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Hogs split doubleheader with Ole Miss, winning series’ final game
Game 2 Box (PDF) | Game 3 Box (PDF)
Utilizing a strong relief performance by sophomore Jake Reindl and some clutch hits late in the game from Jax Biggers and Eric Cole, Arkansas was able to split its doubleheader with Ole Miss Friday afternoon with a 7-4 victory at Baum Stadium.
Reindl, who came into the game in relief of Kacey Murphy in the second inning, went a career-long 6.1 innings, allowing just one earned run and scattering six hits with five strikeouts.
Biggers and Cole recorded their only hits in the game as part of the three-run eighth, but they both game with two outs to help Arkansas take the lead and hold it for good.
Grant Koch came away with the best day at the plate among all Razorbacks, going 3-for-8 (.375) with two home runs, a double, and four RBIs. Carson Shaddy and Chad Spanberger also added two hits each in the victory. Spanberger hit his 10th home run of the year in the fifth inning to tie the game at the time at 3-3.
Game 1: Ole Miss 4, Arkansas 1
Arkansas struggled to get the bats going again Friday, recording only four hits on Ole Miss starter Ryan Rolison.
The lone run came from a solo homer by catcher Grant Koch in the fifth inning, his only hit in the game. For Koch, it was his team-leading 10th home run of the year and first since April 8 against LSU.
Unfortunately, the Hogs were put in a hole early after starting pitcher Trevor Stephan labored through the first, giving up four runs on four hits.
Ole Miss batted around before the Razorbacks were able to escape the inning with the big hit coming on a double down the left field line by Nick Fortes.
Even though he needed 40 pitches to get out of the first, it was the only inning the Rebels were able to muster any offense. Just three baserunners reached off Stephan for the next five innings, all singles.
In the second, third, and fourth innings, the junior needed 10 pitches or less to retire the side.
Stephan finished with three earned runs allowed over six innings, striking out five and walking one. It’s his ninth outing this year with five or more strikeouts and a good bounce-back start after lasting just 1.1 innings last week at No. 10 Auburn.
Game 2: Arkansas 7, Ole Miss 4
Ole Miss again jumped out to a lead early in game two of the doubleheader, this time scoring three runs over the first two innings off starting pitcher Kacey Murphy.
Murphy who had just two runs given up in his last 16.1 innings of work, struggled out of the gate when Ole Miss’ Tate Blackman led off the game with a solo home run.
Murphy finished the inning strong with a strikeout and a double play, but ran into more trouble in the second when the Rebels got another home run, this time from Thomas Dillard down the left field line to make it 2-0.
Murphy walked the next batter and gave up a double before it was time to go to the bullpen.
With Reindl coming out of the bullpen in the second, the Razorback offense was able to respond with a two-run third inning from Koch’s second home run of the day.
It was the first of three RBIs for the Fayetteville native in the game, as he had a double in the fifth inning that brought in the go-ahead run for the Hogs.
Koch’s clutch double came right after junior Chad Spanberger hit his 10th home run of the year into the right field bullpen to tie the game at 3-3. Spanberger finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored and he was one of three Razorbacks to record a multi-hit game in the tail end of the doubleheader.
Reindl was the key hurler that gave the Hogs a chance in the middle innings. Not only was his outing a career-long, but he kept Ole Miss off the board in the third and sixth innings after runners were put into scoring position, giving Arkansas a chance to take the lead.
Ole Miss was able to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning as it was the first run giving up by Reindl in the game, but the Razorbacks were able to put together a big inning in the bottom of the eighth to pull away.
Carson Shaddy led off the inning with a single, his second hit of the day. Then, Dominic Fletcher reached on an error to put runners on the corners with one out.
Biggers followed with a two-out single to retake the lead before Cole provided the two-run insurance with a single to right field, giving Arkansas a 7-4 lead.
Freshman Evan Lee closed out the game in the ninth to earn his first collegiate save, needing just six pitches to get the final three outs.
