Chad Morris & players Post-Saturday Practice News, Notes & Quotes
Observations from Saturday's Full Pads Practice, Day 2
Perfect weather and the largest paid attendance in Baum Stadium history were spoiled by a 3-1 defeat at the hands of USC on Saturday.
Arkansas nearly doubled up USC in the hit column but stranded nine baserunners. Despite only allowing 1 run in five innings, Isaiah Campbell was pulled when he loaded the bases in the sixth inning. Eric Cole scored the lone run for the Hogs on a solo homer to left field.
USC starter Quentin Longrie pitched into the eighth inning and gave Razorback hitters fits. Longrie surrendered 8 hits but held Arkansas to only 1 run all day.
Here's how the Trojans took game two from Arkansas:
THE WINNING INNINGS
A pitchers' duel ensued for the first four innings as both teams failed to put up any runs. Arkansas loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Carson Shaddy grounded out to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Isaiah Campbell loaded the bases with two outs after two singles and walk. Dave Van Horn replaced Campbell with Matt Cronin, who immediately gave up an RBI single to left field. Heston Kjerstad hosed a baserunner at home but not before the Trojans took a 1-0 lead.
Brady Shockey put USC up 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the the top of the seventh inning.
Right fielder Eric Cole did his best to make things interesting with a solo shot to left field in the eighth inning, his third of the season. Grant Koch nearly gave the Hogs the lead, but his hit stayed foul and he later struck out.
USC added an insurance run in the top of the ninth with a sacrifice bunt, and the Razorbacks went down in order in the bottom of the inning, finishing off the 3-1 loss.
KEY QUOTES
DVH on USC's pitching:
"Their pitchers did a great job. The lefty kept us off balance. I don't think we did a very good job with it...He did a good job of getting out of jams."
Van Horn on hitting from the middle of the lineup:
"We had our shot, we just haven't swung our bats very well once we get past the four-hole...It hasn't been very good the last couple of days."
Van Horn on Dominic Fletcher's struggles:
"Yeah, I'm concerned. I'm concerned about body language and things like that...He just needs to get through it...It's time for them to step up and take control of it a little bit."
Grant Koch on their performance:
"We had a really good plan going in, and I think they're an offense that has a really good plan...I think they were off balance most of the game and it was just that one inning...Moving forward, we'll stay with that same approach and hopefully have some better luck."
Koch on his near home run in the eighth inning:
"Coming off the bat, I thought it would stay fair. Something just kept it going and going. I didn't hook it at all...That hit would've been big, but there were other opportunities."
STAT OF THE GAME
Arkansas hit 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine baserunners throughout the game.
The Razorbacks' 6 through 9 hitters finished 1 for 13 with 5 strikeouts.
13,472 people bought tickets for today's matchup, the most in Baum Stadium history.
WINNING PITCHER
WIN: Quentin Longrie (USC): 7 1/3 IP (99 pitches), 8 H, 4 K's, 3 BB, 1 ER
SAVE: Connor Lunn (USC): 1 IP (14 pitches), 0 H, 2 K's, 0 BB, 0 ER
PLAYER OF THE GAME
USC's Quentin Longrie threw 99 pitches on the day and held Arkansas to a single run while striking out four hitters. Longrie moves to 2-0 on the season.
Arkansas' Eric Cole hit his third home run of the season on a solo bomb in the eighth inning. Cole finished 1 for 4 with that lone RBI.
Luke Bonfield went 3 for 3 with a double and a walk on the day. He's now hitting .432 for the season.
UP NEXT...
The Razorbacks finish off the series with USC tomorrow, Sunday, March 3. First pitch is at 12:30 pm (CST) on SEC Network+.
