HOOVER, Ala. – The 20th-ranked and No. 7 seed Arkansas baseball team (36-21) used a solo home run from Eric Fisher and a three-run seventh inning to knock off No. 10 seed Texas A&M (33-24) 4-0 in the opening round of the SEC Baseball Tournament Tuesday at the Hoover Met.
The Diamond Hogs used another stellar outing from sophomore Trey Killian who tossed 6.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts to earn his second straight win, while Zach Jackson came on and worked 3.0 perfect innings to earn his second save of the year.
Fisher provided the fireworks early, launching a solo home run down the right field line in the second inning to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead. The long ball was his team-leading ninth of the year, who now ranks third in the SEC in home runs.
The Razorbacks went quietly from there until the seventh inning when a perfect hit and run single by Bobby Wernes sparked a three-run frame to create a cushion for Arkansas. Freshman Alex Gosser lined a single to right field to plate the first run of the frame, while Clark Eagan was hit by a pitch and Andrew Benintendi walked with the bases loaded to send the Razorbacks to a 4-0 victory.
The Razorbacks advance to the second round of the championship and will take on No. 2 seed Ole Miss Wednesday at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. First pitch is slated for 12:30 p.m. with Chris Oliver taking the mound for Arkansas.
Head Coach Dave Van Horn Quotes
Opening comment: “A pretty well played game. Eric hit a changeup in the right spot, got it out of there and gave us a chance to relax. Trey Killian just came out and pretty much does what Trey does every time he gets on the mound. He just did a tremendous job on a short week’s rest, like Mengden. They were toe to toe. I am real proud of my team for coming out and playing hard.”
Game Notes
- The Razorbacks improved to 24-33 all-time in the SEC Tournament and 9-11 in tournament openers.
- Arkansas advances to take on 10th-ranked and No. 2 seed Ole Miss. The Razorbacks dropped two of three to the Rebels on the road during the regular season.
- Texas A&M marked the first No. 10 seed Arkansas has ever played in the SEC Tournament.
- Arkansas turned a double play in the fifth inning to give the Razorbacks an SEC-leading 55 on the year.
- The Razorbacks have recorded nine shutouts on the year, including two in the last three games. The nine shutouts rank third in the league behind
- Arkansas has allowed two runs or less in 31 of 57 games this season.
- Eric Fisher’s solo home run in the second inning gave him nine homers on the year to rank third in the SEC.
- Trey Killian’s 6.0 scoreless innings marked his first outing of the season without allowing a run.
- Killian has allowed one earned run or less in seven of his 13 outings this season.
Ole Miss Preview
HOOVER, Ala. – The 20th-ranked and No. 7 seed Arkansas baseball team is set to take on 10th-ranked and No. 2 seed Ole Miss Wednesday on day two of the SEC Tournament at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
TV/Video Coverage
Tuesday’s game will be televised live on Fox Sports South and broadcasted online on ESPN3.
Game Links: Live Stats | TV: SportSouth/ESPN3
Radio Coverage
Every game of the SEC Tournament will be broadcasted on the Razorback Radio Network from IMG College with Chuck Barrett providing the play-by-play. For a complete list of affiliates clickhere.
Probable Pitchers
Wednesday (12:35p): OM – RHP Chris Ellis vs. ARK – RHP Chris Oliver
Series History
Arkansas leads the all-time series with Ole Miss 41-36, and has a 3-4 record against the Rebels in neutral site games. The Razorbacks lost two of three on the road at Ole Miss earlier this season, falling 2-3 and 4-7, before bouncing back with an 11-1 victory in the series finale. Arkansas is 3-3 against the Rebels all-time in the SEC Tournament.
Arkansas in the SEC Tournament
• In search of its first SEC Tournament Championship in program history, Arkansas won six of its last seven conference games to finish 16-14 in league play and claim the No. 7 seed in the 2014 Championship.
• Arkansas has made 3 SEC Tournament Championship game appearances.
• Arkansas finished runner-up in the SEC Championship in 1998 to Auburn, in 1999 to Alabama and in 2007 to Vanderbilt.
• The Razorbacks are making their 6th straight appearance in the SEC Tournament.
• The Razorbacks have won each of their first two games in the SEC Tournament four times in the last 19 years.
• The most tournament wins for Arkansas is four and came in 1999.
• Dave Van Horn is 12-18 in 10 SEC Tournament appearances
Quick Facts
• The Razorbacks completed consecutive seasons winning at least one game in every SEC series, currently the second longest streak in the league.
• The Razorbacks currently have the No. 2 earned run average in the SEC at 2.37, sitting only behind South Carolina at 2.15.
• Arkansas leads the SEC in pickoffs with 16 and double plays turned with 55.
• The Razorbacks’ current four-game winning streak is the longest since the third week of March that featured wins over Alabama, Mississippi Valley State and Mississippi State.