Razorback Quotables
“This is the biggest game of the year that we have had so far, just because of the way it has gone. We really needed a win and we put (Evan) Lee in the lineup because he’s a winner. I’m pretty excited to be honest with you about Lee. He came in, he got three outs. He threw the ball over the plate and that’s what we want you to do when you have a three run lead in the ninth.” — Dave Van Horn on Evan Lee
“I just wanted to do my role. They told me ‘Hey, you’re coming in.’ I had to attack those hitters coming up, I had runners on first and second and, thankfully, I got a few breaks here and there and we got the job done.” — Lee on closing out the game in the ninth to earn his first collegiate save
“I’ve been seeing the ball the same and just made some minor tweaks, minor adjustments and stuff like that. Never lost any confidence or anything like that. I’ve been seeing the ball well and trying to get those hits. It’s confidence for sure, but nothing has really changed for me. I’m just trying to put together good at-bats.” — Grant Koch on breaking out of his slump at the plate
Up Next
Arkansas will get a nice break before going back on the field for its next series.
The Hogs will travel to Knoxville, Tenn., next weekend for a three-game series starting on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Razorbacks and Volunteers will play games two and three on Friday and Saturday, at 5 p.m. and Noon, respectively.
Thursday’s and Saturday’s games will be televised on the SEC Network.
Mowatt hurdles to top of NCAA in 400-meter race at Relays
BATON ROUGE, La. — Day one of the inaugural SEC Relays proved extremely fruitful for the No. 15 Arkansas men’s track and field team as the Razorbacks walked away with one national lead, two event titles and several PRs on Friday afternoon.
No. 1 in the SEC, No. 1 in the NCAA
Junior Kemar Mowatt dethroned former NCAA 400-meter hurdle leader Robert Grant (Texas A&M) in a head-to-head competition which saw Mowatt best Grant by .69 seconds. Mowatt was aggressive from the sound of the gun, attacking each hurdle with an unmatched ferocity. The strategy paid dividends earning him the event title, an NCAA lead and the second-best performance in program history with 49.09. The top three 400 hurdlers in the country, inclusive of Grant, all hail from the SEC.
Barriers No Match for Hogs
Arkansas’ second event win of the day came off the heels of redshirt senior Aidan Swain in the steeplechase. Swain finished the race in 9 minutes 12.83 seconds, securing his place atop the podium. Oregon transfer Kyle Levermore placed second with 9:16.98.
Additional Notable Performances
Sprint medley relay squad of Kenzo Cotton, Josh Washington, Obi Igbokwe and Carlton Orange recorded the third-fastest performance in the program history with 3:15.38.
Western Texas transfer Rhayko Schwartz picked up a new PR in the 400 of 46.13, earning him the runner-up spot in the event. Schwartz is now inside NCAA West region’s top-15.
4-x-800-meter relay team of Cameron Griffith, Ethan Moehn, Austen Dalquist and Cale Wallace raced to a second-place finish, clocking 7:33.21 over the eight-lap race.
Freshman Harrison Schrage marked an all-conditions personal best in the long jump of 7.93m/26-0¼, finishing as the second-best collegiate performer in the competition. Schrage is one of nine student-athletes to mark a jump over 26 feet so far this outdoor season.
Arkansas returns to action tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. with program record-holder Erich Sullins kicking off the day in his signature event, the hammer throw. The Razorbacks are currently sitting in second place in the team standings with 27 points. Men’s and women’s points are combined and teams are scored as one unit.
Points Breakdown: M – 14 / W – 13 (27)
M – SMR: 3rd = 6 pts. | W – SMR: 6th = 3 pts.
M – 4-x-800: 2nd = 8 pts. | W – 4-x-800: 1st = 10 pts.
Date/Time: Saturday, April 29, 12:02 p.m. CT (prime time)
Venue: Bernie Moore Track Stadium
Important Links: Meet Schedule | Live Results | Start Lists
Assistant Coach Doug Case Sounds Off
On Day One of the SEC Relays
“So far it’s been a great track meet. There have been a couple collegiate records already. We ran really fast in the sprint medley and got third, so that was pretty good. Kemar [Mowatt] ran the collegiate lead and that was great for him but I know he has more in the tank. Larry [Donald] ran well in the high hurdles, Rhayko Schwartz hit a PR in the 400. The jumpers started us off pretty well with Harrison [Schrage] getting out to 26 and Aidan Swain closed it out with a win in the steeplechase. All in all a pretty good day.”
