Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn after the Razorbacks’ 3-1 win over Bucknell on Sunday to close out the opening weekend with a sweep.
Cole, McKinney, Koch after getting series sweep
Razorbacks Eric Cole, Keaton McKinney and Grant Koch with the media after the Hogs’ 2-1 win Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep.
Upset over No. 21 Utah highlights win in softball openers
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — After a delayed start to their season, Arkansas opened the 2018 campaign with wins over Grand Canyon and No. 21 Utah on day one of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Arkansas totaled four home runs—three in game one against Grand Canyon—while freshman Mary Haff collected two wins in the circle. Fellow freshman Linnie Malkin had two of the Razorbacks’ four big flies.
Up Next
Arkansas returns to the Big League Dreams complex Sunday for games against Weber State and Loyola Marymount. First pitch of the day is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
The Razorbacks’ remaining three games of the Mary Nutter Classic will be played on the Fenway field.
Game 1: Arkansas 6, Grand Canyon 2 | Box Score
Already ahead thanks to Malkin’s two-run shot in the second inning, the Razorbacks padded their advantage with back-to-back solo home runs by Malkin and Haydi Bugarin in the fourth.
The 4-0 lead was more than enough for Haff who recorded seven strikeouts in the complete-game performance.
With GCU runners on first and second and no outs in the second, Haff struck out the next three hitters to get out of trouble.
The Winter Haven, Fla., native retired 12 of 13 at one point in the game including 10 in a row. The Lopes broke through with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning but worked a 1-2-3 seventh to record the win.
Malkin opened the scoring with a two-run, no-doubt blast to left field. She becomes the 16th player in program history and just the fifth freshman with two home runs in one game.
Tori Cooper and Bugarin added insurance runs with RBI singles in fifth and seventh innings, respectively. Arkansas improves to 10-12 all-time in season openers and has won five of its last eight openers.
Game 2: Arkansas 4, #21 Utah 2 | Box Score
Loren Krzysko was 3-for-4 in the Razorbacks’ second win of the day including a solo home run in the first and the go-ahead, two-run single in the top of the seventh inning.
Haff worked three innings of scoreless relief to secure her second win of the day. Over those three innings, she struck out six Utes including the final two hitters of the game.
Krzysko gave Arkansas and starter Autumn Storms an early 1-0 lead but Utah went ahead with two unearned run in its half of the third frame.
Storms allowed a one-out double in the fourth but worked out of trouble with a ground ball and fly ball to left.
The Razorbacks tied the game at 2-2 when pinch runner Keely Edwards scored on a passed ball in the fourth inning.
Arkansas was retired in order in the fifth and sixth innings before putting together the game-winning rally.
Runners were on first and second after back-to-back singles from Bugarin and Autumn Buczek; both advanced when another pitch got away from the Utah catcher.
Krzysko delivered with a single back through the circle that plated both runs and put the Razorbacks on top by the eventual winning 4-2 score.
Arkansas concludes SEC meet on Saturday in Texas
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Arkansas sent its most athletes through to the evening finals so far this week, as four swimmers competed Saturday night.
Action began Saturday morning with the 200 butterfly prelims, where Arkansas sent two to the evening finals, as senior Jessie Garrison punched her ticket to the B-final, swimming a season-best 1:57.52 in the prelims. Junior Marlena Pigliacampi earned a spot in the C-final with a time of 1:58.67 in the prelims.
In the finals, Garrison topped her prelim time, clocking a personal-best 1:57.41 to finish fourth in the B-final. Pigliacampi found herself in a three-way tie for third in the C-final, turning in a time of 1:58.70.
Seniors Chelsea Tatlow and Taylor Weiss also swam in the 200 fly, finishing sixth and eighth respectively in the fifth prelim heat. Tatlow’s prelim time of 2:00.07 was good for 29th overall, while Weiss’ time of 2:01.20 earned her a 36th-place showing.
Junior Madison Umberger was the lone Razorback to compete in the 100 back, finishing fourth in her heat, 44th overall in a season-best 56.04.
Along with the 200 fly, Arkansas sent two swimmers to the finals of the 100 breast. Seniors Madison Strathman and Sydney Angell earned spots in the C-final of the event, as Strathman touched in a then-season-best 1:01.55 in the prelims, while Angell turned in a then-personal best in the prelims with a time of 1:01.86.
In the finals, both recorded personal bests, as Angell touched second in the C-final in 1:01.36, while Strathman followed in third in 1:01.49.
Senior Madison Edwards also competed in the 200 fly prelims, touching in a season-best 1:04.33 for a fourth-place finish in her heat, finishing 36th overall.
