Razorbacks Squeak a Sweep at Dickey-Stephens

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. –  Jacob Mahan had three hits and a RBI to lead the 13th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team to a 2-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday night in front of 9,285 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park.

With the win, the Razorbacks sweep their two-game midweek series against Mississippi Valley State and improve to 19-7 on the season. The Delta Devils fall to 3-23. The victory also improves Arkansas to 4-0 inside Dickey-Stephens Park.

Arkansas had yet another strong pitching performance with right hander Tyler Wright starting things off on the mound, pitching three innings with five strikeouts as he got the win for the Razorbacks. Michael Gunn struck out five over three hitless innings of relief, while Jalen Beeks earned his second save of the season, working out of a jam in the scoreless ninth.

Montana Killier took the loss for Mississippi Valley State, falling to 1-5 on the year. Killier gave up two unearned runs on four hits in three innings.

Mahan led the Razorbacks at the plate with three hits and one RBI. Mahan extended his hitting streak to 13 games with his three hits. Matt Vinson recorded two hits, while Brian Anderson,Dominic Ficociello and Jacob Morris each had one hit. Morris also added a RBI.

Ficociello got the first hit of the day with a bunt single down the third base line to open the second inning. A fielding error by the Delta Devils would allow Jacob Wise to take first base and move Ficociello to third after the error. Morris would lay down a perfect safety squeeze bunt to bring Ficociello home for the first run of the game.  Mahan would come up big for the Razorbacks with a double down the left field line to bring home Wise for Arkansas’ second run of the night.

The Delta Devils got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning as MSVU’s German Hays singled down the third-base line bringing home Edmund Cheatham to cut the lead to 2-1.

The score stayed 2-1 into the top of the ninth when the Delta Devils threatened to tie the game by loading the bases with one out. However, Beeks worked out of the jam, striking out Luke Brumfield and getting Jonathan Parker to pop out to second to finish the game.

Hays had three this and drove in a run to lead Mississippi Valley State at the plate. Cheatham, Mark Kaplan and Kevin Simmons each recorded one hit in the loss.

The Razorbacks continue Southeastern Conference play this weekend, hosting No. 16 Mississippi State in a three-game series at Baum Stadium. Game times for the weekend series are scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Friday, 2:05 p.m. on Saturday and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. Friday and Sunday’s games will be televised by Cox Sports Television.