.

The event has been on the Razorbacks’ schedule since the first year of the program in 1996 and is one that has a personal connection for Arkansas head coach Shauna Taylor as she returns to her alma mater for the competition.

Inside The Ropes
Date: April 13-14
Location: Athens, Georgia
Course: UGA Golf Course
Live Scoring: http://bit.ly/2JypmRt

The format gets a makeover for this year’s event. In recent years, the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic featured one round of stroke play followed by match play in an effort to mirror the NCAA Championship.

The tournament was scheduled to be a three-day stroke play event this year but forecasted weather has changed that as well. Teams will play two rounds on Friday beginning with an 8:45 a.m. shotgun start.

The final round will be played on Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Arkansas headlines the 11-team field and is ranked No. 3 in both the Golfstat and Golfweek polls.

The Razorbacks have five team titles this season paced by junior Maria Fassi who has five individual wins. Top-ranked Alabama and No. 5 Duke are also in the field along with three Southeastern Conference teams.

Fassi is in the midst of a record-setting season. She is just the second student-athlete in program history to win five or more events in a single season, joining former world #1 Stacy Lewis with that distinction.

Fassi has played her way to a 514-15 win-loss record and is ranked No. 2 in both the Golfstat and Golfweek player rankings.

Senior Alana Uriell and junior Dylan Kim have also had great seasons. Uriell has counted every round toward the team’s total score and is second with a 71.10 stroke average.

She trails Fassi who leads the team with a 69.33 mark. Kim is third on the team with a 71.38 stroke average.

Uriell was Arkansas’ top finisher at the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational and Kim has four top-5 finishes this season.

Kaylee Benton and Maria Hoyos round out the Razorback lineup while Cara Gorlei will tee it up as an individual in Georgia.

Lineup
Maria Fassi, Jr. 69.33
Alana Uriell, Sr. 71.10
Dylan Kim, Jr. 71.38
Kaylee Benton, Jr. 73.90
Maria Hoyos, Fr. 72.78
Cara Gorlei (Ind.), Jr. 72.87

The Field  Golfstat/Golfweek)
Alabama 2/1
Arkansas 3/3
Baylor 42/37
Daytona State 1*
Denver 49/45
Duke 5/4
Florida 13/12
Georgia 44/43
Kansas 85/87
Kennesaw State 45/46
Louisville 28/27
Ole Miss 37/34

*NJCAA Ranking

Hogs add JUCO transfer to roster for 2018-19 season

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Mike Anderson announced the addition of junior college transfer Mason Jones of Connors State College to the 2018-19 roster.

Jones joins the Razorbacks after finishing his freshman season as a Cowboy where he averaged 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. The 6-5 guard started 25 of 35 games last season, including each of the final 23 contests. Jones finished in double figures in scoring 28 times, including nine 20-point games and two 30-point efforts.

“With Mason coming to Fayetteville, we feel like we landed a perimeter player who brings all the attributes we embrace in our program,” said Anderson. “He is an outstanding student, a person of character and has great basketball IQ. He is really skilled, can score the basketball, rebounds and plays with an edge.

“Mason comes from a great family and we look forward to having him join our program this summer.”

In a win over Eastern Oklahoma State College, Jones led the Cowboys with 33 points, going 12-of-20 (.600) from the floor, including 8-of-11 (.727) from behind the arc.

On the season, he shot 51.5 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from deep and 77.4 percent from the free throw line.

Jones recorded four five-assists games and pulled down 10-plus rebounds nine times, including a season-high 18 against Redlands Community College where he also had a season-high six assists. He tallied nine double-doubles last season.

Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday

Craddock on offense at end of spring practice Wednesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas offensive coordinator Joe Craddock met with the media Wednesday and talked about expecting leaders to step forward in off-season workouts.

Chavis talking about development of defense as spring ends

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis talked with the media after the Razorbacks’ final spring practice Wednesday.