In the evening relay, Arkansas’ quartet of Chloe Hannam, Angell, Olivia Weekley and Annah Carney, touched eighth in the 400 medley relay for a 8th-place finish in 3:37.41, the third-fastest time in school history.
Championship Sunday will begin 10 a.m. tomorrow morning with the preliminary round of the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke and the platform dive. The finals will begin at 6 p.m. and will be televised on SEC Network.
Standings – Day Four
1. Texas A&M – 953
2. Georgia – 748
3. Tennessee – 706.5
4. Kentucky – 592.5
5. Auburn – 528.5
6. Missouri – 508
7. South Carolina – 456
8. Florida – 429.5
9. Alabama – 407
10. Arkansas –329
11. LSU – 282
12. Vanderbilt – 152
Razorbacks wrap up first day at Gator Invitational
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Arkansas recorded rounds of 286-283 – 569 (+9) on Saturday during the opening rounds of the SunTrust Gator Invitational and sit in 10th place overall at Mark Bostick Golf Course.
In a field that features seven nationally ranked programs, No. 5 Vanderbilt leads the way at 8-under, followed by No. 6 Florida (-7), UCF (-2) and No. 25 South Florida (-2).
Arkansas rounds out the top 10 at 9-over and leads six teams, including UAB (+10) by one stroke and College of Charleston (+13) by four shots.
Senior Alvaro Ortiz used a 1-under 69 in the morning and an even-par 70 in the afternoon to lead the Razorbacks at T-19th overall, while sophomore Mason Overstreet carded rounds of 71-72 – 143 (+3) and is T-39th place.
Luis Garza (+6), Tyson Reeder (+7) and William Buhl (+8) are all separated by a shot, while Landon Ernst is 13-over playing as an individual.
The Razorbacks will tee off Sunday morning at 8 a.m. in the final round of the SunTrust Gator Invitational, playing alongside UAB and College of Charleston. Live Stats will be available at Golfstat.com or via the Golfstat Live app.
Razorback Lineup Day 1 Results
| Place | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| T19. | Alvaro Ortiz | 69-70 – 139 (-1) |
| T39. | Mason Overstreet | 71-72 – 143 (+3) |
| T56. | Luis Garza | 74-72 – 146 (+6) |
| T61. | Tyson Reeder | 72-75 – 147 (+7) |
| T70. | William Buhl | 79-69 – 148 (+8) |
| T85. (IND) | Landon Ernst | 81-72 – 153 (+13) |
SunTrust Gator Invitational Day 1 Team Results
| Place | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | No. 5 Vanderbilt | 274-278 – 552 (-8) |
| 2. | No. 6 Florida | 275-278 – 553 (-7) |
| T3. | UCF | 274-284 – 558 (-2) |
| T3. | No. 25 South Florida | 277-281 – 558 (-2) |
| 5. | Jacksonville | 275-284 – 559 (-1) |
| T6. | No. 32 North Florida | 278-282 – 560 (E) |
| T6. | No. 27 Missouri | 279-281 – 560 (E) |
| 8. | Georgia Southern | 282-279 – 561 (+1) |
| 9. | Liberty | 282-285 – 567 (+7) |
| 10. | No. 20 Arkansas | 286-283 – 569 (+9) |
| 11. | UAB | 285-285 – 570 (+10) |
| 12. | College of Charleston | 285-288 – 573 (+13) |
| 13. | Coastal Carolina | 286-288 – 574 (+14) |
| 14. | Lipscomb | 290-289 – 579 (+19) |
| 15. | Mississippi State | 288-295 – 583 (+23) |
| 16. | Troy | 296-309 – 605 (+45) |
Barford, Gafford talk about big games in A&M victory
Jaylen Barford (21 points) and Daniel Gafford (20 points) talked about putting up those big numbers in win over Aggies.
Aggies’ Kennedy praises Hogs’ play after loss on Saturday
Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy talked about the difference between this game and the Aggies’ win earlier in College Station.
Anderson pleased with Hogs’ play in win
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talks about his team’s performance in the win over No. 21 Texas A&M on Saturday.
Hogs bring offense in near-record numbers for win
The Hogs nearly scored a school record for runs in a game as they throttled the Bison, 32-4, at Baum Stadium, winning the series.
The program record for runs scored in a game by an Arkansas team is 33 set in 1984 against Southwest Baptist and the Hogs fell just one run short of tying the record on Saturday.
With the help of 22 hits, six home runs and four innings of five or more runs, Arkansas’ starting pitcher Isaiah Campbell was able to relax through his four innings of work.
