Join Mason Choate, Robert Stewart and Christian Cheetham as they recap Arkansas’ series loss at Alabama. The guys break down what went well and what went wrong (a lot). Stick around for weekend MVPs and a rant on media asking questions in pressers.
Aaron Torres on Nick Saban-Jimbo Fisher issues plus name, image and likeness
All of the drama in college football last week on Halftime with Phil Elson, Drew Barrett and Matt Travis.
Razorbacks rally behind Rylin Hedgecock to reach Super Regional
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas did it again.
This time, Razorbacks coach Courtney Deifel sent Rylin Hedgecock off the bench up to pinch-hit in the sixth and she delivered.
It was, Deifel said later, a “no brainer.”
“She is an incredibly talented hitter,” she said after Hedgecock’s three-RBI double keyed a six-run rally in the sixth inning for a 9-3 win over Oregon.
“She just does a really good job of staying level,” Deifel said, “not making anything too big. She was in our lineup early and she’s just been knocking on that all year.”
Which does tell you how good the Hogs’ lineup is.
The “spirit squirrel” from Saturday’s game may or may not have had something to do with it. They have it as headgear in the Hogs’ dugout.
Arkansas had a pair of hits early go to the warning track that may have gone out had it not been for the unseasonably cold weather.
The coming of the ice age couldn’t make the air heavy enough to keep Lennie Malkin in Bogle Park as she hit a homero to deep left in the second.
Then, just like Saturday afternoon, Kacie Hoffman followed with another home run of her own and a 2-0 lead just 26 pitches into the game.
The Hogs over-reacted to a deflected grounder in the bottom of the fourth. Instead of simply throwing the ball in and keeping a double-play possibility with a 3-1 lead, they turned into the Keystone Kops.
A pair of throwing errors trying to throw runners out that took a quality hit and turned it into a 3-3 tie.
“That’s just not what we do,” Deifel said.
Pitcher Mary Haff shrugged it off.
“She stayed the course after that,” Deifel said.
Haff gave up three hits after that, but with a six-run lead in the seventh it was quick work to lock down the win and send the Hogs to a Super Regional that starts this week at Bogle Park.
Taylor Ellsworth singled, Danielle Gibson reached on a fielder’s choice and Hannah Gammill walked to load the bases for Arkansas with no outs in the sixth.
Malkin, who broke a scoreless tie with a three-run home run against Makenna Kliethermes on Saturday, was called out looking at a 1-2 pitch that appeared to be outside the strike zone.
That brought Kacie Hoffman to the plate. Kliethermes threw away the first pitch, which scored Cally Kildow, who pinch-ran for Ellsworth.
Hoffman was intentionally walked to load the bases again. After Audrie LaValley lined out the shortstop, Hedgecock doubled to center field on a 3-2 pitch. The ball went off the glove of Oregon center fielder Jasmine Williams, who was retreating toward the outfield wall.
The Hogs (school record 47-9) advanced to a home Super Regional that will begin Friday or Saturday at Bogle Park. They will host the winner of the Seattle Regional championship between Washington and Texas.
Olin Buchanan of TexAgs.com on Jimbo Fisher’s press conference
A day after his full-scale attack of Nick Saban, Fisher did entertain several of the media in attendance at hastily-called press conference.
Linnie Malkin’s homer, Chenise Delce’s pitching lifts Hogs past Oregon
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Linnie Malkin’s heroic three-run home run paved way to a six-run sixth to carry No. 4 Arkansas to a 6-2 win over No. 24 Oregon at Bogle Park Saturday afternoon.
The Hogs advance to their second-straight regional championship and will face the winner of No. 24 Oregon and Wichita State at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Despite an over two-and-a-half-hour rain delay that began in the first, Arkansas remained poised and focused against a talented Oregon squad.
“It’s really exciting to win this one,” said coach Courtney Deifel. “I’m really proud of how we fought. I thought Chenise (Delce) and our defense were superb, and I’m really just happy with that sixth inning.”
The Hogs move their record to 46-9, tying the program’s single season wins record. The victory also marks Arkansas’ 17th win against a ranked opponent in 2022.
The Razorbacks were quiet offensively until senior Danielle Gibson and sophomore Hannah Gammill opened the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles.
Malkin then parked a three-run bomb to center to propel the Hogs to a 3-0 edge. Freshman Kacie Hoffmann followed suit with a solo blast to right to broaden the lead to 4-0.
Senior Hannah McEwen constructed the frame’s final two runs on an RBI double to left center, gravitating a 6-0 lead in favor of the Razorbacks.
The Ducks scrapped together two runs in the seventh on a two-run homer, but Delce retired the next two batters to seal the win.
SEC Pitcher of the Year Chenise Delce (18-2) shined yet again in the circle, hurling her 13th complete game with six scoreless frames before surrendering two runs in the seventh.
The Oklahoma City, Okla., product struck out nine, curbed the Ducks to six hits and walked zero. The Razorback defense was as steady as it gets, making every play and helping Delce compile six scoreless innings while committing zero errors.
