Razorbacks Take Care of Business Against Cornhuskers

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas Razorback baseball team (18-10) opened up a stretch of five games in five days with a victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers Tuesday evening, knocking off the Cornhuskers 4-3 at Baum Stadium.

The Razorback pitching staff allowed a season-best two hits on the night and Zach Jackson (2-1) worked 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory. Michael Gunn came on for the final two innings and added a pair of strikeouts to earn his fifth save of the year. Colin Poché lasted 4.1 innings and gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits, while walking five and striking out two.

Tyler Spoon had the clutch hit at the plate, lining a bases loaded two-run double down the left field line as part of a four-run third inning to create the winning margin. Andrew Benintendi and Joe Serrano recorded multiple hits in the game, while Krisjon Wilkerson and Eric Fisher each added an RBI in the victory.

The Razorbacks turn right around and play these same Cornhuskers Tuesday afternoon in the series finale. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. as Arkansas continues its stretch of five home games in as many days.

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Head Coach Dave Van Horn Quotes

Arkansas Head Coach Dave Van Horn (Opening statement) – “It was a good win for us obviously, especially after losing the first two games on the road.  Playing a good team like Nebraska, a very offensive team with a batting average of .311, which is on the upper end nationally.  We held them down a little bit.  Pitchers did a good job.  The whole issue is we walked people and we normally don’t walk people.  I think we walked seven.  The one inning we had a 4-2 lead, they score a run without getting a hit and that was a little disappointing.  We feel very fortunate to win the game when you walk that many people.”

Arkansas Head Coach Dave Van Horn (On the Big third inning) – “It was big.  We got a bases loaded double on a breaking ball.  Tyler stayed back just enough to keep it fair, scores two, and then we get a sac fly to advance another runner from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to home.  Then we get another sac fly.  I thought Fisher did a nice job.  He sat back on a change up and he got two in a row.  The second one he hit out there for a sac fly.  Just to score all those runs was great.  You saw what happened to us in the 7th when it looked like we were about to put that game away and got one of our top RBI guys at the play and he hits the ball right at them.  That’s just how the game works.  We just feel fortunate that we got all the runs that inning and didn’t leave anyone out there.”

Game Notes

• The Razorbacks improved to 14-3 on the year at Baum Stadium and moved to a perfect 5-0 in the all-white home uniforms.
• The two hits given up by the Arkansas pitching staff is the fewest allowed in a game all season.
• Arkansas has allowed just three runs over the its last five nonconference games.
• Jake Wise and Tyler Spoon were both hit by pitches, bringing the season total to a league-leading 56. Arkansas has been hit by a pitch in 14 straight games and in 25 of 28 games, including multiple hit by pitches in 15 contests.
• The Razorbacks erased a two-run deficit for the win, marking the second victory of the year when the opponent scored first.
• Arkansas improved to 16-0 when leading after six innings, 16-0 when leading after seven innings and 17-0 when leading after eight innings.
• The Razorbacks made it a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities on the year, including 5-for-5 for Michael Gunn.
• Brett McAfee made his return to lineup against after being sidelined by injury over the last 14 contests.

How They Scored

• Arkansas 0, Nebraska 2; Top 2: Steven Reveles singled through left side, Ryan Boldt advanced to third, scored on fielding error by LF; Tanner Lubach scored.
• Arkansas 2, Nebraska 2; Bottom 3: Tyler Spoon doubled down the LF line; Brian Anderson advanced to third; Joe Serrano scored; Andrew Benintendi scored.
• Arkansas 3, Nebraska 2; Bottom 3: Krisjon Wilkerson flied out to RF, SF; Tyler Spoon advanced to third; Brian Anderson scored.
• Arkansas 4, Nebraska 2; Bottom 3: Eric Fisher flied out to RF, SF; Tyler Spoon scored.
• Arkansas 4, Nebraska 3; Top 5: Michael Pritchard grounded out to SS; Jake Placzek advanced to second; Austin Darby scored.