SEC Relays
200 Meters: 7. Kevin Harris – 21.10
400 Meters: 2. Rhayko Schwartz – 46.13, 6. Eric Janise – 46.66, 7. Jamarco Steven – 46.91, 8. Roy Ejiakuekwu – 47.54, 9. John Winn – 47.68
110 Meter Hurdles: 6. Larry Donald – 13.96, 11. Travius Chambers – 15.16
400 Meter Hurdles: 1. Kemar Mowatt – 49.09, 3. Larry Donald – 51.20, 6. Travius Chambers – 51.57
Steeplechase: 1. Aidan Swain – 9:12.83, 2. Kyle Levermore – 9:16.98
Sprint Medley Relay: 3. Cotton, Washington, Igbokwe, Orange – 3:15.38
4-x-800 Meter Relay: 2. Griffith, Moehn, Dalquist, Wallace – 7:33.21
Long Jump: 3. Harrison Schrage – 7.93m/26-0¼, 4. Andreas Trajkovski – 7.65m/25-1¼, 11. Brandon Workman – 7.07m/23-2½
Discus: 9. Erich Sullins – 52.30m/171-7
Razorback women set record on Day One of SEC Relays
BATON ROUGE, La. — Conditions were hot and muggy on Friday afternoon in Baton Rouge and apparently just right for the No. 3 Arkansas women’s track and field team to secure some improved performances at the SEC Relays.
A phenomenal showing in the 4-x-800-meter relay, courtesy of Ceara Watson, Carina Viljoen, Nikki Hiltz and Therese Haiss, highlighted the day. Watson led off for the group, jockeying for a better position on the first lap before kicking past her conference rivals down the home stretch on lap two. Viljoen raced close with Texas A&M for the majority of her leg but made sure to hand off the baton to Hiltz with a lead – a lead that grew stronger from Hiltz to Haiss. The quartet set a stadium record with their winning time of 8 minutes, 33.97 seconds.
Solo Success
All-American quarter-miler Daina Harper shaved .39 seconds off of her personal best to win the 400 with the third-fastest time in the NCAA this year. Harper rounded the track in 51.38 and won the race by almost a two-second margin. Junior Regan Ward also captured an event title, winning the steeplechase in a season’s best time of 10:19.99. Ward’s performance ranks her among the top-20 best in the NCAA West region.
Additional Notable Performances
Sophomore Kiara Parker raced to a solid all-conditions best in the 200, finishing sixth with 23.23. Parker moves up to No. 25 in the NCAA West.
Junior Payton Stumbaugh clocked a lifetime best in the 200 of 23.59 and a season’ best in the 100 hurdles of 13.13. Stumbaugh finished second in the hurdles, only trailing Olympian Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Kentucky.
Sophomore Damajahnee Birch improved on her season’s best, crossing the finish line as the runner-up in the 400 hurdles in 57.44. She remains at No. 6 on the NCAA West region performance list.
Day two for the Razorbacks will begin with the women’s pole vault at 11:30 a.m. CT. With two national champions in the mix, fans can expect exciting displays of athleticism.
Date/Time: Saturday, April 29, 11:30 a.m. CT
Venue: Bernie Moore Track Stadium
Important Links: Meet Schedule | Live Results | Start Lists
Head Coach Lance Harter Sounds Off
On Day One of the SEC Relays
“We’re elated with Payton Stumbaugh and the hurdles. She beat a very, very competitive field of SEC individuals. We came back in the 4-x-800 and had a real runway performance that was truly an all across the board effort. Rachel Nichwitz had a breakthrough performance in the steeple and picked up a big PR and Regan Ward did a great job winning the race and improving on her PR for the year. Daina Harper had an outstanding day in the 400. She just continues to show her overall development and has come so far as athlete. She literally gets better with each meet.”