Gibson strung together another impressive outing at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a double, single and run. Malkin and Hoffmann’s home runs move Arkansas’ home run count to 105 – the third-most in SEC history. McEwen grabbed two RBIs on her double and Gammill added a hit.
Hog Highlights
• Arkansas collected its 17th win against a ranked opponent
• The Razorbacks advance to their second-straight regional championship
• Linnie Malkin annihilated her 21st home run of the season
• Kacie Hoffmann tanked her seventh homer
• Chenise Delce cruised to her 18th victory of the year
• The Hogs tied the program’s single season win record
• Arkansas’ 105 home runs this season are the third-most in SEC history
Sunday’s Game
Arkansas will meet the winner of Oregon vs. Wichita State in the regional championship at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Sunday’s TV assignment will be delegated Saturday night after the final games are completed.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Arkansas puts up worst performance of 2022 in regular season finale
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After two hits with runners in scoring position, things were shaping up nicely for Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
The Crimson Tide had other plans, however, exploiting mediocre Razorback pitching for five or more runs in three different innings to beat the Hogs 18-5 and win its first Southeastern Conference series since April 10.
Things were looking up for the Hogs after the first inning, in which they scored twice and came back up to bat quickly after a 12-pitch frame from sophomore right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins.
Graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli delivered his third RBI knock in as many at-bats to get Arkansas on the board, and senior shortstop Jalen Battles drove in another run to make it 2-0.
The wheels fell off in the second, as the Crimson Tide struck six times. Five of the six hitters Wiggins faced reached base and scored, and Alabama chased senior righty Kole Ramage after three batters, the last of whom hit an RBI double to cap the scoring.
Freshman left-hander Hagen Smith put out the fire with a strikeout, but he rekindled it in the third with a hit batsman, two walks and a wild pitch that made it 7-2.
The Razorbacks countered in the fourth with a solo home run by sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace, his second longball of the series, but Smith fanned the flames even more in the bottom of the frame.
Four hitters in, two runs had scored and two more runners were on base, so the Hogs turned to senior left-hander Evan Taylor. He allowed the two inherited runners to score and two more unearned runs, following senior first baseman Brady Slavens’ fielding error.
After recording the final out of the fourth, senior righty Elijah Trest issued three free passes, giving way to junior right-hander Miller Pleimann. Alabama notched its 14th run on a sacrifice fly and reloaded the bases in time for nine-hole hitter Bryce Eblin to unleash an opposite-field grand slam.
Arkansas senior center fielder Braydon Webb belted a two-run shot to left, cutting the deficit to 18-5, but it was far too much to overcome.
The Hogs are slated to play at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in the second round of the SEC Tournament.
Arkansas will get the winner of the Georgia-Alabama game, which will be played at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Both games will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Diamond Hogs squander opportunity, drop middle game to Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The fifth inning was the backbreaker once again Friday night, but this time it was the Razorbacks on the short end. Senior right-handed pitcher Connor Noland and junior left-hander Zack Morris combined to surrender six runs to the Alabama Crimson Tide, which went on to beat Arkansas 8-6.
The Hogs jumped out to the lead in the second inning on an RBI groundout by senior shortstop Jalen Battles. Senior designated hitter Brady Slavens extended the advantage to two runs in the fourth with an RBI single to center, which scored graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli after his leadoff double.
Three Crimson Tide singles turned into a run in the bottom of the fourth, making it a 2-1 game, but Arkansas countered with two more runs in the top of the fifth. Battles led off with an infield single and scored on graduate catcher Michael Turner’s RBI single, and Lanzilli drove him in with a single to center.
Alabama’s response was much more devastating, as the Tide chased Noland after 4 1/3 innings. Six of the last 11 batters he faced recorded singles, but the Hogs still hung onto the lead by the time he left. Morris had no answers however, and all four hitters he faced reached. Senior righty Zebulon Vermillion had to put out the fire, which he did with a strikeout and a flyout, but Alabama led 7-4 after five.
Crimson Tide center fielder Andrew Pinckney led off the sixth with a solo blast to make it a four-run game, but Vermillion got through the rest of the inning without any trouble.
Arkansas responded with two runs in the seventh, courtesy of Lanzilli’s two-out double, his third hit of the contest.
Senior right-hander Kole Ramage worked scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, affording the Hogs the opportunity to complete the comeback, but they stranded two runners in the ninth.
The Razorbacks will need a win and a Texas A&M loss Saturday to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and the Western Division title. The rubber match with Alabama is set for 1 p.m., and it will stream live on the SEC Network+.
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Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: Live from Big Creek Trading Company!
Tommy and Clay are live from Big Creek Trading Company as they talk Razorbacks baseball, Jimbo vs. Saban, PGA Championship and more. Scott Tabor joins the show to talk Hogs BSB.
The Morning Rush is LIVE!!!
The Morning Rush is live on a Fastball Friday at Big Creek Trading Company!!!
