Razorbacks can’t get key hits, fall into elimination game Friday

HOOVER, Ala. — Arkansas couldn’t stop a late rally by three-seed Georgia on Thursday in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, giving up three runs in the final three innings in a 3-1 loss.

The defeat sends the Razorbacks (41-16) to an elimination game set for Friday afternoon and will face seven-seed Ole Miss for the second time in three games Ole Miss bounced back from its loss to the Hogs on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over six-seed Texas A&M on Thursday.

First pitch with the Rebels on Friday is slated for 3 p.m. on the SEC Network.

You can hear the game on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

Thursday’s loss to the Bulldogs was Arkansas’ 21st game decided by two runs or less this year as the Hogs are now 14-7 in such games. Including this week’s SEC Tournament, Arkansas is 3-3 in its last six games decided by two runs or less.

For the second-straight day, the Razorback offense only managed five hits, but its only run came in the third inning thanks to a couple of wild pitches from Georgia starter Cole Wilcox.

In that inning, redshirt freshman Jacob Nesbit got into scoring position with a one-out double down the left field line.

He scored five pitches later after Wilcox threw a wild pitch and then the Bulldog catcher, Shane Marshall, suffered a passed ball.

It was the only run Arkansas was able to score and it was almost enough with Isaiah Campbell on the mound.

Campbell had another strong start for the Razorbacks, going five scoreless innings with just two hits allowed and three strikeouts on 71 pitches. It was his 14th start of five or more innings this year and second outing where he gave up two or less hits.

Campbell also did a good job working out of jams as he allowed Georgia to load the bases in the second and then put two in scoring position in the third, but both times prevented a run from scoring.

Kole Ramage, Jacob Kostyshock and Zebulon Vermillion all followed over the final three innings, but Georgia managed to tie the game in the seventh on a pinch-hit RBI double by Connor Tate.

It seemed the game might come down to the bottom of the ninth or forced to extras as Kostyshock entered the game for the eighth inning, making his second appearance in as many days.

However, Georgia got a lead-off double by Aaron Schunk followed by two quick outs even with Schunk advancing to third, looked to be pushing the momentum back in Arkansas’ favor.

An intentional walk to Cam Shepherd put runners on the corners and Patrick Sullivan followed with the two-RBI double that gave Georgia its first lead of the game and kept it ahead for good.

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Arkansas will face Ole Miss for the second time this week in what will be an elimination game on Friday at 3 p.m. at the Hoover Met.

Pregame coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

The game will be televised on the SEC Network and the winner will advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals against Georgia on Saturday.