SEC Relays
200 Meters: 6. Kiara Parker – 23.23, 13. Payton Stumbaugh – 23.59
400 Meters: 1. Daina Harper – 51.38, 5. Sunkietra McCallister – 54.41
5,000 Meters: 3. Logan Bishop – 17:29.83, 6. Kelsey Schrader – 17:49.07
100 Meter Hurdles: 2. Payton Stumbaugh – 13.13
400 Meter Hurdles: 2. Damajahnee Birch – 57.44
Steeplechase: 1. Regan Ward – 10:19.99, 2. Rachel Nichwitz – 10:34.00
Sprint Medley Relay: 6. Baylark, Herman, Hammit, Byrnes – 3:59.82
4-x-800 Meter Relay: 1. Watson, Viljoen, Hiltz, Haiss – 8:33.97 (stadium/meet record)
High Jump: 3. Taliyah Brooks – 1.75m/5-8¾, 7. Leigha Brown – 1.70m/5-7
Long Jump: 10. Ashlee Moore – 5.97m/19-7
Georgia knocks off Razorbacks at SEC Tournament
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML) | Season Stats
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A day after its first SEC Tournament win in 11 years, the Arkansas men’s tennis team was unable to keep its winning streak going, falling to No. 2 seed Georgia 4-1 in its second match of the conference tournament at Barksdale Stadium on the campus of the University of Tennessee.
Arkansas falls to 16-12 on the season and will await the NCAA Tournament selection show on Tuesday, May 2 to find out its postseason fate.
“We are getting closer to playing well,” said head coach Andy Jackson. “I liked our effort against Georgia but they deserved to win. We look forward to the NCAA Tournament.”
Two of the top three doubles pairing in the country and the top two in the SEC battled it out at the No. 1 spot as No. 3 Mike Redlicki and Jose Salazar drew the task of facing No. 2 Robert Loeb and Jan Zielinski of Georgia. Redlicki and Salazar fell in the hole early 1-4 and never could climb back, falling 6-2. The No. 2 and 3 spots were much closer.
Tied at 5-5 at the No. 3 spot, Georgia’s Paul Oosterbaan and Emil Reinberg won two straight games to close out Oscar Mesquida and Juan Marino 7-5.
Arkansas held a 5-3 lead at the No. 2 spot, before Georgia was able to take three straight games to take the lead at 6-5. Adam Sanjurjo and Johan den Toom were able to win the proceeding game to send it to a tiebreaker, where play was suspended at the clinch.
In singles, Branch Terrell fell to Paul Oosterbaan at the No. 6 spot 6-4, 6-2 in his first action since the Saint Louis match over a month ago, to give Georgia the 2-0 match lead. Right after Terrell, Johan den Toom was defeated by Walker Duncan 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 5 spot, to extend Georgia’s lead to 3-0.
Adam Sanjurjo was finally able to get Arkansas on the board by knocking off Jan Zielinski 6-2, 6-2. Dating back to the regular season finale against Vanderbilt, Sanjurjo has won three straight singles decisions.
Down 5-3 in the first set at No. 3, Oscar Mesquida fought back to tie the set at 5-5. The sophomore dropped the next two games to give 61st-ranked Emil Reinberg the first set win. In the second set, Reinberg made quick work, sweeping Mesquida to pick up the 7-5, 6-0 win and clinch the match for Georgia. It is Mesquida’s first loss at the No. 3 spot this season.
No. 10 Redlicki was up 6-2, 5-4 on 49th-ranked Nathan Ponwith when play was suspended at the clinch, while No. 34 Salazar was in a close match with 31st-ranked Wayne Montgomery 6-3, 4-5.
