Razorbacks blast South Carolina to advance to Omaha

FAYETTEVILLE — For the ninth time in program history and fifth time under coach Dave Van Horn, Arkansas is headed to the College World Series after Monday night’s 14-4 win over South Carolina in Game 3 of the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional.

Carson Shaddy homered early and Luke Bonfield led a quartet of Razorbacks with at least two hits as the No. 5 national seed secured its ticket to Omaha.

Arkansas is paired up with Texas for the first game of the College World Series. Game information including date and time will be announced later.

The Big Inning

It started early for the Razorbacks’ offense, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning including three on one big swing by Shaddy.

With two runs already across the plate and two on base, the Fayetteville native hammered a 2-0 pitch from SC starter Carmen Mlodzinski into the Hog Pen to give Arkansas a 5-0 lead.

The big fly was Shaddy’s 13th of the season — and third during the NCAA Tournament — and pushed the Razorbacks’ season total to a program-record 93 home runs.

The Hitting

Bonfield drove in four runs with three hits, picking up an RBI in each of his first four plate appearances. He had RBI singles in the first, second and fifth innings, adding a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center field in the fourth.

From his leadoff spot in the lineup, junior Eric Cole was 3-for-3 with two walks and five runs scored.

Freshman Casey Martin tallied his team-leading 26th multi-hit performance with two hits against South Carolina including a two-run double in the Razorbacks’ five-run fifth.

Martin and fellow freshman Heston Kjerstad each scored two runs Monday. Arkansas’ 14 runs scored are the program’s second-most in a Super Regional game since an 18-4 win over Missouri State in 2015.

The Pitching

Staked to an early lead after Arkansas’ outburst in the first, redshirt sophomore Isaiah Campbell was solid through four-plus innings of work Monday.

He struck out five while allowing two runs on four hits. After a lead-off walk to start the fifth, Arkansas turned to Barrett Loseke out of the bullpen who, after a walk to the first hitter he faced, retired the next three hitters in order to preserve the Razorbacks’ 8-2 advantage.

Win or Go Home

The Razorbacks are now 3-1 in Super Regional Game 3 scenarios…
2002 — L, 7-4 at No. 2 Clemson (Clemson, S.C.)
2012 — W, 1-0 (10) at No. 4 Baylor (Waco, Texas)
2015 — W, 3-2 vs Wichita State (Fayetteville)
2018 — W, 14-4 vs South Carolina (Fayetteville)

Game Note

Monday’s game marked the seventh meeting against South Carolina this season, the most times Arkansas has played one opponent in a single season.

The Razorbacks played Auburn six times in 1999, Texas six times in 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985 and 1987, and South Carolina six times in 2012.

NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional | Tournament Central
Arkansas wins series, 2-1

Game 1: Arkansas 9, South Carolina 3
Game 2: South Carolina 8, Arkansas 4
Game 3: Arkansas 14, South Carolina 4