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No. 4 Arkansas downs Alabama 7-4 to finish sweep
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The
Arkansas offense pounded out 11 hits, while the Razorback bullpen
combined to allow just one run in 4.2 innings as No. 4 Arkansas
completed a three-game sweep of Alabama with a 7-4 win on Sunday
afternoon.
Arkansas improved to 19-2 on the season and 3-0 in
Southeastern Conference play. The Razorbacks have now won a season high
nine straight games. Alabama dropped to 8-12 with the loss.
The
Arkansas offense had 11 hits in the win, marking the team’s eight
double-digit hit total of the season. Bo Bigham, Jimmy Bosco and Matt
Reynolds each had two hits to lead the Razorbacks at the plate. Matt
Vinson reached base three times, drawing two walks and recording a hit,
and also added two RBI.
Arkansas reliever Nolan Sanburn (2-1) earned the win, giving up a run and striking out one in 2.2 innings.
Barrett
Astin picked up his sixth save of the season, retiring the three
batters he faced in the ninth inning on just five pitches. The save on
Sunday capped an impressive win for Astin, who finished the week with a
three saves and a win. Astin has now thrown 20 innings this season
without allowing a run.
Cade Lynch also pitched well out of the Arkansas bullpen, striking out one and retiring all three batters he faced.
Arkansas
starter Randall Fant did not factor into the decision after allowing
three runs on seven hits and striking out four in 4.1 innings.
Alabama starter Trey Pilkington took the loss after giving up four runs, three earned on seven hits in an inning plus of work.
The
Razorbacks grabbed an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the
first inning. With one out, Bosco and Dominic Ficociello hit
back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Reynolds then
grounded a base hit into left field to score Bosco and send Ficociello
to third. A sacrifice fly to center field by Sam Bates brought home
Ficociello to make the score 2-0. After a base hit by Bigham put
runners at first and second, Vinson had a two-out RBI hit to center to
score Arkansas’ third run of the inning.
Arkansas stretched the
lead to 4-0 with a run in the bottom of the second. The Razorbacks
loaded the bases with nobody out, but would only get the one run on
Ficociello’s 6-4-3 double play.
Alabama broke through for the
first time with a run in the top of the third. James Tullidge had a
double to the left-center field alley to start the inning and then
moved to third on a one-out single by Hunter Gregory. A base hit to
right-center field by Jared Reaves scored Tullidge.
Arkansas
responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. A
single by Bigham and a walk by Vinson began the inning. Jake Wise
attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but the Alabama pitcher was
able to throw out Bigham at third for the first out of the inning.
Jacob Morris reached on catcher’s interference to load the bases with
one out. Tim Carver then hit a chopper to the second baseman, who
misplayed the ball, allowing Carver to reach and scoring both Vinson
and Wise.
Alabama cut the lead back to three with two runs in
the top of the fifth. Back-to-back singles by Andrew Miller and James
Tullidge and a walk to Taylor Dugas loaded the bases with nobody out.
Gregory brought in a run on a fielder’s choice groundout to third.
Reaves then scored Tullidge on a sacrifice fly to center field to cut
the lead to 6-3.
The Razorbacks scored their final run of the
game in the bottom of the sixth. Ficociello drew a lead off walk and
Reynolds singled down the left field line to put runners at first and
second with nobody out. Joe Serrano’s sacrifice bunt attempt was
unsuccessful as Ficociello was retired at third for the first out of
the inning. A walk to Bigham put a runner on every base. Vinson then
grounded out to second to score Reynolds.
Alabama closed the
scoring with a run in the top of the seventh. Miller began the inning
with a double to left field and moved to third on a ground out by
Tullidge. Dugas then grounded out to short to score Miller.
Miller and Tullidge each had a pair of hits for Alabama. Reaves drove in a pair of runs in the loss.
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