Morris addresses frat house altercation, end of spring drills

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Chad Morris gave no information about the weekend incident where football players were allegedly involved and wrapped up his first spring practice.

Hogs take six-game win streak into South Carolina series

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Second-ranked Arkansas tries continue its strong play at home this weekend as it welcomes South Carolina from the SEC East for a three-game set starting on Thursday at Baum Stadium.

First pitch between the Hogs and Gamecocks on Thursday is set for 6 p.m. and it will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.

It’s the fifth nationally televised game this season for the Razorbacks.

After four-straight weeks against top-13 opponents to open conference play, Arkansas faces an unranked South Carolina team in hopes of adding to its lead in the SEC Western Division.

The Hogs are currently 8-4 in league play, one game ahead of No. 4 Ole Miss and two games ahead of No. 19 LSU.

Arkansas has been especially good at home during conference play, sweeping both of its series against then-No. 4 Kentucky and No. 13 Auburn.

It’s the first time since 1990 that a Razorback team has won its first six conference games in a season and they’ve been able to do it by getting great starting pitching and a consistent offense.

In just the six home conference games, Arkansas has won by a combined 39 runs and hit .369 as a team, which is 36 points higher than its team batting average in all other home games.

Last week against Auburn, the Razorbacks had to win two one-run games, but still scored 20 combined runs over the three-game series and needed only one home run during the weekend.

This weekend’s series will mark the first time the Hogs and Gamecocks have faced each other since 2016 when South Carolina swept the Razorbacks in three games in Columbia, S.C.

Last time South Carolina visited Baum Stadium, it was Arkansas that came away with a series win in 2014.

FOLLOW LIVE

Games one will be televised on the SEC Network with Mike Morgan (PxP) and Chris Burke (Analyst) calling the game.

Games two and three will be available for viewing on SEC Network+, the online-only arm of the SEC Network on the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.

Brett Dolan (PxP) and Troy Eklund (Analyst) will have the call for both of those games.

Phil Elson will call all three games on the radio for the Razorback Sports Network from IMG and he’ll be joined by former Razorback Bubba Carpenter.

That radio broadcasts are also available on the Razorback Gameday app.

IMPORTANT LINKS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

Thu, April 12 – Arkansas vs. South Carolina – 6 p.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH (SEC Network)
Fri, April 13 – Arkansas vs. South Carolina – 6:30 p.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH (SECN+)
Sat, April 14 – Arkansas vs. South Carolina – 2 p.m. – LIVE STATS | WATCH (SECN+)

PROBABLE STARTERS

FRI: ARK RHP Blaine Knight (6-0, 193 ERA, 48 K, 11 BB) vs. SC RHP Logan Chapman (2-0, 3.86 ERA, 32 K, 16 BB)
SAT: ARK LHP Kacey Murphy (4-2, 2.31 ERA, 33 K, 6 BB) vs. SC RHP Adam Hill (3-3, 4.79 ERA, 55 K, 23 BB)
SUN: ARK RHP Isaiah Campbell (2-3, 4.03 ERA, 33 K, 16 BB) vs. SC RHP Cody Morris (6-2, 4.04 ERA, 46 K, 16 BB)

RAZORBACK PRIME 9

• Arkansas continues its 10-game homestand with a three-game set against South Carolina starting on Thursday. Game one is set to be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network.

• Kjerstad’s second-inning home run last Wednesday against ULM was a tape-measure shot, traveling 430 feet well over the right-centerfield scoreboard at Baum Stadium. He leads the team with eight homers.

• Arkansas heads into the weekend with a fully announced rotation of Blaine Knight, Kacey Murphy, and Isaiah Campbell. Combined the three Hog hurlers have 12 victories and a 2.60 ERA.

• Both Blaine Knight and Kacey Murphy have built up ERA’s of 1.93 and 2.31, respectively. Both are top-10 averages in the SEC.

• Arkansas still leads the SEC and ranks second in the nation with 56 home runs, 16 ahead of its SEC-leading pace last year.

