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Hogs drop final midweek contest to Missouri State
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Innings flew by Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Down to a last out and facing a five-run deficit, No. 4 Arkansas had collected just two hits all game.
They were able to get the winning run to the plate, but they were not able to complete the comeback, losing 6-4 to the Missouri State Bears.
The visitors opened the scoring in the third inning, and for a while, it looked like it may be all they needed to beat the Hogs.
Missouri State left fielder Spencer Nivens took Razorback sophomore right-hander Will McEntire deep to center field for a two-run homer.
Sophomore catcher Dylan Leach responded with a leadoff blast in the bottom of the frame, cutting the lead to 2-1, but Arkansas mustered just one baserunner between that longball and the ninth inning.
Senior righty Kole Ramage took the mound in the fourth, picking up six outs but widening the gap on the scoreboard. Center fielder Hayden Moore doubled with one out in the fifth, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Nivens’ RBI groundout.
After scoreless outings from senior righty Zebulon Vermillion and junior lefty Zack Morris, things fell apart in the ninth for the Razorbacks.
Sophomore right-hander Heston Tole walked the leadoff batter, who scored on a home run by catcher Drake Baldwin to make it 5-1. The Bears tacked on another insurance run after first baseman Mason Greer’s double and two wild pitches by freshman lefty Nick Griffin.
With two outs and a runner on second, junior second baseman Robert Moore hit an RBI single to get the rally going.
A hit batsman and a throwing error later, senior shortstop Jalen Battles represented the tying run with the bases loaded. He delivered a two-run single and took second base on another throwing error, giving Leach a chance to tie it with a knock.
Leach hit a hard grounder to shortstop, and the Bears recorded the final out to seal the 6-4 victory.
Arkansas is set to play next at 7 p.m. Friday in Auburn, Alabama, for the first of three games against the No. 19 Tigers, who trail the Razorbacks by two games in the standings.
The series opener will stream live on the SEC Network+.
How to watch-listen to Razorbacks-Bears tonight
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 4 Arkansas, winners of 18 consecutive midweek contests, wraps up the non-conference portion of its regular-season schedule against longtime rival Missouri State.
The Razorbacks (34-10) and Bears (21-19) will be meeting for the first time since 2019 on Tuesday night.
First pitch inside Baum-Walker Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Arkansas and Missouri State had played almost annually from 1966 through 2019 before the series went dormant in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-related cancellations.
The Razorbacks, who lead the series with an overall record of 55-26, will host the Bears in Fayetteville for the first time since 2018 this Tuesday.
Schedule
6:30 Tuesday: vs. Missouri State • SEC Network+ • Listen • Live Stats
Game 1 Matchups: Missouri State LHP Reece Lang (1-2, 5.08 ERA) vs. Arkansas RHP Will McEntire (1-0, 1.32 ERA)
Tune In
Tuesday night’s game will stream on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst).
The game can also be heard with Phil Elson (play-by-play) and Bubba Carpenter (analyst) on the call online online at HitThatLine.com or on ESPN Arkansas radio 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Series History
Arkansas holds a sizeable advantage over Missouri State with an overall series record of 55-26. 36 of those 55 wins have come in Fayetteville, including 11 under head coach Dave Van Horn.
The Razorbacks won 10 in a row against the Bears from 2007 until 2014, but the series has evened out in recent years.
Arkansas and Missouri State have split the last 12 games since 2015, and the Bears have won five of the last nine games played at Baum-Walker Stadium since 2015.
Leading Off
• Arkansas, 20-3 in non-conference games this season, has won all 10 of its midweek contests this year.
• The Hogs last went undefeated in midweek contests in a season in 2005.
• Arkansas is currently ranked first in the SEC and second in the country in fielding percentage (.984), committing just 25 errors in 44 games this season.
• RHP Will McEntire will make his fourth start of the season on the mound against Missouri State. The Bryant, Ark., native is 1-0 on the year with a 1.32 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings of work.
• OF Chris Lanzilli’s 48 career home runs are tied for sixth most among active Division I college baseball players. The graduate transfer from Wake Forest is two homers shy of becoming one of only five active players with 50 or more career long balls.
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Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- Orange, Peterson
Arkansas/MO State memories; Apples and Oranges with Alyssa; Wiggins Remains in Rotation; MLB Rivalries
Guests- Alyssa Orange & Kyle Peterson
Halftime is LIVE. CFB, NFL, Hogs BSB, MLB and more 877-377-6963
11:30 – Alyssa Orange
12:30 – Kyle Peterson
Arkansas/MO State memories; Apples and Oranges with Alyssa; Wiggins Remains in Rotation; MLB Rivalries Call or text, 877-377-6963
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