Hogs lose late lead but walk off Warhawks in extras, 10-9
More on Arkansas' visitors for Tuesday
Series Preview: Back to Baum for ULM
RADIO: Trey Biddy's Monday Segment
Arkansas (20-9, 5-4) blew a 4-run lead in the top of the ninth inning but came through in the bottom of the tenth to sneak away with a 10-9 victory over ULM in Baum Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Razorbacks struggled out the gate but settled in and took the lead behind the bat of Evan Lee and the arm of Barrett Loseke. Lee blasted a three-run shot, his second of the season, to give the Hogs a 6-4 advantage in the bottom of the sixth. The Razorbacks committed four costly errors, including a dropped routine liner that extended the Warhawk rally in the top of the ninth. Not only did Lee perform at the plate, but he also received the win on the mound.
Not known for their power, UL Monroe smashed three homers on the Hogs. A three-run shot from Braedon Barrett got the Warhawks out to an early 3-0 lead and another three-run round tripper from Peyton Lacoste tied things up in the ninth. While the Razorbacks committed a bevy of errors, it was a throwing error on ULM that allowed the winning run to score.
Here's how the Hogs scrapped out a 10th-inning win:
THE WINNING INNINGS
Rutledge issued a leadoff walk to Peyton Lacoste to start the top of the second inning. A fielding error on Casey Martin, Arkansas' second of the game, put two runners on with no outs. Both baserunners then successfully stole second and third base, although Opitz should have thrown Lacoste out at third. Braedon Barrett made Arkansas pay, putting the Warhawks ahead 3-0 with a three-run homer to right field.
Luke Bonfield answered with a leadoff double in the bottom of the second and was brought home on an RBI single to center by Jax Biggers. Casey Opitz added another run on a sacrifice fly to deep left, scoring Jared Gates and making it 3-2 ULM.
Chad Bell knocked out a solo shot to left field to add another run to the board, giving the Warhawks a 4-2 lead in the the top of the third.
Arkansas did some two-out work in the bottom of the fourth by loading the bases after a single from Carson Shaddy and two walks but left the bags juiced when Evan Lee flied out to center to end the inning.
The Razorbacks got another run back in the bottom of the fifth when Bonfield reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop and scored Cole from third base to make it 4-3 UL Monroe.
Three singles loaded the bases for ULM with one out in the top of the sixth, but Reindl threw a strikeout and forced a groundout to end the inning, avoiding any damage in the inning.
Following a hit by pitch, a fielder's choice groundout and a walk, Lee launched a three-run bomb into the right field bullpen, his second of the season, to give Arkansas its first lead of the night, 6-4, in the bottom of the sixth.
McFarland and Opitz both singled in the bottom of the seventh to put two on with one out for Arkansas. Jack Kenley dropped a sacrifice squeeze bunt to score McFarland, pushing the Razorback lead to 7-4.
The Diamond Hogs tacked on a run in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly to center field by Dominic Fletcher, giving Arkansas an 8-4 lead.
Like many times before, Arkansas committed an error and paid dearly for it. DeLaCruz struck out to begin the inning but reached on a wild pitch. Kole Ramage then walked Francis with one out. Daniels should've been the second out of the inning, but a dropped line drive in left field allowed him to reach and scored DeLaCruz to make it 8-5 Hogs. The very next at bat, Lacoste blasted a three-run bomb, tying the game 8-8 in the top of the 9th. Arkansas gave up 4 runs on only 1 hit in the inning.
Evan Lee gave up a run to the Warhawks on a sacrifice squeeze bunt by DeLaCruz in the top of the tenth, making it 9-8 ULM.
Kjerstad tied things up again, 9-9, with an RBI single through the left side in the bottom of the tenth. After Fletcher was hit by the pitch, Arkansas had the bases loaded with no outs. McFarland hit a dribbler to the shortstop who's home was errant, scoring Martin and giving the Hogs the 10-9 extra innings victory.
KEY QUOTES
Dave Van Horn on tonight's performance:
"It ended up being an exciting game, but we did not play well. Give credit to Monroe. They got some big-time hits...Sometimes you win a game that maybe you didn't deserve to win...I feel fortunate we did get a win."
Van Horn on Kjerstad's homer that was ruled foul:
"That ball, it started to hook a bit late, but I'm saying the wind kept it fair. I mean, he's right on it so I'm not going to knock him for it. I mean, it's a tough call. Probably one of the tougher calls there is in baseball."
Van Horn on the defensive lapses:
"When we made mistakes, they got us. You can't survive that. I mean, we spent two hours working on defense yesterday. We didn't even hit...We're going to be ok...It's frustrating for me and I know it's frustrating for them."
Van Horn on tomorrow's pitching plan:
"I think we'll go with Bolden to start. You know, another freshman. We'll see how he can do. Then we'll go from there and see how the game goes. Try to win it."
STAT OF THE GAME
Arkansas committed four errors in tonight's game, including three in the first three innings and a crucial one in ULM's game-tying top of the ninth. The Hogs now have 35 errors this season and have given up 38 unearned runs on the year.
With three hits on the night, freshman outfielder Heston Kjerstad extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
Razorback pitchers combined to strike out 12 ULM batters and only walked six of them while Arkansas only struck out three times all game.
WINNING PITCHER
Evan Lee (Arkansas): 2/3 IP (10 pitches), 1 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 0 ER
UP NEXT...
Arkansas and Louisiana-Monroe will play the second and final game of their midweek series tomorrow, Wednesday April 4 at 3:00 pm (CDT). The game can be see on SEC Network+ or the WatchESPN app.