Campbell, who was making his first appearance since being shut down with an injury in the second week of the 2017 season, pitched well over four frames, allowing just three hits, one earned run and two walks.
He also tallied seven strikeouts, which was a career high.
At the plate, freshman Casey Martin had a breakout day, going 4-for-6 with five RBIs and three runs scored, leading all hitters.
He also hit one of Arkansas’ six home runs in the game as he blasted his first round-tripper well into the Hog Pen in left field in the sixth inning to bring three runs in.
Dominic Fletcher, Grant Koch, Luke Bonfield, Carson Shaddy, and Jared Gates each hit a home run in the game as well. For Shaddy, it was his second in as many days.
Moments That Mattered
Coming off his injury a year ago, Campbell hoped to have a strong first outing on the mound, but struggled in the first inning when he allowed a lead-off walk, threw a wild pitch, and then gave up an RBI double, giving Bucknell the early lead.
However, he was able to settle down nicely to retire nine of the next 10 batters he faced, striking out six during that span.
After Campbell got things under control, Arkansas’ offense went to work starting with a three-run home run by Bonfield in the first inning to take the lead right back.
Then, in the second inning, Arkansas plated six more runs, five off the homers from Shaddy, Fletcher, and Koch to take a 9-1 lead.
The Razorbacks biggest inning came in the third as they scored seven times, but only needed two hits to do it.
Bucknell’s pitching staff struggled mightily with control in the third as they allowed six walks and the Razorbacks took advantage, scoring on a fielder’s choice, a bases-loaded walk, a two-RBI single by Heston Kjerstad and a three-RBI double by Shaddy.
It’s been a banner weekend so far for Shaddy with still one game to go.
Through the first two games, the redshirt senior is 3-for-4 with two home runs, eight RBIs, four walks, and three runs scored.
The eight RBIs leads all Razorbacks and the four walks ties him for the team lead with Eric Cole and Grant Koch.
Back on the mound, Evan Lee, Cody Scroggins, Zebulon Vermillion, Hunter Milligan, and Jacob Kostyshock all followed Campbell with each working one inning.
Scroggins, Milligan, and Kostyshock each threw perfect frames, while Lee and Vermillion gave up three of Bucknell’s four runs.
Razorback Quotables
“It was good to see Isaiah (Campbell) bounce back after that first inning. He did a good job getting out of that inning. You could tell he was uncomfortable. I think he was a little bit nervous. He threw extremely well the next three innings. We needed to see that and he needed to see that. Once he got over the hump, he did what he does and they have a hard time hitting him.” — Coach Dave Van Horn on Isaiah Campbell’s first start back after injury
“What I liked about the offense today was the same thing as yesterday; we didn’t go out of the zone a whole lot. They made their (Bucknell’s) starting pitchers throw a lot of pitches. We waited until we got a good pitch to hit or two strikes before we went after anything. It was just a good job of taking the walks.” — Van Horn on his offense’s performance
“You never know how many runs you’re going to score. You don’t want to run it up on anybody. They were probably trying to save some guys for Sunday’s game. When our starters did well, we brought in other guys. Those guys want to make an impression and do well. It’s one thing we have and that’s competition. There’s competition to play, competition to pitch and it’s healthy for our team. I know we’re capable of scoring runs. I made that comment in the fall. We predicted we’d have some days where we scored 15 or 16 runs, but you can’t predict something like that.” — Van Horn on the large offensive output
“I’m not going to lie, I was really nervous. I haven’t thrown in a game in a full year. Getting back in front of the crowd, I had my nerves, but after that first batter, I settled in and was good after that.” — Isaiah Campbell on his first start coming off the injury
“I think this showed the work we’ve put in. Our approaches were really solid today. Nothing against Bucknell’s pitchers. They had to come out and endure some long innings. We’ve been there. I think we were just locked in today and prepared to get a win.” — Carson Shaddy on the offense’s showing
Up Next
The Razorbacks will meet Bucknell on Sunday for the series finale at Baum Stadium. First pitch is slated for 12:02 p.m. and will be televised on SEC Network+.
KNWA VIDEO: Van Horn on Campbell’s rough start
VIDEO FROM KNWA
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn on starting pitcher Isaiah Campbell’s tough first inning, but pleased with how he settled down.
KNWA VIDEO: Razorbacks talk about win over Bucknell
VIDEO FROM KNWA
Arkansas pitcher Isaiah Campbell along with infielders Casey Martin and Carson Shaddy talk with the media following the team’s 32-4 win over Bucknell.
