|
No. 4 Arkansas outlasts Alabama in 12 innings
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –
Jake Wise drew a bases loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the
12th inning to lift No. 4 Arkansas to a 4-3 win over Alabama in the
Southeastern Conference opener on Friday night at Baum Stadium.
The
Razorbacks won their seventh-straight game and improved to 17-2 on the
season, while Alabama dropped to 8-10 with the loss. Arkansas has now
won its conference opener in five consecutive seasons.
Arkansas
put together the game-winning rally after the first two batters of the
12th had been retired. Matt Reynolds started the rally with an opposite
field single to right and moved to second after a walk to Bo Bigham.
Matt Vinson then drew a walk to load the bases. Wise jumped ahead in
the count 2-0, but Alabama pitcher Adam Windsor then evened the count
with back-to-back strikes. After ball three and a foul ball, Wise drew
ball four up and away to score Reynolds and give Arkansas the win.
The
game might not have gone into extra innings without the first inning
heroics of Vinson, who made an unbelievable catch to rob a home run.
Josh Rosecrans hit a 1-1 pitch that appeared destined for the Arkansas
bullpen, but Vinson climbed the wall and stretched his left arm over
the wall and made the catch, robbing the homer and keeping the game
scoreless.
It was a back and forth game throughout with Arkansas
answering Alabama in each inning. The Crimson Tide scored in the top of
the third, the eighth and the ninth, but each time the Razorbacks
responded to tie the game.
Barrett Astin earned the win in
relief, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and
striking out three. Astin improved to 2-0 on the season and has not
allowed a run in 19 innings of work this season.
Josh Rosecrans suffered the loss after giving up a run on two hits in 1.2 innings.
Neither
starter factored into the decision. DJ Baxendale gave up a run and
struck out four in 5.1 innings, while Charley Sullivan struck out four
and allowed a run in 5.1 innings.
Sam Bates, Jacob Morris and
Jake Wise each had a pair of hits to lead Arkansas at the plate. Morris
and Wise each added a RBI. Bo Bigham and Tim Carver also contributed an
RBI each, while Vinson drew walks in his last three plate appearances.
Ben Moore had a game-high three hits for Alabama. Hunter Gregory added two hits and drove in a run.
Alabama
struck first with a run in the top of the third. With one out, Jon
Kelton was hit by a pitch and then moved to third on a single to right
field by Taylor Dugas. A balk by Baxendale brought in Kelton from third
for the first run of the game.
Arkansas answered with a run in
the bottom of the third. Wise singled to left field with one out and
moved to second after a walk to Morris. A base hit up the middle by
Carver scored Wise to tie the game at one.
The game would
remain tied until the top of the eighth inning when Alabama regained
the lead. Reaves began the inning with a single to left and advanced to
second after a sacrifice bunt by Rosecrans. A ground out the mound by
Moore advanced Reaves to third and he crossed home plate after a wild
pitch by Suggs.
Arkansas again answered with a run in the bottom
of the eighth. Dominic Ficociello walked with one out and a base hit to
left field by Sam Bates moved Ficociello to second. After an infield
fly out by Reynolds for the second out of the inning, Bigham came
through with a clutch hit, doubling off the wall in left-center field
to score Ficociello. Pinch runner Brian Anderson also attempted to
score on the play, but he was thrown out at home to keep the game tied.
The
Crimson Tide took a 3-2 lead with a run in the top of the ninth. With
one out, Cameron Carlisle walked and then moved to second after a
two-out walk by Dugas. Gregory hit the first pitch he saw from Astin
down the right field line for a double to score Carlisle.
The
Razorbacks would not go quietly in the bottom of the ninth, erasing the
Alabama lead for the third time in the game with a run. Vinson drew a
lead off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wise.
Morris laced a double down the left field line to plate Vinson with the
tying run and pave the way for Arkansas’ heroics in the bottom of the
12th.
Arkansas and Alabama resume the three-game series on
Saturday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. in a game that will be televised by
CST. The Razorbacks will send sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryne
Stanek (4-0, 1.12) to the mound, while the Crimson Tide will counter
with freshman lefty Taylor Guilbeau (1-1, 3.98). Only $8 general
admission tickets remain for Saturday’s game.
Saturday is Coca-Cola St. Patrick’s Hat Day as Arkansas baseball St. Patrick’s Day hats will be given up at the gates.
|