#13 Georgia 4, Arkansas 1
Singles competition – Order of finish (6,5,4,3)
1. #49 Nathan Ponwith (UGA) vs. #10 Mike Redlicki (AR) 2-6, 4-5, unfinished
2. #31 Wayne Montgomery (UGA) vs. #34 Jose Salazar (AR) 3-6, 5-4, unfinished
3. #61 Emil Reinberg (UGA) def. Oscar Mesquida (AR) 7-5, 6-0
4. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Jan Zielinski (UGA) 6-2, 6-2
5. Walker Duncan (UGA) def. Johan den Toom (AR) 6-2, 6-3
6.Paul Oosterbaan (UGA) def. Branch Terrell (AR) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition – Order of finish (1,3)
1. #2 Robert Loeb/Jan Zielinski (UGA) def. #3 Mike Redlicki/Jose Salazar (AR) 6-2
2. Wayne Montgomery/Walker Duncan (UGA) vs. Adam Sanjurjo/Johan den Toom (AR) 6-6, unfinished
3. Paul Oosterbaan/Emil Reinberg (UGA) def. Oscar Mesquida/Juan Marino (AR) 7-5
Ole Miss blows out Razorbacks to start series; doubleheader Friday
Blaine Knight provided a strong performance off the mound Thursday night, Arkansas could only manage two hits on offense, falling to Ole Miss, 9-1, in Baum Stadium.
The Razorbacks still hold the best overall record in the SEC, but drop to 33-11 and 12-7 in league play, while Ole Miss improves to 26-16 and 10-9 in conference play.
Even though he was saddled with the loss to fall to 6-3 on the year, Knight was able to strikeout 10 Rebel batters in 7.1 innings, becoming the first Arkansas pitcher since Jess Todd in 2007 to have three 10+-strikeout performances in the same season. Earlier this year, Knight had 10 strikeouts against No. 5 Arizona at the Frisco Classic and 11 against Mississippi State in the SEC opener.
Knight was locked in through the first seven innings of the game, surrendering just two runs off a home run from Tim Rowe. By the fifth inning, the Bryant, Arkansas native had retired 14-of-15 batters since a single in the second, including retiring eight straight.
Junior Jared Gates provided the only offense all night against Ole Miss starting pitcher James McArthur, hitting his fourth home run of the year in the fifth inning to pull Arkansas within one. It was Arkansas’ second home run in the last four games, but both were hit by Gates.
Other than the homer, McArthur had Arkansas’ number all night, going eight innings, allowing just one run and one hit while striking out six on 114 pitches, earning his third win of the year.
By the eighth inning, Ole Miss, scored two more off Knight, causing Arkansas to go to the bullpen for the first time. The Rebels scored one more in the eighth off Josh Alberius, and blew the game open with two more home runs in the ninth to make the score 9-1.
Chad Spanberger was the only other Razorback to have a hit in the game, which was a double in the ninth inning.
Razorback Quotables
“I thought he pitched well. He gave us a chance. He was running out of gas a little and made a mistake to (Colby) Bortles, left a ball up first pitch and he jumped on it that really gave them a nice cushion. He threw well. I give him credit. After giving up a two-run homer on an 0-2 pitch, which was a mistake, but he battled back and gave us five or six really good innings in the middle. He gave us every opportunity to catch up and we didn’t.” — Coach Dave Van Horn on Blaine Knight’s performance
“It’s baseball. I did what I could to keep us in the game. Guys weren’t hitting tonight, that’s going to happen. I messed up on two pitches and happened to leave it up, this is the SEC and you’re going to get punished for it. It is what it is and hopefully, Trevor (Stephan) can go out there tomorrow. Hopefully, the bats wake up tomorrow and we can get up on this double-header.” — Knight on the 9-1 loss to Ole Miss
“Just stick with our approach. I don’t think tonight, I don’t think the scoreboard reflected how bad it was. We couldn’t get anything going. I just think if we stick with our approach that we’ve had all year, we’ll be fine. — Jared Gates on the offense bouncing back on Friday
Up Next
Arkansas and Ole Miss will play a double-header Friday starting at Noon at Baum Stadium. Due to the threat of heavy rain Friday night and into Saturday, the series finale was moved to Friday and is part of the double-header.
The second game tomorrow will start roughly 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first. Both games will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Phil Elson and Rick Schaeffer will have the radio call on the Razorback Sports Network.