• Last week against Auburn, Blaine Knight won his third-consecutive start to move to 6-0 on the year. In six of his eight starts, Knight has thrown six or more innings and struck out four or more.

• In 20 games this year, Arkansas has totaled 10 or more hits. In those games, the Hogs are 17-3 with 14 of those wins coming at Baum Stadium.

• The 7-6 win over Grambling State Tuesday night was Arkansas’ second-straight one-run victory and 12th overall this year. This year, the Hogs are 7-5 in one-run games.

>> Sophmore Matt Cronin picked up his seventh save of the year Wednesday against Grambling and sixth of his last eight appearances. Cronin is currently second in the SEC in saves and his .132 opposing batting average is lowest among all league pitchers.

Van Horn on win in NLR, weekend South Carolina series

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn talked Wednesday about the close win over Grambling and the upcoming series with South Carolina this weekend.

Shaddy on Hogs’ upcoming weekend series against South Carolina

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas second baseman Carson Shaddy talked Wednesday about the narrow win over Grambling on Tuesday and the upcoming SEC series against South Carolina.

Fletcher on win over Grambling, South Carolina

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas centerfielder Dominic Fletcher met with the media Wednesday and talked about the win Tuesday night over Grambling and the upcoming series with South Carolina.

Cheek, Evans complete 2018 volleyball recruiting class for Hogs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — The incoming class for Arkansas has grown to five with the addition of Abby Cheek (Seguin, Texas) and Lauren Evans (Grapevine, Texas) as announced Wednesday morning by head coach Jason Watson.

“The addition of Abby and Lauren provides us with additional depth and competition in our gym,” Watson said. “I’m excited to coach both of them. They are remarkable student-athletes and great people.”

Abby Cheek
6-1 | OH | Seguin, Texas (Seguin HS)

About Cheek…
A four-year starter and three-time district selection for Seguin High School, Cheek was named the District 26-5A Offensive MVP after a senior season in which she registered 569 kills, 341 digs and 33 service aces. She totaled 1,455 kills, 725 digs and 133 aces during her prep career. Cheek was a three-time member of the All-District First Team and helped Seguin to a pair of area titles and three trips to the 5A state playoffs.

Cheek played club volleyball with Austin Juniors and has past international experience as a member of the United States team that played in the 2016 European Global Challenge in Croatia. In the classroom, she was a four-time Academic All-District performer.

Abby is the daughter of Louis and Suzanne Cheek, and has three siblings—Emily, Joseph and Henry. Her father played in the NFL for six seasons and her brother is a current offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, while her sister played volleyball (2008-11) at Loyola Marymount. Cheek is planning to enroll in the Walton College of Business at Arkansas.

Lauren Evans
5-11 | OH | Grapevine, Texas (Colleyville Heritage HS)

About Evans…
Evans capped her standout prep career with All-State and District 8-5A MVP honors after leading Colleyville Heritage High School to the regional final round of the 5A state playoffs. During her senior season, she tallied 658 kills while hitting .375 to go along with 350 digs and 88 aces. Overall, Evans amassed 1,788 kills, 1,038 digs and 199 services aces in her career at Colleyville Heritage.

As a four-time all-district performer, Evans began her career as the District 7-6A Newcomer of the Year and was named the District 8-5A Utility Player of the Year following her junior campaign. She played club volleyball with Skyline Juniors and was an academic all-district selection in each of her four years in high school

Lauren is the daughter of Lane and Jennifer Evans and has an older sister, Morgan. She plans to major in marketing during her career at Arkansas.

Razorbacks Add Three During Early Signing Period

Cheek and Evans will join Ellease Crumpton, Maylin Garrett and Gracie Ryan as part of the Razorbacks’ freshman class in 2018. The Razorbacks first announced Crumpton, Garrett and Ryan during the early signing period. This marks the second recruiting class for Watson and his staff—Jon Newman-Gonchar and Megan Wargo-Kearney—at Arkansas.

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