Series Preview: West Coast flavor continues with Southern Cal
Freshmen power Hogs to shutout sweep of Dayton, 11-0
A home crowd of 6,087 strong saw Arkansas etch its third straight victory and second straight shutout in a 4-0 blanking of USC on Friday.
Arkansas starter Blaine Knight flirted with disaster most of the game but found a way out time and time again. Knight didn't surrender a single run despite giving up 6 hits to the Trojans. Razorback bats were led by 3 RBIs from senior Luke Bonfield who hit his second homer of the year.
USC totaled 6 hits in the first six innings but failed to convert any of them into runs. The Trojans' starter, Chris Clarke, gave up two runs in the first and fifth innings each and didn't strike out a single Arkansas batter.
Here's how the Hogs took game one of the series:
THE WINNING INNINGS
Shortstop Jax Biggers lead off the game with a single to center. He then stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout from Heston Kjerstad. Luke Bonfield brought him home with a two-run shot to the Hog Pen in left center, putting Arkansas up 2-0 in the first.
USC recorded at least 1 hit and put on at least two baserunners in each of the first three innings but failed to convert it into runs. They appeared to be threatening again in the fourth, but had a baserunner tagged out after falling attempting to round second base.
Kjerstad singled to right field in the fifth, scoring Biggers and making it 3-0 Arkansas. Luke Bonfield came through with an RBI groundout the very next at-bat, increasing the Hogs' lead to 4-0.
After Blaine Knight gave Arkansas six scoreless innings, freshman Jackson Rutledge picked up where he left off, throwing three scoreless innings of his own and cementing the Razorbacks' 4-0 victory.
KEY QUOTES
Dave Van Horn on the offensive performance today:
"On our offensive end, we battled...Their starter, I don't know if he struck us out. We got that big two-out home run...We found a way to win, that's the big thing."
Van Horn on Blaine Knight:
"For him to go out and give us six innings...we almost pulled him after five...I think the maturity is coming out in him now that he doesn't have to have his best stuff and he can still win."
Van Horn on if Casey Martin is the team's third baseman:
"Well, he is right now. You know, he brings a little spark to the lineup...He's been hitting pretty good. He's definitely a threat to steal a base...He's a good option."
Blaine Knight on his performance:
"Yeah, my command was not what it usually is...My defense backed me up. It was good I could gut it out for six...I was able to make pitches when I needed to. I had to do what I had to do."
Luke Bonfield on Arkansas' young talent:
"Yeah, it's a really good mix. It's a fun mix. This is the most mature group of freshmen that I've been around, meaning they've really stepped into their roles quickly."
STAT OF THE GAME
Arkansas had a player steal two bases in each of the last two games - Jax Biggers today and Casey Martin yesterday - marking the first time a Razorback has stolen two bases in a game since Carson Shaddy accomplished it in 2016.
Freshman Jackson Rutledge gave the Hogs three shutout innings today. In the last three games, freshmen pitchers have given Arkansas 21 innings and only surrendered a single unearned run.
WINNING PITCHER
WIN: Blaine Knight (Arkansas): 6 IP (98 pitches), 6 H, 4 K's, 1 BB, 0 ER
SAVE: Jackson Rutledge (Arkansas): 3 IP (43 pitches), 1 H, 2 K's, 1 BB, 0 ER
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Designated hitter Luke Bonfield hit a signature two-run "Bon Bomb" with two outs in the bottom of the first inning to put Arkansas up 2-0. He later added an RBI groundout. Bonfield finished 1 for 4 with 3 RBIs.
Starter Blaine Knight struggled with command for most of the afternoon but found a way to gut out six scoreless innings. Knight threw 4 strikeouts and only 1 walk on 98 pitches.
Freshman Jackson Rutledge's three shutout innings sealed the deal for Arkansas. Rutledge struck out two and only allowed 1 hit. Contributions from young players has been a theme for the Hogs this season.
UP NEXT...
Arkansas plays game two against USC in Baum Stadium tomorrow, Saturday, March 3. First pitch is at 2:00 pm (CST) on SEC Network+.
